黑洞社区

Plans by AHMM to radically rework a postmodern landmark in Islington, north London have been given the green light.

Local councillors voted to approve the transformation of the early 90s Angel Square development, which was designed by Rock Townsend Architects, despite protests from heritage groups.

The proposals, designed for US investor Tishman Speyer, will see the building鈥檚 external features, which include an Italianate campanile-style clock tower, stripped away and replaced with a glass facade.

Others working on the scheme include T&T as project manager, Core 5 as QS, AKT II as structural engineer and ChapmanBDSP as M&E consultant.

Angel Square鈥檚 current three blocks provide 15,000 sq m of office space and a pub, on the corner of Torrens Street and City Road. The building also includes the entrance to Angel Station on London Underground鈥檚 Northern line.

The plans propose adding new storeys and increasing the office floorspace by around 7,000sq m.

But Save Britain鈥檚 Heritage and the Twentieth Century Society had both objected to the makeover, which had been recommended for approval by the council鈥檚 planning officer.

Islington鈥檚 design review panel had concluded that the building, formally named 1 Torrens Street, 鈥渇alls well short of the required design qualities deserving of protection, including listing鈥�.

The panel added that AHMM鈥檚 replacement scheme was considered to be a 鈥渉igh quality design that is sensitive to its context鈥�.

It also said that the plans would 鈥渟peak a similar language鈥� to the adjacent 1980s office block the Angel 黑洞社区, the redevelopment of which saw AHMM shortlisted for the Stirling Prize in 2011.

The panel said the two buildings would 鈥渢hrough their quiet and subtle architecture, allow the richness of the historic architecture, form and detailing of the surrounding buildings and terraces to remain fully legible and visually dominant.鈥�

However, councillor Benali Hamdache said: 鈥淚鈥檇 rather it spoke the language of the buildings we鈥檙e seeking to preserve at Angel rather than the slightly anonymous office building on a corner, particularly for a building at such an important junction.鈥�

Calling for the scheme to be deferred, he added: 鈥淚 look at this box [the AHMM scheme], and I don鈥檛 see the inspiration it鈥檚 taken from surrounding buildings, and I don鈥檛 see that in 30 years鈥� time that we鈥檒l look back at this building with much favourability, while we look at a building today that has interest鈥�it might be marmite, it has problems鈥� but I don鈥檛 think [AHMM鈥檚 refurbishment] meets the need for this important junction.鈥�

Hamdache was unable to secure the support of a seconder, meaning that a vote on a deferral was not held.

Other councillors were lukewarm about the scheme鈥檚 design quality but praised its sustainability credentials and said it was an improvement on the existing block, which councillor Paul Convery called 鈥渁n incredibly hostile building鈥�.

Planning committee chair Toby North concluded that there was not reason enough to refuse the application, which he said included a number of public benefits such as affordable workspace.