Search results for: The Smile

The Smile London

The Smile is a public pavilion that formed the centrepiece of the 2016 London Design Festival. Located in the Chelsea College of Art (UAL) Parade Ground next to the Tate Britain, the Smile brought an immersive architectural experience to one of London’s most significant public spaces. Conceived as a great arc, balancing on the urban … Continued

World Architecture Festival 2018

Exeter College Cohen Quad has been shortlisted for the WAF 2018 ‘Higher Education and Research’ award and will be judged by a panel in November.

CLADmag

Alison Brooks features as the cover article on CLADmag’s first issue of 2018.

designboom: Interview with Alison Brooks

At the World Architecture Festival 2017 in Berlin, Alison was interviewed by designboom about our award winning ‘The Smile’ and why she thinks the public should be involved in discussions about architecture.

Wood in Architecture, Milan

Alison will be presenting The Smile at ‘Wood in Architecture’ in Milan, a seminar jointly organised by American Hardwood Council (AHEC) and The Plan Magazine.

Alison Brooks to lecture at Greenwich University

As part of Greenwich University’s Hawksmoor International Lecture Series 2017-2018, open to all, Alison Brooks is giving a talk on ‘ The Ideal and the Real – why Civicness is the project’ at the Tessa Blackstone Lecture Theatre, Greenwich on Thursday 23 November.

Alison Brooks to lecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Alison Brooks is presenting a lecture at MIT, Cambridge on ‘The Ideal and the Real – why Civicness is the project’. Alison will be discussing her practice philosophy, techniques and the ideal of ‘civicness’ using current and recently completed projects: The Cohen Quadrangle at Oxford University; a high rise urban block in Kings Cross, London; The Smile Pavilion and … Continued

Architects’ Data File: The Smile

The Smile forms the front cover of the September issue of the Architects’ Data File, in recognition of its nomination for the IStructE Structural Awards 2017.

The Smile shortlisted for IStructE Award

The Smile has been selected in the category for ‘Small Projects (of under £1million)’. ABA collaborated with The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and Arup, whose Special Structures team in London described the project as ‘the most complex piece of CLT engineering in the world’.

The Smile shortlisted for 2017 Wood Awards

The Smile has been selected in the ‘Small Project’ category, among 34 projects that ‘represent the best of British architecture and product design in the world’s only naturally sustainable material’.

The Smile wins Architizer A+Award

A Winning Smile! We’ve won the Jury’s Award for the Cultural-Pavilions category in the Architizer A+Awards 2017, announced 11th April.  The Smile was also shortlisted in the Pop-Ups, Temporary and Wood categories.

The Smile

‘The Smile’ was open from 10am – 9pm, 17 September until 12 October 2016, at the Chelsea College of Art Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground.

Detail

“According to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is “The Smile”, the first construction project ever in the industrially manufactured hardwood CLT is used. The Arup engineers praise the material to be particularly efficient: A mere 60 cubic meters of wood were necessary to provide a constructed area of 150 square meters.”

CNC

Chinese news channel CNC featured an interview of the Smile, accompanied by an interview with Alison Brooks.

Architects’ Journal

“Dubbed ’the most complex CLT structure ever built’, Alison Brooks and Arup present a 34m-long ’smile’ made of Tulipwood in the parade ground of Chelsea College, behind Tate Britain. ’It looks like high-quality flooring,’ says Brooks, ’too good to be structural — and that’s kind of amazing.’”

OnOffice

“The Smile installation by Alison Brooks Architects and Arup is more than just an appealing structure – it’s producing data on hardwood use.”

Londonist

“In the square outside Chelsea College of Arts, and across the road from Tate Modern, is a giant wooden ‘smile’ by Alison Brooks’ Architects. Visitors can walk inside and up the curved sides. The design is beautiful in its simplicity and the way natural light flows in. Exploring it definitely made us smile.”

Inhabitat

“Visitors to the London Design Festival can experience an unusual curved building called The Smile. Designed by Alison Brooks of Alison Brooks Architects, the sloping structure demonstrates the potential of CLT, which Brooks says is “stronger than concrete.””

Canadian Architect

“For AHEC, The Smile is one of the most important developments in a decade of research and development into structural timber innovation with Arup, and one that could broaden the use of CLT in the construction industry. Andrew Lawrence, Associate Director, Arup says, “The Smile is the most challenging structure ever constructed in CLT. Every … Continued

CNN

“The Smile, designed by architect Alison Brooks, is the most complex structure ever to be made out of cross-laminated timber” “If the 19th century belonged to iron and steel and the 20th century belonged to concrete, could timber be the building material of our age?”

CNN

The Smile featured as the headline image of CNN’s illustrated guide to the London Design Festival 2016.

Divisare

Italian website Divisare featured Alison Brooks Architects’ installation, The Smile – a collaboration with The American Hardwood Export Council, Arup and the London Design Festival.

BBC Radio London

Alison Brooks was interviewed on this BBC Radio London programme about LDF landmark project, The Smile. In the link below, she begins speaking at 02:06:54.

The Spaces

“Before this week, few people truly believed you could use hardwood cross-laminated timber (CLT) to support an entire habitable building – not least the construction business. That’s why ‘The Smile’, on view in the courtyard of the Chelsea College of Art until mid-October, has become a landmark project for the London Design Festival.”

