Design for the Future?

On Wednesday, The Commision for Architecture and the built environment (CABE) delivered a blow to the US by urging the London Borough of Wansworth to reject the current planning for a New US Embassy on the Thames, which would cost 500m and has been nicknamed " the iceberg." CABE questioned several design aspects including a lack of public space around the building and entrances facing away from river side with no easy public access. The plans also included for the 20 storey building to have a 30m "blast zone" and a 4.5 metre perimeter fence. Currently the design echoes that of the US current Embassy in Baghdad not of that in Mayfair, London.

US Embassy Baghdad.

CABE say the design: ""turns its back" on the local area and lacks a sufficiently "civilising" effect on it."

In recent years many buildings have gone under refurbishments due to the rise in acts of terrorism; for example more recently The Marriott Hotel and Ritz Carlton in Jarkata were the sites of two terrorist bombings. The Marriott that had also been a target to terrorism before in 2003, now has the security of that of an airport, with scanners and bag checks and no vehicles allowed near the entrance of the hotel.

Hopefully in future years not all new archictecture comissioned will be limited by such tight security measures.