Francis Crick Institute | St Pancras | 6fl | U/C

Jaeger · December 8th, 2009, 06:02 PM

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/n...211763.article

December 8, 2009

London to get £600m chromosome-shaped genetic research complex

A £600 million laboratory complex that will spearhead British research into medical genetics, stem cells and disease is to be built in London in the shape of a giant pair of chromosomes.

A design based on the genetic structures that carry human DNA has been chosen for the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI), not only for its symbolic importance but also because it should encourage scientists from different disciplines to mingle and co-operate.

The state-of-the-art centre, details of which were first disclosed by The Times, will be one of the largest of its kind in the world when it opens in about 2015. It will bring together 1,250 scientists from diverse fields to study fundamental human biology and turn their discoveries into new therapies for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6948145.ece

Bob · December 8th, 2009, 06:11 PM

From Building

bilburger · December 8th, 2009, 06:39 PM

interesting. any ideas where the site will be? maybe it's a lack of imagination on my part, but I don't see how the birds-eye view (the chromosome) matches the sketches of the outside of the building. but i guess it's early doors for this on - more info will no doubt trickle through.

potto · December 8th, 2009, 06:41 PM

Its the vast derelict space behind the British Library.

mulattokid · December 8th, 2009, 07:15 PM

Nice find

Manuel · December 8th, 2009, 07:35 PM

A giant chromosome! that's what I call sensationalism!

It looks like generic office buildings interconnected with a vague echo of a chromosome. Hardly exciting stuff.

But nice to see Research functions in Central London. Business and Financial industries have tended to eclipse and price out so many other activities in the last two decades.

delores · December 8th, 2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manuel

A giant chromosome! that's what I call sensationalism!

It looks like generic office buildings interconnected with a vague echo of a chromosome. Hardly exciting stuff.

But nice to see Research functions in Central London. Business and Financial industries have tended to eclipse and price out so many other activities in the last two decades.

Yes very boring externally, something akin to the BBC media city?

hellolazyness · December 8th, 2009, 11:22 PM

Interesting. I wonder why exactly it will cost £600m. I don't see any gold-plated bathroom taps

randolph · December 8th, 2009, 11:40 PM

Pretty standard stuff.....

potto · December 9th, 2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellolazyness

Interesting. I wonder why exactly it will cost £600m. I don't see any gold-plated bathroom taps

I would imagine a world class research lab would be expensive! The design is incredibly dull but i think it would work well with the low lying red brick British library and the Victorian St Pancras.

Would be nice to have something with a bit of wow though.

Jaeger · December 9th, 2009, 04:14 PM

I agree it's quite bland, and doesn't look anything like a giant chromosome as suggested in The Times.

cybertect · December 9th, 2009, 06:38 PM

I suppose if that had been the intention from the outset, they might have been better off with Future Systems rather than HOK

As it was, it was an unintended Duck (in the Robert Venturi sense).

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Times

Larry Malcic, of the architects HOK London, said his team had drawn up the four-armed layout without knowing its symbolic significance. “When we showed the plans to the scientists, they said: ‘That’s a chromosome’. It’s functional, and also a very good metaphor for what the centre is trying to achieve.”

Langur · December 9th, 2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randolph

Pretty standard stuff.....

That's a relief these days. There's no random cladding which already recommends it to my opinion. In general the design seems clean and well organised.

Varenukha · December 9th, 2009, 07:02 PM

Given that local residents initially opposed this scheme, preferring more residential blocks instead, we should be thankful that this world class medical research centre is being built in London. I think this is great news indeed.

N1 · December 9th, 2009, 08:47 PM

chromosome-shaped ?!? thats just stupid. thats not an idea. thats a gimmick. what can it possibly add to a building that is is shaped upon what they do inside? Its like basing the architecture of a bank on a banknote or a library on a book. they should be able to do better than that for the research facility of the decade.

delores · December 9th, 2009, 09:39 PM

I hate buildings that claim a shape or form that's only recognisable from a helicopter!

cybertect · December 9th, 2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N1

chromosome-shaped ?!? thats just stupid. thats not an idea. thats a gimmick. what can it possibly add to a building that is is shaped upon what they do inside?

It's an architectural idea that has a very long history, or maybe you didn't realise that?

ashlar · December 9th, 2009, 10:35 PM

But in Tower 42's case, which came first, the logo or the tower?!

NothingBetterToDo · December 10th, 2009, 01:59 AM

^ The logo.

