Architecture

Proposal puts UK parliament in a bubble on the river for refurbishment project

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The building, which is dubbed Project Poseidon, would measure 250 x 42 m (820 x 137 ft)
Gensler
According to Gensler, its striking glazed design draws inspiration from the magnificent  hammer-beam timber roof of Westminster Hall
Gensler
The building, which is dubbed Project Poseidon, would measure 250 x 42 m (820 x 137 ft)
Gensler
You don't really want wiring like this to be beneath your seat of government
House of Lords 2016/Roger Harris
An independent commission has found that these pipes are a fire risk, too
House of Lords 2016/Roger Harris
The Palace of Westminster is looking rather tired
UK Parliament
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British Parliament's home, the Palace of Westminster, is showing its age. To address issues including water leaks, poor wiring, and risk of fire, a multi-billion pound refurbishment is required that's likely to shut the place for six years. To allow the government to go about its business as usual in the meantime, Gensler has designed a futuristic water-based modular building.

The concept building, dubbed Project Poseidon, would allow Members of Parliament to meet on the River Thames, just a stone's throw from their current aging workplace, directly adjacent to the existing Member's terrace. It could operate as a standalone building or potentially integrate with areas of the Palace of Westminster during the refurbishment.

Gensler says it would be designed and built in UK shipyards over three years and floated down the Thames in prefabricated sections before being assembled. The building itself would measure 250 x 42 m (820 x 137 ft) and would be supported on a series of steel platforms. A barrier would provide protection from passing water-borne craft.

According to Gensler, the striking glazed design draws inspiration from the famous 14th Century hammer-beam timber roof of Westminster Hall.

According to Gensler, its striking glazed design draws inspiration from the magnificent  hammer-beam timber roof of Westminster Hall
Gensler

If the project goes ahead (and to be clear, there's no suggestion this is particularly likely at this stage), the firm estimates it would cost £160 million (US$204 million) and take three years to build.

Spending so much for temporary digs seems potentially excessive, though Gensler says that Project Poseidon could reduce the total refurbishment costs by up to £1.8 billion ($2.3 billion). We've reached out to the firm for further details on how it arrived at that figure and will update this story if we hear back.

The project comes after last year's crowdfunding project for another ambitious vision that would make more use of the Thames by building a floating, sustainably-powered cycle path on it.

You can hear the thoughts of a few members of the public in the video below.

Sources: Gensler, Parliament.UK

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4 comments
tapasmonkey
Oh please please please let this happen - quite literally a Westminster bubble!
JPAR
Given that its a prefab, could it be dismantled and relocated elsewhere on the River Thames once the Westminster works are complete? Would certainly make the initial investment more appealing. [Main problem is all the natural daylight in such a modern build - it'll seriously hamper MPs ability to snooze]
Techtwit
Money could be saved by not anchoring it to the river bed, then we could tow it out to sea and sink it, thus saving even more money by getting rid of a bunch of overpaid self seaking MPs.
Nik
Is it appropriate, that it looks like a very large slug?