The concept states that City Hall should be a "microcosm of the City -- a high proportion of standard office and a few special places." It was interesting to note how this intriguing idea was carried through. The plan form, indeed, was a series of "office forms" distributed along the site separated by glazed galleries. The plan form was an elegant interpretation of this theme connected by a public gallery slightly angled in order to conform to the irregularity of the site. The tubular steel grid on the south facade, used for mounting banners, flags, lighting and electrical imagery might well recall the vibrancy of a Times Square.
However, the east and west elevations appeared overly institutional, opaque and somewhat hostile at street level. The Council Chamber did not seem to have an easily accessible progression, and was only subtly announced on the south elevation.
This was an intriguing and subtle scheme with perhaps somewhat too high a proportion of standard office and not enough of the quality of "special place".
(From jury report)
4 scanned / 4 viewable
- Plan
- Plan
- Section
- Photograph of Model
