BBC
appoints architects for new Music Centre
•
Foreign Office Architects win competition
•
Appointment marked with series of new BBC music commissions
Foreign
Office Architects has been appointed as architects for the BBC's
new Music Centre at White City, London, it was announced today (Monday
17 November 2003).
Foreign
Office Architects was chosen after a competition between four architectural
practices.
It
is intended that the project will be financed and constructed by
the BBC's property partnership with Land Securities Trillium.
The
new Music Centre - to be called The Music Box - is planned
to open in 2006 and will become home to the BBC Symphony Orchestra,
the BBC Symphony Chorus, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Singers,
bringing them together in one place for the first time.
"This
has been a very close run decision with all four designs being truly
inspirational but Foreign Office Architects' vision for the Music
Box was the most exciting and innovative interpretation of what
the BBC wanted," said John Smith, BBC Director of Finance,
Property and Business Affairs.
"Their
design majors on openness with emphasis on public space.
"This
will ensure that the Music Box not only becomes a centre of excellence
for music making at the BBC but will also be an integral part of
our commitment to involve the local community."
The
Music Box will be a focal point for contact with the local community,
who will be able to attend recordings and performances and participate
in music projects as part of an outreach programme.
The
building will also provide a modern environment which will ensure
the BBC's world-class performing groups in London can thrive and
remain at the centre of musical life and culture in the UK.
To
mark the announcement, BBC Radio 3 has invited leading composers
to write new works for the performing ensembles that will be housed
in the Music Box.
They
include Judith Weir, Jocelyn Pook, George Benjamin and Ian McQueen.
The
Music Box will provide the latest facilities for the BBC's London
based orchestras, including two studios for rehearsal, recording
and live performances with an audience capacity of up to 600 people.
Support
areas for performers will include rehearsal and practice rooms.
The
Music Box is part of the new Media Village, the BBC's redevelopment
of White City, and is a key part in the BBC's policy to open its
doors to the local community in West London.
The
White City development will also foster local regeneration in the
area.
The
Music Box is part of a wider plan to move all the BBC's performing
groups into new or renovated buildings in the next four years.
Leonard
Slatkin, Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, said: "The
state-of-the art rehearsal, broadcasting and performance facilities
that the Music Box will provide for each of the performing groups
will raise the artistic quality and range of their work and create
a new and welcome home for the musicians."
Foreign
Office Architects (FOA) is recognised as one of the UK's leading
design practices and brings an innovative approach to the integration
of landscape and buildings.
While
their work is highly sculptural and evocative, their designs emerge
from a rigorous analysis of the brief and functional programme.
The
practice has completed an impressive new Ferry Terminal with landscaped
public areas and cruise liner facilities at the heart of Yokohama
Bay in Japan.
FOA
also has a number of important commissions under construction in
Europe including a new park in Barcelona, an auditorium building
in Torrevieja and a Police headquarters in La Villajoyosa.
The
practice was one of the architectural practices to be shortlisted
for the design of the new World Trade Center in New York and has
recently been shortlisted for the design of a new Pompidou Centre
in France.
Their
most recent successful competition entry is the Master Plan for
the Lower Lee Valley and London Olympics.
Notes
to Editors
The
winning design was chosen by a competition launched in April 2003.
The
competing architects were:
Foreign Office Architects (London);
Future Systems (London);
Ushida Findlay Architects (London/Tokyo);
Zaha Hadid (London).
The
competition jury for the Music Centre project comprised:
Deborah Bull, BBC Governor;
John Smith (Chair), BBC Director of Finance, Property and Business
Affairs;
Alan Yentob. BBC Director of Drama, Entertainment & CBBC;
Paul Hughes, General Manager, BBC Symphony Orchestra;
Ricky Burdett, Director of Cities Programme, London School of Economics;
Ian Robertson, BBC Director of Property;
Roly Keating, Controller of BBC FOUR;
Jenny Abramsky, BBC Director of Radio & Music;
Bob Allies, Allies & Morrison Architects;
Tony Wilson, BBC Head of Major Developments;
Peter Frackiewicz, Project Director, Land Securities.
Press
pack
Background
Site
history
The
BBC Music Community
The
Music Centre
Competition
jury and timetable
Biographies
of architects
Related
press release
Five
architects shortlisted to design BBC's new Music Centre in London
(10.04.03)
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