Skylon | The South Bank? | 90m | Pre-planning

[Zenith]

It could actually work yes....hmmm

[gothicform]

thanks for the above fitz... ties in nicely with what i have been told today about the project -

Skylon Redevelopment Moves Forwards

Published on 07-07-2008 by Skyscrapernews.com
Fans of the retro architecture icon, Skylon, will be in for a treat as an almost life-size image of the structure will be projected onto the side of the Shell's Upstream Building opposite the London Eye for four days from the tenth of July as part of the London festival of Architecture.

It's been organised by Jack Pringle, with Atkins and Gleeds who are amongst the team who are leading the efforts to rebuild the iconic structure.

In a major step forwards for any reconstruction, Pringle has managed to source the original architectural drawings to help it be built as accurately as possible compared to the original.

Part of the challenge however will be the temporary nature of the structure. Although it was controversially destroyed because it was consider by some to be a symbol of socialism, the original designed time of Powell & Moya Architects had only engineered it with a brief two to three year shelf life - this time round the architects will have to make something that can last a lot, lot longer.

In 2001 a competition was held to masterplan the area around the South Bank where Skylon originally stood and a number of firms entering submitted a rebuilt structure as part of their plans.

Richard Rogers included it as part of the frame for the Hungerford Bridge replacement whilst Troughton Macaslan identified a spot to the back of Royal Festival Hall where it could stand and serve as a marker for those heading from Waterloo Station.

This area is currently tucked away so for many the needle would have been partially hidden from view by the bulk of Royal Festival Hall, something that would destroy the "hover" effect it has as the bottom would not be visible.

Michael Hopkins Architects took the opposite approach and dreamed up a pier to stand it on in the River Thames giving the maximum possible prominence to it and transforming Skylon into a marker for river traffic.

This time around, to publicise the possible construction effort, a website is also going to be launched that will identify twelve possible locations across the country that Skylon could stand on, perhaps in an attempt to de-Londonise the scheme.

The bulk of the finance has already been promised, so the coming months should be an exciting time for anyone who loved the original retro-space age needle levitating into the night with three hundred floodlit feet acting as a beacon to tell Londoners that the dark days of the Blitz and Black Out were finally gone for good.

[fitz44]

That's great gothic. The river idea would be best IMO as from ground-level looking out from the Embankment/South Bank it really would "hover".

[gothicform]

yeah i wrote the piece and then spotted your post and included the three old proposals. i totally agree about the river location. it should be the most prominent one possible because part of the novelty of the structure, if we can use that word, is that it appears to float in mid-air. you lose that if you can't see the bottom.

[Zenith]

12 possible locations around the country, what? Oh dear..

I am absolutely baffled as to why this structure would be located anywhere else but London. You could stick the Skylon in my parents garden if you like but it wouldn't mean much. Okay thats being a bit silly but my point is it would lose much resonance and meaning if it wasn't at least located in the city that originally housed it. Other cities have, or can have their own structures, Manchesters B of the Bang for example.

I'm with Fitz and Gothic. I think this is the best solution.

[mulattokid]

To be honest, I think the best thing about this exhibition was the Royal Festival Hall.

I would much rather see the Crystal Palace rebuilt.

[Zenith]

............

[randolph]

The whole point with this is that it is actually do-able. If someone wnats to cough up the cash - why not!?

[mulattokid]

oh well...spose so...I concede

[Officer Dibble]

Still can't get at all excited about this, wherever it goes. Not particularly beautiful, doesn't do anything, was never more than a curiosity. Don't see why it shouldn't go in some other part of London, or in some other city, if anyone wants it and wants to pay for it - the south bank is hardly short of landmarks.

But if the south bank it is to be, then I like this option best

Originally Posted by fitz44

because the parts of the complex away from the river are messy and connect up badly with the surrounding area, and this would bring a bit of focus there.

[gothicform]

here we are people. vote for where you want it -

http://www.voteforskylon.com/vote.php#

[potto]

yeah everyone get voting otherwise it might end up in Sydney! I quite liked the St James Park proposal, it has the added benefit of screwing with Westminsters sightline fetish

[Mercedes S600]

9/10

I want to go there some day!

[potto]

[Manuel]

I've voted for the Southbank!

[Zenith]

As have I, although I don't understand some of those locations as they are clearly taking the mickey.

[gothicform]

all will be revealed tomorrow. i had a chat with the engineer today.

[Octoman]

I pressed the wrong botton and voted for the wrong one

FUCKIT!!!

[JDRS]

St James Park looked fairly good so I voted for that one. I would like to see this in the Olympic Park or Greenwich but I really am unsure as to whether this should emerge on the South Bank. I fear it will look too cluttered and detract from the London Eye which is the significant landmark that pierces the skyline in that part of the city.

[Jamandell (d69)]

I voted for the South Bank, Glasgow, and next to Tower Bridge