A Birthday Trip to London

ellmolloy
Feb 17, 2020
4 min read

Updated: May 5, 2020

My boyfriend had woke me up at 7 am, on the morning of my birthday. I was confused; why did he wake me up so early? He placed an envelope on my lap and encouraged me to open it. Inside was train tickets to London. I was delighted as London is known for its impressive architecture and thriving design industry. I started packing immediately and prepared for our long train journey. We stayed at the Citadines Apart'Hotel, which was a short walk away from the Barbican Centre. Chamberlin, Powell and Bon Architects designed the Barbican Centre. The estate consists of residential blocks, cultural facilities, a shopping centre, underground parking and gardens. These amenities were supposed to attract residents and justify the high price. It is an example of Brutalist architecture highlighted by the buildings unfinished concrete facade and geometric appearance. The barbican centre was much bigger than I expected; you could spot it from our hotel window. We decided to take a stroll through the premises. It was a calm evening; we sat on a bench facing a lake and fountains. I'm not the biggest fan of brutalist architecture, but the layout of the complex and its features created a sense of community. My current project involves designing an office space. I used this trip as an opportunity to visit Bloomberg. When attending the RIBA Stirling Prize 2018 exhibition in Liverpool, I came across the Bloomberg designed by Foster + Partners. I was fascinated by the organic patterns in the interior of the office. When we arrived at the building, we struggled to find the entrance. A pedestrian arcade and an abundance of cafes and restaurants surrounded the area. We got lost within the flow of people. The immense structural sandstone exterior is striking; it stood out amongst its neighbours. I felt tiny standing next to the building. It was around 6 pm when we discovered the entrance and a lot of people were leaving as we walked in. The interior of the lobby was enchanting. Curved timber panels decorated the ceiling and walls. Uplights projected an ambient light onto the timber which created a glowing illusion. I had never been in a space like this; it was breath-taking. We approached the reception and asked if we could enter the rest of the building as we are curious design students. Unfortunately, the office was about to close, and they couldn't allow us to go inside. Although I was disappointed, I am glad that I got to see the lobby area. This interior helped me understand the importance of reception design and how it can influence individuals first impressions of space. It was rewarding to visit the Bloomberg office in person after learning about it in an exhibition. My favourite part of the trip was visiting the Warner Bros. Studio - The Making of Harry Potter. I haven't met many people who dislike the famous tale of the boy-who-lived. In her narrative, J.K Rowling crafted a portal in which we could escape from reality. I am still secretly waiting for my Hogwarts invitation to confirm my magical heritage. The tour is remarkably detailed. For instance, thoughtful features such as playing the film on the shuttle bus and serving butterbeer in the restaurant provide the best experience for the guests. The walking tour allows you to understand the process behind making the Harry Potter films. There are sets such as the Great Hall, Gringotts Bank and the Forbidden Forest that transport you to the wizarding world. Special effect demonstrations enable individuals to fly on a broomstick and ride the Hogwarts express, just like the characters in the movie. An exhibition of props decorates the studio. Specialists sit at stations and explain and demonstrate the construction of these objects. I found this part of the tour valuable as you could ask questions and learn more about the design process. In another part of the studio, was a display of costumes and prosthetics that helped me understand how the actors transformed into mythical beings. Detailed plans and models were made before the construction of the sets and displayed on the walls. These were very similar to the drawings I produce on my interior design course. I had never thought about becoming a set designer, but this trip revealed the potential career path. I love the imagination that has gone into creating the sets; they accommodated the illusion of a magical world. Lastly, we went to the Tate Modern and Coal Drops Yard. Herzog and De Meuron transformed an old power station into The Tate Modern gallery. The most noticeable feature of this building was the enormous volume of space. I don't believe I'll ever be in an atrium with a ceiling height this great again. Another impressive feature was the wide ramp that forced me into the interior. Children were having competitions of who could roll down it the fastest. We spent a few hours here peacefully looking at artwork and enjoying the interior. I would one hundred per cent recommend visiting the gallery. Thomas Heatherwick designed Coal Drops Yard. Like the Tate, this was a conversion from two 19th-century coal warehouses to a shopping centre. The curved roofs join the two buildings together and appear as though they're kissing. The touching roofs also produce a canopy pedestrians can walk beneath. I think the building represents Thomas Heatherwicks sculptural background. It was nice to wander around and shop in this environment. The sun was setting and provided excellent lighting for pictures. My trip to London was fun and educational. If you are interested in design, I advise visiting this creative capital. Although London is known for being a busy city, I would love the opportunity to work and live here. I will look forward to my next adventure.