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Great Fire: The grid system for London that never happened | Great Fire: The grid system for London that never happened |
(about 13 hours later) | |
After London's Great Fire - 350 years ago this year - there were radical plans to transform the city. Modern architects have since used disasters as a chance to rebuild in a new way. | After London's Great Fire - 350 years ago this year - there were radical plans to transform the city. Modern architects have since used disasters as a chance to rebuild in a new way. |
Sir Christopher Wren worked quickly. | Sir Christopher Wren worked quickly. |
His ambitious vision for a new London was submitted to King Charles II a little more than a week after the blaze was put out. | |
Wren's plans feature in a new exhibition, Creation from Catastrophe, at the Royal Institute of British Architects. | Wren's plans feature in a new exhibition, Creation from Catastrophe, at the Royal Institute of British Architects. |
"We are looking at the opportunities which terrible disasters have offered architects to rebuild cities around the world," says curator Jes Fernie. | "We are looking at the opportunities which terrible disasters have offered architects to rebuild cities around the world," says curator Jes Fernie. |
Scroll down to see what London could have looked like - and how other places have been transformed after tragedy. | Scroll down to see what London could have looked like - and how other places have been transformed after tragedy. |
Before the Great Fire, the City of London was a huddled mass of timber-framed buildings. | Before the Great Fire, the City of London was a huddled mass of timber-framed buildings. |
The view below dates from 1560, with the city stretching from the Tower of London, in the east, to Fleet Street and The Strand in the west. | The view below dates from 1560, with the city stretching from the Tower of London, in the east, to Fleet Street and The Strand in the west. |
The 1666 fire - which began in a bakery in Pudding Lane - raged for four days, and destroyed most of the medieval parts of the city. | The 1666 fire - which began in a bakery in Pudding Lane - raged for four days, and destroyed most of the medieval parts of the city. |
King Charles II invited architects and surveyors to present alternative reconstruction plans, with the proviso that: | King Charles II invited architects and surveyors to present alternative reconstruction plans, with the proviso that: |
"...no man whatsoever shal [sic] presume to erect any House or Building, great or small, but of Brick or Stone." | "...no man whatsoever shal [sic] presume to erect any House or Building, great or small, but of Brick or Stone." |
The exhibition - Creation from Catastrophe - looks at five of the plans submitted to build a new London. | The exhibition - Creation from Catastrophe - looks at five of the plans submitted to build a new London. |
RICHARD NEWCOURT'S RELIGIOUS RECTANGLES | RICHARD NEWCOURT'S RELIGIOUS RECTANGLES |
"A series of public squares, and in the middle of each one a church and churchyard. It can be extended over and over again - it's a perfect grid plan," says curator Jes Fernie. | "A series of public squares, and in the middle of each one a church and churchyard. It can be extended over and over again - it's a perfect grid plan," says curator Jes Fernie. |
Some architectural historians believe Newcourt's idea formed the basis of the plan for Philadelphia - which in turn became the model for the American grid system. | Some architectural historians believe Newcourt's idea formed the basis of the plan for Philadelphia - which in turn became the model for the American grid system. |
VALENTINE KNIGHT'S TOLL CANAL | VALENTINE KNIGHT'S TOLL CANAL |
This is the proposal from army captain Valentine Knight - with long east/west streets and occasional north/south cross-sections. | This is the proposal from army captain Valentine Knight - with long east/west streets and occasional north/south cross-sections. |
"But also a new canal," says Fernie, "for which the king could charge a toll, to raise money to help rebuild London after the fire." | "But also a new canal," says Fernie, "for which the king could charge a toll, to raise money to help rebuild London after the fire." |
If built, the canal would have met the River Fleet in the north-west, emerging in the Thames just to the west of the Tower of London. | If built, the canal would have met the River Fleet in the north-west, emerging in the Thames just to the west of the Tower of London. |
