London Design Festival 2013 talks to preview Viewpoint
- AN URBAN ISLAND HIDEAWAY FOR CAMLEY STREET NATURAL PARK

  • The Finnish Institute in London organises a series of architectural talks during London Design Festival 2013 to preview Viewpoint, An Urban Island Hideaway for Camley Street Natural Park.

    Commissioned by The Finnish Institute in London and The Architecture Foundation for London Wildlife Trust, Viewpoint is set to bring nature and architecture together on London‘s Regent’s Canal in the centre of King's Cross.

    With the structure due for completion in late autumn 2013, this special series of talks at September’s London Design Festival allow Viewpoint’s Finnish architects Erkko Aarti, Arto Ollila and Mikki Ristola to preview Viewpoint to a wide international audience.

    As a small man-made islet on the canal, Viewpoint will act as an additional viewing platform and an invaluable new learning facility for Camley Street Natural Park. The canal and the park form a natural habitat in King ‘s Cross, one of the most rapidly growing metropolitan areas of London. In this unique site Viewpoint beautifully embodies the sensitive relationship between the man-made and natural.

    “We are very excited to be part of LDF and introduce our forthcoming Viewpoint project. Viewpoint experiments with old and traditional materials and shows they can be used in new and innovative ways. Design and material solutions root Viewpoint to its challenging location, the borderline of the built and unbuilt London. We are proud to be part of a project that brings new uncommercial spaces to Londoners.” Arto Ollila says.

    To start off the series of talks 15 September the architects Erkko Aarti, Arto Ollila and Mikki Ristola will be giving an intimate preview of Viewpoint and the ideas and ethos behind the project as part of The Architecture Foundation’s day long programme of events aboard the newly commissioned Floating Cinema that will be moored at City Road Basin, Islington. The conversation is chaired by the director of The Finnish Institute in London, Susanna Pettersson.

    17 September, Aarti, Ollila and Ristola will head the public talk 'Materials Moulded by the Environment' at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The architects will discuss the material choices of Viewpoint and the synergy between materials, nature and the surrounding community. Speakers include architect Helena Sandman.

    The Viewpoint talk as part of the 100% Design event 18 September will focus on the 2012 architecture exchange project New Architects Finland_UK and the development of its outcome Viewpoint. The talk is chaired by Paula Karlsson, the Institute's Head of Arts & Culture. Speakers include The Architecture Foundation's deputy director Moira Lascelles and the Viewpoint architects Aarti, Ollila & Ristola.

    The third talk, 'Cities and Water' takes place 20 September. Design writer and curator Jane Withers and architect and professor Panu Lehtovuori discuss the urban environment and water, a key element in Finnish urban life and design culture with the Viewpoint architects Aarti, Ollila and Ristola. The talk is chaired by Noemi Blager, acting director of The Architecture Foundation.

    The Viewpoint commission is the result of the New Architects: Finland_UK Exchange Programme, which brought together new architectural talent from Finland and the UK to explore cities’ ever-changing relationship with water. This programme was delivered by The Architecture Foundation with the Finnish Institute in London and the Museum of Finnish Architecture.

    The Viewpoint project is supported by King’s Cross Central Partnership, Argent, Ministry of Education & Culture, Finland, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation, Graphic Concrete.

    In Conversation with the Viewpoint Architects;
    The Architecture Foundation Stowaway on the Floating Cinema, City Road Basin

    15 September 2013, 2pm-6.30pm
    Free (booking essential: www.architecturefoundation.org.uk)

    Viewpoint: Materials Moulded by the Environment
    17 September 2013, 4pm - 5pm
    Victoria & Albert Museum, free entry

    The Finnish Institute in London presents: Viewpoint, An Urban Island Hideaway for Camley Street Natural Park
    18 September 2013, 4.45pm – 5.15pm
    100% Design: More information about trade event’s access and tickets here.

    Viewpoint: Cities and Water
    20 September 2013, 4pm - 5pm
    Victoria & Albert Museum, free entry

    Floating Cinema
    London Design Festival
    100% Design
    AOR

Monday, 12th August 2013