ABSTRACT
THIS COMMENT BELOW FROM John Tuomey refers to the window opening made in the dominant brick facade and the unusual timber curtain wall assembly that occupies it. The faceted brick walls receive all the plaudits in this building but it is the gaps between these that provide the opportunity for a set of really elegant window walls. O’Donnell + Tuomey’s (ODT’s) work always shows the strong influence of Louis Kahn and this is no exception. The curtain wall can be read as another subtle reworking of Kahn’s Salk Institute and the Fisher House, except that the added impetus here is its three-dimensional character within the strong overall geometric form. A further claim can be made for it as a finely crafted timber trellis that supports and complements the entrance canopy and provides a notable contemporary architectural moment in the heart of the City of London.