But Charles II was not keen. He had Knight arrested for suggesting that the king might benefit financially from such a calamity. | But Charles II was not keen. He had Knight arrested for suggesting that the king might benefit financially from such a calamity. |
ROBERT HOOKE'S CHECKED GRID | ROBERT HOOKE'S CHECKED GRID |
This next plan is attributed to philosopher and surveyor Robert Hooke - but the authorship cannot be 100% verified. | This next plan is attributed to philosopher and surveyor Robert Hooke - but the authorship cannot be 100% verified. |
The un-shaded section on the map below shows the area destroyed by the Great Fire. The inset shows Hooke's radical vision. | The un-shaded section on the map below shows the area destroyed by the Great Fire. The inset shows Hooke's radical vision. |
His grid system would have been made up of broadly similar-sized blocks - a pattern subsequently used in other cities, such as Paris and Liverpool. | His grid system would have been made up of broadly similar-sized blocks - a pattern subsequently used in other cities, such as Paris and Liverpool. |
There would be four large market squares, with churches (marked "c" on the plan) every few blocks. | There would be four large market squares, with churches (marked "c" on the plan) every few blocks. |
JOHN EVELYN'S ITALIAN AVENUES | JOHN EVELYN'S ITALIAN AVENUES |
Sir John Evelyn - today best known for the diaries he wrote - held prominent public positions under Charles II. | Sir John Evelyn - today best known for the diaries he wrote - held prominent public positions under Charles II. |
He travelled widely, particularly in Italy and France, and he wanted London to be rebuilt according to an Italian-style radial plan - with piazzas and broad avenues. | He travelled widely, particularly in Italy and France, and he wanted London to be rebuilt according to an Italian-style radial plan - with piazzas and broad avenues. |
CHRISTOPHER WREN'S PARISIAN VISION | CHRISTOPHER WREN'S PARISIAN VISION |
Wren - best known for his reincarnation of St Paul's Cathedral after the fire - also had a wider vision for London. | Wren - best known for his reincarnation of St Paul's Cathedral after the fire - also had a wider vision for London. |
Similar to John Evelyn, his plan would have seen narrow medieval streets replaced with wide avenues spreading out from piazzas. | Similar to John Evelyn, his plan would have seen narrow medieval streets replaced with wide avenues spreading out from piazzas. |
It was a formal street system that referenced his studies of Paris and Rome. | It was a formal street system that referenced his studies of Paris and Rome. |
But, as with the other four proposals above, most of Wren's ideas did not become reality - mainly due to lack of money and complex land ownership issues. | But, as with the other four proposals above, most of Wren's ideas did not become reality - mainly due to lack of money and complex land ownership issues. |
London's buildings were, in the main, rebuilt on their original plots - but using brick and stone instead of timber. | London's buildings were, in the main, rebuilt on their original plots - but using brick and stone instead of timber. |
The earthquake which struck the Portuguese capital in 1755 killed tens of thousands of people. | The earthquake which struck the Portuguese capital in 1755 killed tens of thousands of people. |
Like London before the Great Fire, the city of Lisbon which stood before the quake was made up of narrow winding streets - "built around religion, not commerce", says Jes Fernie. | Like London before the Great Fire, the city of Lisbon which stood before the quake was made up of narrow winding streets - "built around religion, not commerce", says Jes Fernie. |
The tragedy left King Joseph - and his Secretary of State, the Marquis of Pombal - with the opportunity of a clean slate, or in Latin "tabula rasa". | The tragedy left King Joseph - and his Secretary of State, the Marquis of Pombal - with the opportunity of a clean slate, or in Latin "tabula rasa". |
They decided to rebuild the city centre completely - using a grid system. | They decided to rebuild the city centre completely - using a grid system. |
"Lisbon was positioning itself on the world stage," says Fernie. "It was saying 'we are rational, sturdy, stable and visionary'." | "Lisbon was positioning itself on the world stage," says Fernie. "It was saying 'we are rational, sturdy, stable and visionary'." |
"Lisbon also became one of the first cities to seismically test its buildings," says Fernie - albeit in a rudimentary fashion. | "Lisbon also became one of the first cities to seismically test its buildings," says Fernie - albeit in a rudimentary fashion. |
