Finsbury Park London, Architecture Competition, Buildings, Winner, Architect, Contest, News

Finsbury Park – City North Site

Buildings in Islington, north London, England, UK – design by Benson & Forsyth, architects

15 Oct 2008

City North Site

Location: Finsbury Park

Public Realm Competition Winner

Benson & Forsyth has won a competition to help with the re-development of a significant north London site. The result follows an RIBA design competition organised on behalf of City North Islington Ltd, a subsidiary of Business Design Centre Group.

The ‘City North Site’ is located on the north eastern edge of Islington, and adjacent to Finsbury Park Station, one of the busiest transport interchanges in London outside of Zone 1. The Council (London Borough of Islington) identified this site as having the potential to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider Finsbury Park area. Competitors were set the challenge of producing concepts for the site, to include high quality public spaces and a range of land uses, in order to diversify the existing mix of uses.

Describing their winning concept, Gordon Benson said : “The proposal is contextually defined both locally, and at the scale of the city. At street level the scheme repairs and reinforces the fragmented urban fabric. The taller elements of the composition address and frame views of significant Landmarks, redefining the identity of the site and the specifics of its location.”

Benson & Forsyth will now work closely with the client group to work up their competition concept and ideas. The other four competing practices were Studio Egret West, John McAslan & Partners and Panter Hudspith Architects.

10 Mar 2008

City North Finsbury Park

Finsbury Competition Shortlist

Five architectural practices have been shortlisted from over 60 applicants to take part in the design phase of a competition to re-develop the ‘City North Site’ in Finsbury Park, north London. They are:

Benson & Forsyth LLP
Studio Egret West
Panter Hudspith Architects
FLACQ
John McAslan & Partners

The site is located adjacent to Finsbury Park Station, one of the busiest transport interchanges in London outside of Zone 1, and has the potential to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider Finsbury Park area. The competition brief seeks proposals that will improve the quality of public spaces and provide a range of land uses including residential, retail, offices, conference space, restaurants and cafes.

The architects will present their design proposals to the judging panel, which will include representatives of the promoter (the Business Design Centre Group) and RIBA architect adviser Andrew Taylor, in early April 2008.

Finsbury Park Housing

Information from RIBA : 20 Dec 2007

City North Site, Finsbury Park Public Realm Competition

This new competition seeks architects with exceptional design skills to help design and re-develop a significant north London site. The competition is being organised by the RIBA on behalf of Business Design Centre Group.

The ‘City North Site’ is located on the north eastern edge of Islington, and adjacent to Finsbury Park Station, one of the busiest transport interchanges in London outside of Zone 1. The Council (London Borough of Islington) has identified this site as having the potential to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider Finsbury Park area. Proposals will need to improve the quality of public spaces, as well as provide a range of land uses including residential, retail, offices, conference space, restaurants and cafes in order to diversity the existing mix of uses.

Selection will take the form of a two stage process which at stage one will invite expressions of interest. A shortlist of 5 architects will be drawn up and invited to produce concept designs.

Anyone interested in being considered should contact the RIBA Competitions Office for a preliminary briefing paper. The deadline for expressions of interest is 29th January 2008.

Business Design Centre Group, previously City Industrial Limited, was founded in 1954 by the Morris family and is still a family business, majority-owned by the five Morris brothers. The Group’s activities include the operation of the Business Design Centre in Islington, event organising and property investment. The company has been involved in Finsbury Park for many years, with the City North site originally housing its business activities.

Location: Finsbury Park, London, UK