VOLUME 43 JUNE 2006

Modern Architecture Although modern architecture often gets a poor press from the traditionalists, Britain is fortunate to be home to some of the most exciting building projects of recent years. The very cream of these are represented in the new stamps issued this month, as Dave Warriner reports.

An Turas, Isle of Tiree

Maggie's Centre, Dundee Selfridges, Birmingham e e

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Architecture Week is a national celebration unparalled views over London. Believe it or not, of everything that is good about contemporary the only piece of curved glass in this building is British architects. Falling between 16 and 25 June, the lens that caps the roof of the restaurant. there will be opportunities to enjoy walks, talks, The Maggie’s Centre (42P stamp), at the Nine- exhibitions, films and visits to new buildings and wells Hospital in Dundee, is one of the network architects’ practices, together with a new set of of Maggie’s Centres which help in managing the Royal Mail special stamps issued on 20 June. emotional and physical support of people living The issue kicks off with London’s 30 St Mary with cancer together with their carers, family and Axe (1st class). Popularly known as ‘the Gherkin’ friends inside their thoughtfully designed environ­ because of its shape, it was designed by Foster ments. The Canadian architect Frank Gehry was and Partners, who also worked upon the Greater a friend of Maggie Keswick Jencks, the founder London Authority Building and the redevelop­ of the Maggie’s Centre network. This Centre in ment of the Great Court of the British Museum. Dundee, for which he waived his design fee, is his Aside from its unusual shape, this building was tribute to Jencks, following her death from breast designed to be extremely environmentally effi­ cancer in 1995. Famed for buildings that include cient. The building’s aerodynamic shape gener­ the Bilbao Guggenheim, this is Gehry’s first work ates wind pressure differentials, which maximise in the United Kingdom. natural ventilation through the six spiralling light There are two key elements to this building’s wells that also flood the interior with natural day­ exterior. The Tower, inspired by a lighthouse and light, while the completely double-glazed interi­ the concertina stainless steel clad roof, based on or is cooled with air extracted from the offices. a woman s shawl in a Vermeer portrait. Centred Inside the double skin of the facade, computer- on a communal kitchen, the centre has a flexible controlled blinds intercept solar gain, so that this room plan, with an information library, a large heat can be reclaimed or rejected according to relaxation area for group work and two smaller the building’s environmental needs. Unlike other rooms for individual support. The building car­ tower blocks, the very top floor is not given over ries Gehry’s signature feature of having very few to lift machinery, but to a restaurant and bar with straight walls. ►

303 MODERN ARCHITECTURE BRITISH PHILATELIC BULLETIN

Selfridges, Birmingham Downland Gridshell, Chichester Architects: Future Systems

The multi-awar — winning Sclfridgcs Birmingham struction is quite unique. A very high degree of (44p) was designc d by London’s Future Systems, carpentry skills went into its fabrication, emulat­ Their intention \\ as to create a new landmark for ing, but not imitating, many of the more tradi­ Birmingham that would become a catalyst for its tional timber-framed buildings that the Museum urban regeneration rather than just a new place is home to. As much of the building material was to stock up on the latest fashions, even though the oak laths, during construction the architects col­ exterior was partially inspired by Paco Rabanne’s laborated with the Green Oak Carpentry Com­ chain-mail dresses. The fluid shape of the build­ pany. To prepare the oak laths for use, any defects ing recalls the fall of fabric over a body as it rises were removed and the resulting pieces were fin­ from the ground, to be drawn in at the waistline, ger-jointed together into standard lengths of six before it curves out and over to form the roof. The metres. Six of these pieces were then joined to exterior is studded with 15,000 shiny aluminium form 36-metrc laths. The diagonal grid of laths disks that reflect changes in the weather, and even was then formed flat on top of a supporting scaf­ on a foggy day the building has certainly changed fold. The edges of the grid were then lowered and Birmingham’s skyline. The fluid lines of the exte­ the grid bent into shape, until the complete shell rior form are equally matched by the organically was formed and secured to the edges of the tim­ shaped internal atrium which stretches across an ber platform above the basement. The grid is a open floor plan, criss-crossed by a cat’s cradle of double layer, with two laths in each direction, escalators. combining the required flexibility with sufficient The Downland Gridshell (5op), designed by cross section for strength. Another layer triangul­ Edward Cullinan, is the new home of the Weald ates the grid to increase its stiffness. The laths are and Downland Open Air Museum. The Down­ connected at the grid nodes with steel plates and land Gridshell is one of a very small number of bolts. The building incorporates three workshops such structures in Britain, and its method of con- for carpentry, building, plumbing, roofing and

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