Last month I took part in a seminar organised by Blueprint Magazine on the Future of the Architect. I started my presentation with the classic image of Buzz Aldrin of Apollo 11 on the surface of the moon. I was 12 at the time of the Apollo 11 mission and that single event made a lasting impression on me, along with a belief that we as a race can conquer any obstacle to achieve our ambitions.
My interest in how the railways formed the City began when we worked on the London Bridge Jubilee Line Station in the 1990s
We spent a lot of time in the amazing brick vaults which hold up the station and viaduct and there was a tremendous sense of the ambition and effort which created these structures.
Since then we have worked on major projects at Paddington, Victoria and now St Pancras, Fenchurch Street, Charing Cross and Liverpool Street. On every project I am in awe of the legacy of the workmen and businessmen of the nineteenth century and the lives of their wives and families and those who were affected by the railways in so many ways. The film includes images and footage which shows amazing contrasts. Issues that are relevant to similar projects today. We can learn such a lot about the present and the future by looking at the past. Major infrastructure projects today face similar challenges to those of these early years. As Carl Sagan said “In order to predict the future you need to understand the past”. We are in the middle of another great era of public infrastructure provision to help combat climate change and make our cities better for pedestrians and cyclists. The film concludes looking forward to reuse and repurposing of buildings and other railway assets as our ways of travel change.
In September 2019 when no-one had heard of Covid-19 Chris was asked to introduce a Symposium organised by the RIBA on the subject of ‘The Happy City’ in Kuwait. The introduction has been updated, filmed and is available to watch here.
On March 8, young architects from Allies and Morrison and Hawkins\Brown joined those from WW+P for a live streamed design workshop, organised by RIBA International Vice President Chris Williamson.
Chris Williamson will be exploring innovative typologies for tall buildings and possible sites for London's first mile high tower at our co-hosted panel discussion at Transport for London, 55 Broadway, Westminster SW1, on Thursday November 8, 6.00-8.30pm.
When Chris was asked to work with Andrew Weston for group projects at Leicester School of Architecture (for no other reason than they were next to each other alphabetically) they both realised that their skills dovetailed perfectly. They particularly bonded on environmental issues during the energy crisis in the mid 1970s which alerted the world to the need to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. Their shared ambition made for a perfect business partnership and Weston Williamson was formed in 1985 after gaining valuable experience in the offices of Richard Rogers and Michael Hopkins.
In addition to being a chartered architect, Chris has an MSc in Project Management and believes strongly that the art of architecture requires excellent business skills in order to be realised. Chris was recently the International Vice President of the RIBA responsible for setting a strategy to grow into a global membership institution and to encourage more UK architects to seek work globally. Read more of Chris's thoughts via his blog page.
Chris mentors several students in the WW+P studio and also at the University of Westminster, he provides an open honest account of his journey in Architecture and his hopes for the future. Chris says "My career has been a fantastic random combination of meticulous planning and unforeseen events. Trying to make the most of the cards that have been dealt and sometimes playing them at the right times."
His video explains more: My life in Architecture Chris Williamson
Chris has recently written WW+P’s vision for the next 20 years, which talks about a diverse, collaborative design studio with strong delivery skills. In March 2022 WW+P became part of the Egis to give greater opportunities in diverse geographies for all the members of the WW+P studios. Chris is Chairman of the WW+P Board responsible for collaboration with Egis across global opportunities, extending our influence in city shaping infrastructure projects and combating climate change. His work builds on valued relationships with consultants and colleagues around the world working collaboratively to improve our environment. Egis is at the forefront of sustainable thinking, having authored the Paris 2050 Carbon Neutral, in partnership we are realising the concerns that first brought Weston and Williamson together 47 years ago.
Chris is a BRE Approved Assessor for BREEAM International and National Infrastructure projects. Chris is a member of the Livery Climate Change Action Group and a member of the City of London Conservation Area Advisory Panel. Chris sits on the Expert Panel for Transport at the NLA and is a member (sometimes Chair) of the Southwark Design Panel.
Last month I took part in a seminar organised by Blueprint Magazine on the Future of the Architect. I started my presentation with the classic image of Buzz Aldrin of Apollo 11 on the surface of the moon. I was 12 at the time of the Apollo 11 mission and that single event made a lasting impression on me, along with a belief that we as a race can conquer any obstacle to achieve our ambitions.
My interest in how the railways formed the City began when we worked on the London Bridge Jubilee Line Station in the 1990s
We spent a lot of time in the amazing brick vaults which hold up the station and viaduct and there was a tremendous sense of the ambition and effort which created these structures.
Since then we have worked on major projects at Paddington, Victoria and now St Pancras, Fenchurch Street, Charing Cross and Liverpool Street. On every project I am in awe of the legacy of the workmen and businessmen of the nineteenth century and the lives of their wives and families and those who were affected by the railways in so many ways. The film includes images and footage which shows amazing contrasts. Issues that are relevant to similar projects today. We can learn such a lot about the present and the future by looking at the past. Major infrastructure projects today face similar challenges to those of these early years. As Carl Sagan said “In order to predict the future you need to understand the past”. We are in the middle of another great era of public infrastructure provision to help combat climate change and make our cities better for pedestrians and cyclists. The film concludes looking forward to reuse and repurposing of buildings and other railway assets as our ways of travel change.
In September 2019 when no-one had heard of Covid-19 Chris was asked to introduce a Symposium organised by the RIBA on the subject of ‘The Happy City’ in Kuwait. The introduction has been updated, filmed and is available to watch here.
On March 8, young architects from Allies and Morrison and Hawkins\Brown joined those from WW+P for a live streamed design workshop, organised by RIBA International Vice President Chris Williamson.
Chris Williamson will be exploring innovative typologies for tall buildings and possible sites for London's first mile high tower at our co-hosted panel discussion at Transport for London, 55 Broadway, Westminster SW1, on Thursday November 8, 6.00-8.30pm.
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