Plantation Lane London : Public Art

The most prominent feature in Plantation Lane is a glass art wall by Simon Patterson and Arup. The 135' (41m) by 20' (6m) wall happens at the midpoint of the street and follows the slight curve of it. An image of the moons surface covers the whole wall, with LED lights changing the back-illuminated wall different colors over time. The glass panels are held together with plus-sign clips; their combination lays a grid over the lunar-scape in, perhaps, a commentary on man's treatment of nature and the colonization of space.

Fire At London's Olympic 2012 site

On Monday Morning on a visit to the Photographers Gallery i noticed a thick black cloud of smoke spreading across the clear blue sky's of London. Not sure what it was to be from a terror attack or an accident i thought it was interesting to post on my blog in the change it had on the London Skyline.

More than 75 firefighters tackled the blaze as 50ft (15m) flames engulfed the building in Waterden Road, Hackney Wick at about 1200 GMT on Monday.

Black smoke could be seen across the skyline and the Fire Brigade received more than 150 calls from the public.

Rail services were suspended between Dalston Kingsland and Stratford but roads in the area remained open.

The warehouse is on the western edge of the proposed site of the Olympic Village and was due to be demolished on Monday.

2012 Stadium Design revealed

London 2012 officials have revealed the design for their new £496m Olympic Stadium. The structure, which has risen in cost from the £280m estimated in 2004 when London was bidding for the Games, will stand at the heart of the Olympic Park. It is being billed as a design representing a new era for Olympic stadium design.

The new stadium, to be built in Stratford in east London, will have to be finished at least six months ahead of the opening ceremony in July 2012 to allow for test events to take place.

After the Games have finished, the temporary seating will be taken away and the stadium will become a 25,000-capacity venue with a permanent athletics track. An anchor tenant such as a football or rugby club is actively being sought, but one has yet to be found.

Focus week: Young Architects of the year

Carmody Groarke beat four other young practices to win the title - Carmody Groarke, Design Research Unit Wales, Graeme Massie Architects, Riches Hawley Mikhail Architects and WHAT_Architecture. While it was a strong shortlist, Carmody Groarke emerged as the clear winner, impressing the judges with its energy and determination.

As part of the young Architect of the year award on channel four i thought it was relevant to mention this on my blog. Carmodys designs are inspirational and unique and i clearly agree that he deserved the young Architect of the year award for his energetic design. For more information see www.channelfour.com/architecture

Focus Week: Riba

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is the UK body for architecture and the architectural profession. They provide support for over 40,500 members worldwide in the form of training, technical services, publications and events, and set standards for the education of architects, both in the UK and overseas.

One of the main events that RIBA take great courage in is the sterling prize exhibition the six buildings on show were designed by David Chipperfield Architects, Foster + Partners, Glenn Howells Architects, Haworth Tompkins and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture with Arup-AFA. With the America's Cup Building, Casa da Musica, Dresden Station, Savill Building. The winning entryway was The Museum of Modern Literature in Germany.

At the Victoria and Albert Museum, the RIBA hosts exhibitions, archives, talks and shared study facilities in partnership with the V&A. for more in formation visit www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAstirlingprize/asxp..

Focus week: the O2 Arena surroundings

The surrounding area of the O2 Arena does not seem to have any connection with the Thames and is in great disrepair. This is quite shocking as the O2 Arena will be hosting a vast amount of games during the 2012 Olympics. Hopefully by then allot will have been done to establish a better maintained footpath and more greener atmosphere in the approach to the stadium and also for tourists visiting the stadium.

Focus week: Greenwich and the O2 Arena

On Tuesday I visited the new 02 Arena with my dear friend Paul. While walking around the huge arena there is still allot of construction work in progress such as a gigantic pyramid as well as a huge statue representatively the Tutankhamen exhibition which will be in a new state of the art exhibition hall opening soon.

The majority of space in the O2 Arena is mainly taken up by the new stadium but around this there are a variety of shops, bars and bistro cafes along palm tree lined streets, almost to look like a Hollywood boulevard theme. Putting this aside half of the dome is still under construction and one of the large open spaces which is for all year round events is currently empty so the dome seemed like it was not used to its full extent at present which seeing the size of it is not mixing in the surrounding communities or acting as a place which the local schools can use and get involved with.

Focus Week: Dissused Buildings

After looking around the Gymnasium Building I had a look at the surrounding disused buildings In the Kings Cross area. Looking at all the old railway yard buildings, warehouses and derelict gas holder buildings, its a shame to see that these will all be knocked down and replaced with high rise glass office buildings and will not be kept in character with the surrounding area. Its a shame to think that all the history of this site will be forgotten forever...

Kings Cross Area (Gymnasium Building)

While all the work on Kings cross is taking place an exhibition is currently open in the Gymnasium building just outside where the main entrance to the station will eventually be. The building is where the first gymnastics were imported into the country by German immigrants. Since then it is an art/exhibition building currently displaying models of how the Channel tunnel was constructed, how the new st pancras station has been changed and will allow the high speed rail link to kent. Upstairs in the building was a photographic display showing the workers and the skills they have used in the re- development of St Pancras station.