A Room for London
A Room for London
London,
England
2010
Client
Living Architecture
An architectural provocation which considers the potential for a rooftop addition to the Queen Elizabeth Hall - an iconic and autonomous urban structure in its own right. Recognizing its architectural value, the new element "the Room" is designed as a dynamic form that serves as a Cultural Panopticon, functioning as both a literal and metaphorical urban observatory.
Mounted on a slew bearing, a rotating screen wall allows two configurations:
- Belvedere Mode – The screen creates a private terrace, concealing plant rooms and framing a crescent of sky. Inside, a slot window with horizontal entasis offers panoramic views of the north bank. At the rear, a camera obscura projects and inverts the main view across the shower wall, offering a private experience of a public vista.
- Cultural Installation Mode – Rotated through 180°, the screen cantilevers beyond the parapet, aligning with the window’s curvature to obscure the central view while preserving glimpses of sky and river. This surface becomes a platform for artists and curators - hosting installations, projections, or cultural dialogues subtly visible through reflections or glimpses from nearby walkways.
