Crystalline green
Conceived as a peephole to the future in Siemens’ sustainable cities initiative. Now City Hall for Greater London Authority. The Crystal’s multi-faceted, neo-futurism brings a new architectural language to the docklands.
📍Location
🏢Building Details
Completed 2012 for Siemens: reopened Jan 2022 as London’s new City Hall
Inspired by The Crystal Palace: glass and iron engineering marvel built in 1851 to host London’s Great Exhibition
200,000 sq. ft.
👷🏾♀️Developer & Contractor
Roland Busch – President and CEO of Siemens AG
✍️Architects & Engineers
Sebastien Ricard – Director at WilkinsonEyre
Chris Wilkinson – Founding Director at WilkinsonEyre
Alex Kyriakides – Associate Director at WilkinsonEyre
Perkins&Will (formerly Pringle Brandon)
Dave Watkins – Director at Abtec Building Technologies
Johann Sischka – Senior VP at Waagner Biro steel and glass
🌱Sustainability
First to achieve both BREEAM Outstanding + LEED Platinum: CO2 emissions 70% lower than comparable offices
Triple-layered high-performance glass allows in 70% of natural daylight but only 30% of solar energy – creating a “thermal envelop” made from 6 different types of glass
Ground source heat pump draws heat in from the ground outside, and during hot days, transfers it back outside – via 17km long network of buried pipes
All-electric: 5,000+ sq. ft. of solar panels – capability for surplus energy to be returned to National Grid
🥦 Wellbeing
Established as workplace + visitor centre + think tank: fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration towards sustainable city solutions
Public ownership ensured for surrounding gardens and landscaped space
‘Community Strategy’ framework created: including educational workshops, local food programme initiatives, community gardening, urban beekeeping
Occupancy detection and comfort sensors adjust heat, light, and ventilation for optimal conditions
🎈Bonus feature
It is the UK’s first building to have an approved water safety plan – and is 90% self-sufficient in water supply. Rainwater is harvested from the roof via four corner node columns, stored in a 30,000L underground tank, and treated by filtration and UV. Moreover, 100% of blackwater (wastewater) is recycled for use in toilets and irrigation.
🔗 Check it out https://www.wilkinsoneyre.com/projects/the-crystal
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