Designboom

“alison brooks architects’ ‘the smile’ installation is an attractive and interactive landmark monument for the 2016 london design festival. together with the american hardwood export council (AHEC) and arup, the collaboration has resulted in a spectacularly curved, tubular structure made from cross-laminated tulipwood (CLT). on display from the 17th september to 12th october, designboom was … Continued

Casabella

“Architect Alison Brooks’ Landmark Project for the London Design Festival could be described as an unidentified flying object: a 34m long, 3m high upside down arc poised on the urban horizon. Her project is also a spectacular urban pavilion that takes the shape of a Smile.”

BD

ABA’s The Smile was profiled in an article entitled ‘Is hardwood the future of timber construction?’ “As Alison Brooks Architects’ gravity-defying installation at the London Design Festival shows off the structural benefits of cross-laminated hardwood, Amanda Birch examines the growing uptake of CLT solutions”

Dezeen

“According to Arup engineer Andrew Lawrence… “The Smile is the most complex CLT structure that has ever been built,””

Elle Decoration

“At Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground, Millbank, you’ll find this extraordinary 36-metre-long ‘megatube’ installation by architect Alison Brooks. Despite only balancing on a single point, the curved structure is safe to stroll along. At night, it will be lit from within, with its glow bright enough to be seen from across the River Thames.”

Masterclass at the V&A

Alison Brooks was in conversation with Andrew Lawrence, Associate Director at Arup and collaborator on The Smile, along with Andy Toohey, Partner at Price & Myers.

The Smile day 14

Day 14 sees The Smile having its roof sealed, in order to keep visitors happy and dry.

Hindustan Times

“Canadian artist Alison Brooks has designed a huge wooden structure called “The Smile” for London Design Week, located in the Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground of the Chelsea College of Arts. This unusual urban object is, in fact, an arc-shaped 34-meter long and 3-meter high pavilion with open ends that flood the inside with light. Visitors … Continued

Metro

The Metro newspaper featured Alison Brooks Architects’ landmark LDF project, the Smile, as their top highlight for the London Design Festival.

Design Week

“A regular favourite is the installation created with the American Hardwood Council. In recent years we’ve seen dRMM Architects’ Escher-inspired Endless Stair and Amanda Levete’s Endless Wave. “This year, The Smile has been created by architect Alison Brooks. It’s a 34 metre curved wooden structure that you can walk in and around.”

Designboom

“for AHEC, the project is one of the most important developments in a decade of research and development into structural timber innovation. ‘this structure proves that hardwoods have a role to play in the timber construction revolution,’ says david venables, european director of AHEC. ‘the smile is the most challenging structure ever constructed in CLT,’ … Continued

Financial Times

“On the Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground, architect Alison Brooks has created a 34-metre rectangular tube arcing upwards at either end. “The Smile”, one of the festival’s landmark projects, is designed to be an immersive pavilion. The tube forms an open-air balcony at either end, framing particular views of the sky, and its perforated walls mediate … Continued

Wallpaper

Wallpaper Magazine featured The Smile in its review of the highlights of London Design Festival 2016.

The Smile preview video

Take a first look at one of the London Design Festival’s 2016 Landmark Projects, The Smile – the world’s first-ever 34m long CLT urban pavilion.

The Smile day 10

With The Smile’s full 34 metre wingspan in place, its cross-laminated tulipwood cantilevers are being secured with self-tapping screws.

The Smile day 9

On day 9 of construction, the two cantilevered ends have been lifted into place, bringing the structure its full ‘Smile’ form.

The Sunday Times

“The totem of this year’s London Design Festival (September 17-25) is a great big grin. The architect Alison Brooks has designed a pavilion in cross-laminated American tulipwood, in the shape of an 11ft-high, 110ft-long smile. The installation at Chelsea College of Arts could “transformthe way architects and engineers approach timber construction”, says David Venables, European director of the American Hardwood Export Council. The confident curve echoes the organisers’ bullish … Continued

The Smile day 8

On day 8 of the Smile’s construction, the central panels have been assembled, ready to accept its two cantilevered ends.

Dezeen

The Smile gave the headline image to this article entitled ‘The 10 top installations and exhibitions at London Design Festival 2016′.

Fabricating the Smile

Our team have been to Zublin Timber, Germany to see the Smile being made in the factory.

Architect

The Journal of the American Institute of Architects featured this article about The Smile. “Twenty minutes into our discussion about the Smile—Alison Brooks Architects’ forthcoming seesaw of a building in the courtyard of London’s Chelsea College of Arts—I’m still trying to determine what makes the upward curvature of the unusual, namesake form structurally feasible.”

Architects’ Journal

The Architect’s Journal showcased Alison Brooks Architects’ urban installation, ‘The Smile’. The practice collaborated with The American Hardwood Export Council, Arup and the London Design Festival to present a cross-laminated tulipwood structure on the Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground of the Chelsea College of Arts from 17 September until 12 October 2016.

Blueprint

“Working with Arup, [Alison Brooks Architects] has designed a large, arching tunnel which lifts at each end (hence its name, Smile) made from American tulipwood; it is the first ever use of industrial-sized panels of hardwood CLT. As such, it heralds a new product, which could transform the way architects and engineers approach constructing in … Continued

Interior Design

“For The Smile, Alison Brooks and the American Hardwood Export Council will present an installation in the form of a smile-shaped tunnel. 

London Design Festival: The Smile

Alison Brooks Architects have designed an urban installation for this year’s London Design Festival that showcases the structural and spatial potential of cross–laminated hardwood, using American tulipwood. The Smile is a collaboration with AHEC, Arup and Merk.