Cardiff Design Festival

Brief

At the beginning of the Olympic year of 2012, London will witness the inauguration of what will become one of its smallest yet most original and talked-about new temporary buildings: A Room for London. The room will sit on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall roof at the Southbank Centre in London and will allow two guests at a time to spend a unique night in an exemplary work of art and architecture overlooking the British capital. This one-bedroom temporary home/hotel is being commissioned by Living Architecture and Artangel, two of Britain's leading cultural organisations. Architects (as well as architects working with artists and/or engineers and designers) from across the world are invited to propose their designs.

Result

Unfortunately our vision did not come to fruition – maybe we should get talking to Cardiff…

Solution

A 7m x 7m monochrome cube ‘floating’ on London’s skyline. A supremely contemplative space for its occupants and a stunningly simple, intriguing and engaging architectural sight. At night it’s backlit form will appear suspended and physically isolated – indifferent to its context, allowing its occupants to consider their metaphysical condition. Separated visually and physically from context, the space will allow them to reflect on a remarkable setting. The object will be static, held in place by ‘invisible’ pylons and tensile cables.