After a visit to their office in London 7A Langley St, Covent Garden we will be lead to an architecture walk within Covent Garden area where they have contributed to the regeneration and conservation of the Covent Garden Estate in the roles of both master planner and architect of a collection of projects.
Aspiring to make Covent Garden a world-class, urban, mixed-use district, Capco, the owner, sought to both improve the quality of the visitor experience and re-balance the mix of uses to include residential, modern workplaces, and upgraded retail and food and beverage outlets.

Improved permeability throughout the district is a first principle, as reflected by the creation of entirely new pedestrian routes and courtyards which improve links to surrounding transit hubs and neighbouring districts, alleviate congestion, and increase retail frontage. Several new courts and atria have opened up formerly closed interiors of blocks to the public realm. Historic structures have been restored and in some cases returned to their original use, and in others repositioned as an alternative use such as residential, hotel, or retail.

The new architecture is inspired by the unique character that differentiates Covent Garden from surrounding areas.
Its history as a marketplace and a place for entertainment is evident in its varied palette of architectural styles. The relationship to the immediate surroundings is always the starting point for KPF's architectural studies and colour, texture, and scale must reflect the fine grain and idiosyncratic character of the area.

Guided by KPF's architects Alex Miller, Senior Associate Principal, Brian Spring, Senior Associate Principal, Armor Gutierrez-Rivas, Associate Principal we will take a walk around Floral Court, Floral Street and Carriage Hall.

Floral Court is an assemblage of contemporary and historic buildings around a newly-created courtyard provides a refuge in a busy and colourful part of London. The mixed-use precinct to the northwest of the Covent Garden piazza adds a new layer of contemporary design to the historic urban fabric.

Carriage Hall is part of a trio of developments that have transformed cobbled Floral Street into a premium retail and residential address.

The renovation of Carriage Hall has rejuvenated the under used western end of Floral Street by converting a historic building to create a unique retail unit suitable for a high-end multi-brand tenant and enhancing the block through a series of sensitive refurbishments and dramatic interventions.

Our architecture tour has different main features:

• to be inspired by breaking-through architects while visiting the most renowned and inspiring architecture firms based in London
• to learn the architecture philosophy of the most influential architecture firms in the world
• to experience some of the most awarded buildings in London guided by their creators

Program architecture tour B: London Bridge focus area

Thursday 27th June 2019

• tp bennett office
• dRMM de Rijke Marsh Morgan Architects office
• Trafalgar Place with dRMM

Friday 28th June 2019

• Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) office
• Gensler office
• London Bridge Station with Grimshaw Architects

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