Architects Datafile (ADF) – June 2019

              

         

             

             

        

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8NEWS

WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK ADF JUNE 2019

Renowned Chinese architect IM Pei,

designer of the glass pyramid outside

the Louvre in Paris, the Museum of

Islamic Art in Doha, Boston’s John F

Kennedy Library and Museum, and

many other key buildings, has died

aged 102.

Famous for designing buildings

which displayed precision in their

geometry as well as employing natural

light, Pei continued working into old age,

designing the Doha museum in his

eighties. He was born in Guangzhou,

China and studied in the US, at

Pennsylvania, MIT and Harvard, before

working for the US Government during

World War Two.

He founded his own practice in 1955,

and became one of the 20th century’s

most prolific architects, designing

buildings across North America, Asia and

Europe. His modernist style was

influenced by cubism and a love of

Islamic architecture, and often combined

glass, steel and concrete.

Pei was quoted as saying that

architecture was a “pragmatic art,” and

“to become art it must be built on a

foundation of necessity.” He received the

Pritzker Prize in 1983.

Louvre pyramid architect IM Pei dies at 102

OBITUARY

Queens Parade in Bangor, Northern

Ireland, is set to undergo a major £50m

redevelopment which will see the area

transformed into a revitalised, sustainable

and contemporary seafront.

TODD Architects are the designers

behind the new waterfront redevelopment,

working closely with North Down & Ards

Borough Council, the Department for

Communities NI and the developer

Bangor Marine, a consortium which

includes Farrans and the Karl Group.

The proposed redevelopment plan

includes the refurbishment of existing

commercial properties and the creation of

outside events space. Marine Gardens’

public realm combines external events

space, cafes, sheltered promenade and

kiosks, beach, seafront lawns, children's

play area, water feature, plus a hotel.

It also includes a destination/cinema

building, residential units, commercial,

retail and restaurant space, office space, a

play zone, as well as the refurbishment of

existing commercial properties.

Peter Minnis, director at TODD

Architects, commented, “We are delighted

to announce our involvement in this

transformative scheme, for which we are

working closely with North Down & Ards

Borough Council, The Department for

Communities NI, and Bangor Marine

consortium. This exciting opportunity will

see the area regenerated into a revitalised,

sustainable and contemporary seafront,

enhancing Bangor's appeal as a top

Northern Ireland destination.”

The planning process has commenced,

with work expected to begin in 2020.

Bangor town centre to be ‘revitalised’ in £50m scheme

REDEVELOPMENT

© Benh Lieu Song