This is basically a Queen Mary University medical research building for PhD students, attached to the adjacent hospital. The intelligence of the design derives from the aspects of the brief linked to the building’s funding: a call for a single lab space (cutting across the usual departmental boundaries); facilities for ‘write-ups’; and an ability to put everything on display to parties of school children — thus encouraging them into science. Since the single lab space was so large, it was decided that the best place to locate it was underground, filling the entire site area. The above ground parts then divided themselves into three ‘slices’: a thin building handling reception, a cafe, and a lecture theatre; a parallel slice of public open space; and a third slice which is a galleried atrium — the gallery accommodating write-up benches, with the heart of the atrium as an opportunity to float meeting ‘pods’. And it works splendidly.
The real delight is the interior: a veritably vibrant scene straight out of a Hieronymous Bosch painting — all the madness of the Garden of Earthly Delights and all that. (The ‘mushroom pod’ off the entrance is actually a platform rather than a ‘pod’ like the meeting three spaces. And one of these — the one for children — was without the funding that will furnish it as of early 2006.)
If there is a problem with this building, it is the comparatively cool blandness of the external appearance and the Bruce Mclean art works that adorn the surface like well-designed but nevertheless gratuitous advertising bill-boards. In fairness, the central piazza space awaits (in early 2006) some public furniture. But the space cries out for trees and it is sad that the budget did not extend to structurally accommodating these above the labs. As for that underground space, it is surprisingly pleasant. And, above, the hundreds of galleried PhD students also appear to be content with the facilities provided. However, all experimental ventures always have problems — this one includes such things as the neoprene skin to one of the pods that acts as a perfect sound transmitter.
The exterior of the building is simple but stylish, and enlivened by decorative Bruce McLean glass-works on a microbiological theme. The area between the long building which is mainly for plant and the building with the galleried atrium is an open pizza that stil awaits whatever will turn it into a desirable place to linger or play (although it is unlikely the latter would be allowed).
Below left: one of the pods (with a spikey one behind). Centre: view along the gallery with a stainless steel clad service tower on the left. Below right: view down from the gallery to the basement lab space and its benches.