BFLS Project Architect Robbie Turner and BFLS Director Ian Bogle explain how and why the team decided to integrate the turbines into the building fabric – something that had never been attempted before. And why turbines were preferred over other renewable technologies.
We learn about the optimum conditions for peak performance, whether the engineers' hopes for the creation of a Venturi effect were realised, and why for a considerable amount of time the turbines are predicted not to turn at all.
Strata SE1 sits 3m away from a main line railway and towers above Elephant and Castle, one of London's busiest transport hubs. Matt Hewitt, of Brookfield (which was both developer and main contractor on the scheme) runs through the challenges faced by the team when it came to installing the turbines.
About the contributors
Ian Bogle – BFLS Architects, studied architecture at the Mackintosh school of Architecture, and subsequently worked for the Parr Partnership in Glasgow before joining Foster + Partners in 1995 where he worked on projects including the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, The Dubai Cultural Centre, the Swiss Re Headquarters and the Bexley Business Academy, buildings which won and came second in the 2004 Stirling Prize respectively. He joined BFLS (formerly Hamilton Architects) in 2002 and became a director in 2005.
Robbie Turner – BFLS Architects, studied Interior Architecture and Design at Nottingham Trent University, graduating in 2000. In the same year he joined Foster + Partners to work on a number of built projects including the Stirling prize-winning 30, St Mary Axe where he was responsible for the Interior Architecture at the base and top of the building. Robbie joined BFLS in 2005 and was promoted to Associate Director in 2010.
Giovanni Festa – WSP, is an expert in sustainable and low energy design. Having studied Building Engineering at Bath University he later gained a Masters in Construction Management at South Bank University. Giovanni joined WSP in 2000 and is currently Design Director.
Chris Playle – WSP, has more than 20 years' experience of delivering large and complex projects which as well as Strata, have included major schemes at Luton and Stansted airports. Chris has a wide range of engineering interests from 'hi-tech' architecture through to large scale masterplanning. He joined WSP in 1987 and is Technical Director – structural engineering.
Matt Hewitt – Brookfield, who has a Bachelor's degree in Business and Commerce from The University of Sydney, has more than 10 years' experience delivering technically difficult, high profile projects. After cutting his teeth in his native Australia, Matt moved to the UK where he has run projects including Strata SE1, and before that, the £450 million Wembley Stadium.
Disclaimer: NBS TV programmes are the intellectual property of RIBA Enterprises and it shall be a breach of this right to copy, or in any way exploit commercially or show in public any of the programmes without the express permission of RIBA Enterprises.
