london’s southbank tower announces its partnership with zaha hadid architects (ZHA) in the transformation of the residential high-rise lobby. marking the first refurbishment of an apartment building interior by ZHA, the project introduces a new mezzanine and lift, concierge desk and lighting scheme for the lobby of the repurposed southbank tower. one of the UK’s most ambitious renovation projects, the 30-story office building completed by richard seifert in 1972 was converted by KPF in 2015 into a 41-story mixed-use building that incorporates two and three bedroom apartments. construction of the 200 square meter lobby will commence in early 2020 and is due for completion in summer 2020.

zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby
all images by arch018

 

 

the design of the southbank tower lobby by zaha hadid architects expresses its influence from the organic formation of overlapping flower petals to conceal the lobby’s lighting scheme. the fluid curves of the structure host the building’s concierge on the ground floor before peeling away at the top to reveal a new mezzanine level which serves as an additional lounge for residents and guests. these sculptural petals of glass fiber reinforced gypsum — together with marble furniture pieces within the lobby — are precisely crafted in an off-site studio using 3D digital fabrication. this process minimizes the duration of on-site construction and disturbance to residents, while also introducing original pieces at an architectural scale to a level of detail associated with intricate, hand-crafted works.

zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby

 

 

incorporating a color and material palette informed by the existing building, the southbank tower lobby is expressive of polished marble and concrete together with walnut and leather. helmut kinzler, ZHA project director explains, ‘the design has evolved from our work reinventing the spaces of art museums and galleries around the world; creating immersive spatial experiences for the southbank tower’s lobby that enhance the materiality and volumes of the original structure.‘ this collaboration with ZHA marks the first in a series of brand partnerships for southbank tower on behalf of the investment firm which acquired 37 apartments within the building in early 2018.

zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby zaha hadid architects to digitally sculpt london's southbank tower lobby

 

 

project info:

 

project title: southbank tower lobby

architecture: zaha hadid architects (ZHA)

design: patrik schumacher

ZHA project director: helmut kinzler

ZHA project associate: zetta kotsioni

ZHA project team: amittai antoine, torsten broeder, iliana capsali, aleksandra mnich-spraiter, regina ng, marco pavoni, hendrik rupp, risa tadauchi

project management: NASH worldwide ltd

planning consultant: montagu evans llp

quantity surveyor: MEA

structural engineer: AKT II ltd

MEP engineer / fire safety consultants: SWECO UK ltd

light consultant: inverse lighting design ltd

marketing PR: jackyl UK investment ltd

rendering: arch018

others: moritz haeker