A major public exhibition highlighting the relationship between the architecture of the City of London and its success as one of the most important global trading centres was announced today.
A headline event of the London Festival of Architecture, this landmark public exhibition takes place at The Walbrook Building, designed by Foster and Partners, between 21 June and 9 September and is organised by NLA - London’s Centre for the Built Environment in association with the City of London Corporation.
The exhibition will look at how the physical fabric – the buildings, the streets and public spaces – have defined the City over the centuries and responded to changes in how we live and work. It will also look ahead to 2050, presenting a series of visions of the City of the future, examining how its built form may adapt in response to the systemic changes we currently face.
The Square Mile has been a centre of mercantile trade for 800 years. It has survived pestilence, fires, the Blitz and IRA bombings. Each shift in activity and associated regulation has had a significant impact on the buildings that house the City’s businesses and the streets and spaces that create its character. Yet despite the fact that large sections of the City have been regularly rebuilt, the area still retains its medieval street pattern that reflects its rich history.
As bankers face reform, so the City of London and Canary Wharf, which plays a key role in the financial market, will need to adapt their buildings to accommodate these structural changes as well as very different types of business.
The exhibition will look at the growth of the City since Roman times, the development of the medieval City, The Great Fire, Wren’s and Evelyn’s plans for rebuilding, the Victorian infrastructure boom, the Blitz, post-war reconstruction, Big Bang and the development of Canary Wharf.
It will examine the modern city, development planned for the next decade and the role of planning and property in accommodating the requirements of the markets, as well as an investigation of current and future occupier needs.
It will also look to the future, unveiling visionary images of the City of London in 2050 in response to a series of drivers of change, including governance, climate change, and banking regulation. Three teams of architects and property professionals including John Robertson Architects, Arup, Woods Bagot, Hilson Moran and Gensler will present their visions of the City in 40 years time.
Peter Murray, curator of The Developing City exhibition commented: “The City of London is a remarkable organism; it is the lynchpin of the UK economy, its governance dates back to the 13th century yet it is home to the most sophisticated technology the world has ever seen. It is a global financial capital yet operates within a medieval street pattern. It is the most resilient city on earth.”
The City Marketing Suite is the venue for the launch event where Peter Murray, and Peter Wynne Rees, The City Planning Officer for the City of London, will speak on issues affecting the City and details of the exhibition will be released.