Festival of Britains Skylon tower to be rebuilt - 07 July 2008
A 300 foot tall piece of civic art that formed the focal point of the 1951 Festival of Britain could soon be rebuilt. The legendary Skylon tower was an architectural wonder – sitting next to the river Thames it resembled a Zeppelin sitting on spider-leg like supports. It was a magical structure that became a symbol of post-war Britain.
The Skylon – designed by Powell & Moya Architects - was universally praised but a year after the Exhibition ended it was taken down in an act described as ‘architectural vandalism’. It’s rumoured it was sold off for scrap and turned into ashtrays.
Now though a team has started work on getting it rebuilt. It includes Atkins, the designers of the world’s only seven star hotel, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. The man in charge of the project is Jack Pringle, of Pringle Brandon, one of the UK’s most prominent architects.
“This was one of the most awe-inspiring structures ever seen – and very much a symbol of its time. With Britain emerging from WWII there was an air of anything was now possible – especially amongst the young. The Skylon really was the physical embodiment of that idea – standing on the banks of the Thames people just stood and marvelled at it.”
Several sites have been suggested for the new Skylon but as it came out of the Festival of Britain – a festival for the people – the project team wanted to let the people decide again. A website is being launched with 12 possible locations for it across the country.
Architect, Jack Pringle, has already got the original Skylon drawings, and is ready to start work. Finance been promised, and there are more offers of support every week.
The project engineers are – Atkins, the UK’s biggest engineering consultancy who also designed the world’s only seven star hotel, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
Design Director, Hayden Nuttall, said: “Everything about the Skylon seemed to defy gravity – it just looked like it shouldn’t stand up – yet it did. It was engineering slight of hand – a magic trick using maths and physics. But it was only built to last 2-3 years, the challenge for us will be making the new Skylon last up to a century.”
While rebuilding the Skylon would be a challenge it’s being seen as the perfect way of refocusing attention on the UK’s architectural and engineering tradition. With recent predictions that the sector could be facing a 20% skills shortfall in the next decade there is an urgent need to get youngsters interested in the built environment.
A life-sized projection of the Skylon will be shone on the side of the Shell Building, next to the London Eye, from 10th July for four days. The exhibition associated with it will be a centrepiece of the London Festival of Architecture. The exhibition is co-curated by Jack Pringle and Ken Powell.
ENDS
CONTACT:
Andy Winstanley Head of Media Relations
Tel: 01372 752018/07803 259643
andy.winstanley@atkinsglobal.com
Marina Beloni Communications Assistant
Tel: 01372 752897/07834 507235
marina.beloni@atkinsglobal.com
NOTES TO EDITORS:
• On request we can electronically supply images of the original drawings, the Skylon animated on to a selection of possible sites, and animations for broadcast/multi-media use.
• The project is sponsored by Pringle Brandon, Surface to Air, Atkins (WS), ISG, Gleeds.
• Project leader and architect: Jack Pringle, of Pringle Brandon Architects, and Immediate Past President of the RIBA.
• Project Manager: Holly Porter (Surface to Air Architects)
• Engineers: Hayden Nuttall (Atkins)
• Cost Consultant: Gleeds
• Project Supporter: ISG
About Atkins
Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is a multinational engineering and design consultancy, providing expertise to resolve complex challenges presented by the built and natural environment. Whether it’s the concept for a new skyscraper, the upgrade of a rail network, the modelling of a flood defence system or the improvement of a management process, Atkins plans, designs and enables solutions. It is the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe; the largest engineering consultancy in the UK; and the world’s fifth largest design firm.
Atkins’ current projects include:
• Major infrastructure works, such as design and programme management of the civil works for the Dubai Metro red and green lines;
• In the defence sector, the MoD’s Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) programme – overseeing the development of the next generation of medium weight armoured vehicles for the military;
• Significant road contracts, such as a £150 million, five-year integrated contract for Gloucestershire County Council, delivering highway maintenance, design, emergency response, winter maintenance, re-surfacing and recycling;
• Key rail projects, including a £65 million, three-year resignalling contract in Basingstoke; and
• High profile designs, such as Durrat Al Bahrain, a spectacular 20 sq km resort for 45,000 people on the south coast of Bahrain, comprising 13 man-made islands.
In 2008 Atkins has been named, for the fourth consecutive year, one of the Sunday Times Top 20 Best Companies to Work For. In 2007, Atkins was nominated among The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers; and The Times Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work and sector winner in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards for the second successive year.