Design Studies
Concepts & Design Exploration
A curated suite of conceptual architectural studies and visual explorations — examining form, scale, and contextual interplay across complex development ideas, driven purely by a love for architecture and the built environment.
The original St George's Estate was a product of the Brutalist era of 1960s East End London. The sheer magnitude of the problems uncovered during site analysis was daunting. The heavy, monolithic architecture had long imposed itself upon the residents, eroding the spirit of community and leaving behind an environment marked by decay and detachment. What remained was a population resigned to poor design and neglect — a community stripped of pride and belonging.
The brief called for a complete redesign and reinvigoration of the estate, transforming it into a vibrant, contemporary urban quarter. The new development introduces a composition of elegant high rise towers and mid rise blocks, integrating glass, steel, and warm brick to harmonise modernity with the surrounding historic fabric. At its heart, a dynamic public plaza covered by a sweeping glass canopy creates a civic focal point — a transparent, light filled space that reconnects residents and visitors alike.
This architectural intervention redefines the skyline, establishing a dialogue between the old and the new. The slender towers rise with structural clarity and rhythm, while the lower brick façades anchor the scheme within its London context. Together, they symbolise renewal — a confident expression of urban regeneration that restores identity, dignity, and architectural coherence to a once forgotten community.
The proposed bridge is asymmetrically supported with a cable stayed span of 850 m. It features a 500 m central span providing four additional lanes to enhance the vehicular capacity of the existing Queen Elizabeth II Crossing. Two 100 m concrete encased steel supports are mounted on 65 m hollowed concrete pyramids, allowing for a clear 55 m high by 100 m wide clearance envelope to the river. The bridge employs conventional, tried and tested methods and materials of construction but is designed to make a bold statement that distinguishes it aesthetically and structurally from the existing crossing in both magnitude and performance.
Each arm veers away from its respective barrier at an angle of 30°, which, combined with the curvature of the carriageway in plan and elevation, creates a dramatic fanning effect as the viewer passes through. The cables supporting the central span connect with the outer boundary of the crossing, while those supporting the latter sections connect with the centre to ensure a stable structure.
The ever increasing scale of modern bridges results in a directly proportional rise in the energy required to provide adequate lighting for users. As the need to reduce energy consumption becomes more pressing, it is paramount to integrate self sufficient means of energy production within mega structures such as this. It is feasible to install marine current turbines — much like submerged windmills but driven by flowing water rather than air — along the boundary of the bridge to harness high tidal current velocities and generate electricity for lighting. Provided a 100 m passageway is maintained, any excess electricity could be sold back to the grid to generate profit for future maintenance.
The Expressive Arts Centre is conceived on the principles of an architectural manifesto derived from and inspired by Arcology — a school of thought pioneered by architect Paolo Soleri. The manifesto evolved into what is termed Flex Arcology, promoting “green” design that unites architecture, ecology, and technology. Here, ecology refers not only to environmental sustainability but also to the human relationship with the natural and built environment.
The design integrates adaptive architectural forms with the historic industrial fabric, as seen in the juxtaposition of robust brick volumes and fluid, sculptural roof structures. These sweeping, mesh like canopies evoke movement and rhythm, symbolising the creative energy within — a space dedicated to performance, art, and innovation.
A striking feature of the building is the large digital screen embedded into its façade, projecting live and recorded performances by the building's occupants, transforming the architecture itself into a dynamic stage that celebrates artistic expression and public engagement. The building's riverside setting enhances its dialogue with nature, reflecting light and motion across the water, while its transparent façades invite visual connection between interior activity and the surrounding cityscape.