And above, the Marquis of Pombal - the driving force behind the reconfiguration of Lisbon - invites you to appreciate the new city. | And above, the Marquis of Pombal - the driving force behind the reconfiguration of Lisbon - invites you to appreciate the new city. |
"There's no doubt that the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 played a big part in putting the Midwest US city on the world stage," says Jes Fernie. | "There's no doubt that the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 played a big part in putting the Midwest US city on the world stage," says Jes Fernie. |
The blaze, at the end of a long dry summer, paved the way for huge city expansion and the development of a new architectural style - the Chicago School. | The blaze, at the end of a long dry summer, paved the way for huge city expansion and the development of a new architectural style - the Chicago School. |
"This is a really nice example of how real estate offices sprung up in the days after the fire," says Fernie of the photo below. | "This is a really nice example of how real estate offices sprung up in the days after the fire," says Fernie of the photo below. |
"It was very quick. So much about commerce and opportunity." | "It was very quick. So much about commerce and opportunity." |
Daniel Burnham was the shrewd PR man, architect and master planner commissioned by the authorities to reconfigure the city. | Daniel Burnham was the shrewd PR man, architect and master planner commissioned by the authorities to reconfigure the city. |
"He had to sell his vision," says Fernie, "so he commissioned incredible watercolours." | "He had to sell his vision," says Fernie, "so he commissioned incredible watercolours." |
"He was very much looking to Paris - there were boulevards and grand avenues - to give the impression of civilised life." | "He was very much looking to Paris - there were boulevards and grand avenues - to give the impression of civilised life." |
Fireproof metal frames for Chicago's new buildings helped lead to the first skyscrapers. | Fireproof metal frames for Chicago's new buildings helped lead to the first skyscrapers. |
The next image shows the extent of the 1871 blaze - and an early high rise building in downtown Chicago, designed by Daniel Burnham's firm. | The next image shows the extent of the 1871 blaze - and an early high rise building in downtown Chicago, designed by Daniel Burnham's firm. |
"Only about 20% of his plan was realised, but what is significant is the impact it had on the way Chicago was viewed across the world." | "Only about 20% of his plan was realised, but what is significant is the impact it had on the way Chicago was viewed across the world." |
The area along the shore of Lake Michigan was one of Burnham's visions which did become reality. | The area along the shore of Lake Michigan was one of Burnham's visions which did become reality. |
Locals could promenade along the lakeside - which was built from debris from the fire. | Locals could promenade along the lakeside - which was built from debris from the fire. |
The second part of the Riba exhibition - Creation from Catastrophe - looks at how current communities under threat can adapt to be ready for future challenges. | The second part of the Riba exhibition - Creation from Catastrophe - looks at how current communities under threat can adapt to be ready for future challenges. |
One example looks at Makoko floating school in a poor area of Lagos, Nigeria - where many people live on stilt structures above water. | One example looks at Makoko floating school in a poor area of Lagos, Nigeria - where many people live on stilt structures above water. |
Created by NLE Architects, it is half-building, half-boat. | Created by NLE Architects, it is half-building, half-boat. |
"It's about developing a stable structure that will cope with the challenge of rising sea levels," says curator Jes Fernie. | "It's about developing a stable structure that will cope with the challenge of rising sea levels," says curator Jes Fernie. |
"This isn't just about looking at Africa and thinking that's what they can do there," she concludes. "These ideas can be embraced in other parts of the world." | "This isn't just about looking at Africa and thinking that's what they can do there," she concludes. "These ideas can be embraced in other parts of the world." |
"We need to be thinking about the different ways that architecture will have to work with nature in the future." | "We need to be thinking about the different ways that architecture will have to work with nature in the future." |
All images subject to copyright. | All images subject to copyright. |
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