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| Architect Frank Gehry unveils plans for his first buildings in England | Architect Frank Gehry unveils plans for his first buildings in England |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The first buildings in England by world-famous architect Frank Gehry are set to be a 700-unit apartment complex in London, without a single "affordable" home. | |
| The 85-year-old designer of the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao unveiled the designs for the project next to Battersea power station and said while he believed architects had a social responsibility, he had no power to insist on the inclusion of affordable homes in the development. | |
| Fewer than 8% of the 1,300 homes designed as part of the third phase of the Battersea power station redevelopment by Gehry and Lord Foster, the British architect, will be classed as affordable – for social rent or shared ownership. | |
| London is suffering from an acute shortage of affordable housing and Gehry was pressed on the issue at the launch, during which the developers said they intended to sell the homes in London in order to discourage "buy-to-leave" investors from abroad. | |
| "As an architect, I have a social responsibility," Gehry said. "I could give you a litany of things I am doing pro bono in the world, including Maggie's Centre [a cancer care centre in Dundee]. I am in over my head on those things like education and science where I donate my services. I can't demand there will be social housing in the middle of this project. This will be a real people thing for the city. I can't tell London what to do. In LA we are doing a project that has affordable housing in it." | "As an architect, I have a social responsibility," Gehry said. "I could give you a litany of things I am doing pro bono in the world, including Maggie's Centre [a cancer care centre in Dundee]. I am in over my head on those things like education and science where I donate my services. I can't demand there will be social housing in the middle of this project. This will be a real people thing for the city. I can't tell London what to do. In LA we are doing a project that has affordable housing in it." |
| Rob Tincknell, chief executive of the Battersea power station development company, which is owned by Malaysian investors, said the percentage of affordable homes being offered in the Gehry and Foster buildings was lower than the 3,400-home scheme as a whole, which will deliver 517 units for social rent or shared ownership – the equivalent of 15%. | Rob Tincknell, chief executive of the Battersea power station development company, which is owned by Malaysian investors, said the percentage of affordable homes being offered in the Gehry and Foster buildings was lower than the 3,400-home scheme as a whole, which will deliver 517 units for social rent or shared ownership – the equivalent of 15%. |
| Grant Brooker, design director of Foster and Partners, described the 8% affordable homes in the latest phase as "an inspiring level of commitment from the developer". | Grant Brooker, design director of Foster and Partners, described the 8% affordable homes in the latest phase as "an inspiring level of commitment from the developer". |
| Gehry's scheme has been compared to Gaudi's apartment blocks in Barcelona. Gehry said his goal had been to "build a texture and break down the scale" to "humanise" the building. | |
| "I don't know anything quite like it," he said of the 1,300 apartments he and Foster hope to build to the south of the listed power-station structure. "I think it will be lived in. Both teams [Gehry and Foster] have a good record of people wanting to be part of what we do." | "I don't know anything quite like it," he said of the 1,300 apartments he and Foster hope to build to the south of the listed power-station structure. "I think it will be lived in. Both teams [Gehry and Foster] have a good record of people wanting to be part of what we do." |
| Gehry's design is for five apartment blocks rising as high as the power station roof, clustered around a central building he calls "the flower". The Gehry buildings form one side of a crescent-shaped street, while a single snaking apartment block with a roof garden is proposed by Foster. | Gehry's design is for five apartment blocks rising as high as the power station roof, clustered around a central building he calls "the flower". The Gehry buildings form one side of a crescent-shaped street, while a single snaking apartment block with a roof garden is proposed by Foster. |
| Gehry, famous for his flamboyant designs, was asked if he was architecture's equivalent of Jimi Hendrix. | Gehry, famous for his flamboyant designs, was asked if he was architecture's equivalent of Jimi Hendrix. |
| "I am not what people think I am," he replied. "There's a modesty to this project even though it is big. I am no Jimi Hendrix. I won't be breaking any guitars." | |
| The designs are set to be opened for public consultation on Wednesday, ahead of a planning application. The apartments will be offered for sale later this year. | The designs are set to be opened for public consultation on Wednesday, ahead of a planning application. The apartments will be offered for sale later this year. |