Vodski Bandit · December 10th, 2009, 05:18 AM

I always thought that in T42's case though, the logo seen from above was supposedly just a coincidence...? Something which I've never personally believed to be honest

December 8th, 2009, 06:02 PM	#1
Jaeger Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,327 Likes (Received): 30	Francis Crick Institute \| St Pancras \| 6fl \| U/C http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/n...211763.article December 8, 2009 London to get £600m chromosome-shaped genetic research complex A £600 million laboratory complex that will spearhead British research into medical genetics, stem cells and disease is to be built in London in the shape of a giant pair of chromosomes. A design based on the genetic structures that carry human DNA has been chosen for the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI), not only for its symbolic importance but also because it should encourage scientists from different disciplines to mingle and co-operate. The state-of-the-art centre, details of which were first disclosed by The Times, will be one of the largest of its kind in the world when it opens in about 2015. It will bring together 1,250 scientists from diverse fields to study fundamental human biology and turn their discoveries into new therapies for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6948145.ece Last edited by Jaeger; December 8th, 2009 at 06:30 PM.

December 8th, 2009, 07:15 PM	#5
mulattokid BLAND Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Posts: 8,420 Likes (Received): 100	Nice find __________________ Quote: "Everything in life is our fault...but that's not our fault" (By a friend of Quentin Crisp) www.jclodge.com (my singer sisters site) The headlines read: 'another footballer is charged with sexual miscontuct'! Is it pure coincidence that a mans Scrotum resembles a brain - requisite with both hemispheres, and its truncated spinal cord - always in search of sensation? (Mark Joseph 2008)

December 8th, 2009, 07:35 PM	#6
Manuel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 9,952 Likes (Received): 1	A giant chromosome! that's what I call sensationalism! It looks like generic office buildings interconnected with a vague echo of a chromosome. Hardly exciting stuff. But nice to see Research functions in Central London. Business and Financial industries have tended to eclipse and price out so many other activities in the last two decades. __________________ >>>>>>>>>> Mon album Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/manuel69/<<<<<<<<<< Last edited by Manuel; December 8th, 2009 at 08:10 PM.

December 8th, 2009, 11:40 PM	#9
randolph Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 1,695 Likes (Received): 9	Pretty standard stuff..... __________________ Check out my tunes!! http://www.myspace.com/cpcollective http://www.myspace.com/ryedereden http://www.myspace.com/randolphryeder1

December 10th, 2009, 01:59 AM	#19
NothingBetterToDo Better To Do Nothing Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 10,536 Likes (Received): 1	^ The logo. __________________ My Pictures: London - Amsterdam - Copenhagen - Berlin - Oslo - Bergen - Prague - Dublin

December 8th, 2009, 06:11 PM	#2
Bob Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 2,321 Likes (Received): 3	From Building

December 8th, 2009, 06:39 PM	#3
bilburger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 53 Likes (Received): 0	interesting. any ideas where the site will be? maybe it's a lack of imagination on my part, but I don't see how the birds-eye view (the chromosome) matches the sketches of the outside of the building. but i guess it's early doors for this on - more info will no doubt trickle through.

December 8th, 2009, 06:41 PM	#4
potto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 13,498 Likes (Received): 250	Its the vast derelict space behind the British Library.

December 8th, 2009, 11:22 PM	#8
hellolazyness Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,593 Likes (Received): 0	Interesting. I wonder why exactly it will cost £600m. I don't see any gold-plated bathroom taps

December 9th, 2009, 04:14 PM	#11
Jaeger Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,327 Likes (Received): 30	I agree it's quite bland, and doesn't look anything like a giant chromosome as suggested in The Times.

December 9th, 2009, 07:02 PM	#14
Varenukha London, UK Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 702 Likes (Received): 0	Given that local residents initially opposed this scheme, preferring more residential blocks instead, we should be thankful that this world class medical research centre is being built in London. I think this is great news indeed.

December 9th, 2009, 08:47 PM	#15
N1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 346 Likes (Received): 0	chromosome-shaped ?!? thats just stupid. thats not an idea. thats a gimmick. what can it possibly add to a building that is is shaped upon what they do inside? Its like basing the architecture of a bank on a banknote or a library on a book. they should be able to do better than that for the research facility of the decade.

December 9th, 2009, 09:39 PM	#16
delores Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,563 Likes (Received): 25	I hate buildings that claim a shape or form that's only recognisable from a helicopter!

December 9th, 2009, 10:35 PM	#18
ashlar Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 99 Likes (Received): 0	But in Tower 42's case, which came first, the logo or the tower?!

December 10th, 2009, 05:18 AM	#20
Vodski Bandit Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London Posts: 364 Likes (Received): 0	I always thought that in T42's case though, the logo seen from above was supposedly just a coincidence...? Something which I've never personally believed to be honest

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