Member Article

London's first timber skyscraper takes shape as proposals submitted to Mayor

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have presented proposals to the Mayor of London this week that could see the construction of a 300m high timber skyscraper.

If approved, the proposals, which were put together by the university’s Department of Architecture, could see the creation of the capital’s first timber skyscraper, and the second tallest building in the capital behind The Shard.

Designed in conjunction with PLP Architecture and engineers Smith and Wallwork, the conceptual proposals outline plans for 1,000 new residential units in a 1 million sq ft mixed-use tower and mid-rise terraces in central London, integrated with the Barbican.

Dr Michael Ramage, Director of Cambridge’s Centre for Natural Material Innovation, said: “The Barbican was designed in the middle of the last century to bring residential living into the city of London – and it was successful. We’ve put our proposals on the Barbican as a way to imagine what the future of construction could look like in the 21st century.

“If London is going to survive it needs to increasingly densify. One way is taller buildings. We believe people have a greater affinity for taller buildings in natural materials rather than steel and concrete towers.

“The fundamental premise is that timber and other natural materials are vastly underused and we don’t give them nearly enough credit. Nearly every historic building, from King’s College Chapel to Westminster Hall, has made extensive use of timber.”

Kevin Flanagan, Partner at PLP Architecture added: “We now live predominantly in cities and so the proposals have been designed to improve our wellbeing in an urban context. Timber buildings have the potential architecturally to create a more pleasing, relaxed, sociable and creative urban experience.

“Our firm is currently designing many of London’s tall buildings, and the use of timber could transform the way we build in this city. We are excited to be working with the University and with Smith and Wallwork on this ground breaking design- and engineering-based research.”