Calatrava will be in London for a project summary of their career – W Radio

Paula Baena Velasco

London, 2 feb (EFE).- The Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, accompanied by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today introduced the, which will be its first project in the british capital, a work which was considered as a “synthesis” of his more than 35-year career.

The initiative is part of the transformation plan of the Peninsula of Greenwich, the urban regeneration project and Europe’s largest, with a budget of 8,400 million pounds (9.838 million euros), and will occupy an area of 130,000 square meters.

A new subway station and bus, a theater, a cinema, stages, bars, shops, as well as three towers of offices, apartments, hotels and a bridge that crosses the Thames, will be the “Peninsula Place” of Calatrava, which has a budget of 1,000 million pounds (1.260 million).

The architect, of 65 years, today highlighted the “affinity” that feels with the city of London and ensured that the Uk is “the only place in the world” in which the gothic style continued during the NINETEENTH century, “by helping to create buildings of extraordinary”.

So, the Spanish held that it is an “honor” for him “to develop this project in the fabric of London,” and explained that its design has been inspired by the “rich architectural heritage” of the british capital and in the “geography so special” of the peninsula of Greenwich.

Calatrava is the last architect hired by the real estate company responsible for the transformation plan of the peninsula, Knight Dragon, thus joining a long list that includes Mark Barfield, Alison Brooks or Duggan Morris.

The vice-president of Knight Dragon, Sammy Lee, said today that “the contribution of santiago Calatrava will help to ensure that the increased recovery project that is being developed in the Uk meets all of its potential”.

Lee confessed that the company’s ambition with this project is “that the peninsula of Greenwich is a unique cultural destination for londoners and visitors”.

In turn, the CEO of Knight Dragon, Richard Margree, highlighted the size of the area -”two times in the Soho neighborhood”- and the importance of that there is the famous center concert 02 Arena.

For his part, the mayor of London, labour’s Sadiq Khan, said he felt “delighted” that Calatrava would have chosen London for their first big project in the United Kingdom.

The mayor acknowledged that after the referendum result last June 23 ,in which the british supported the “brexit” or exit of the Uk from the European Union, felt “nervousness”.

But he added that the fact that projects such as the peninsula of Greenwich continue forward, “shows that London remains open to investment, trade, and the best talent from around the world.”

“This new landmark for London and the growth of this area of the city will create a new district for londoners and visitors from around the world”, he concluded.

The “Peninsula Place” Calatrava will be part of the area “Peninsula Centre”, one of the seven new districts that will host the zone, and in which it is planned to build 800 new housing units, 200 of which will be social housing.

In total, the plan of regeneration will involve the building over the next few years 15.720 housing, the first major film studio of the centre of London, and a new design district, schools, offices, health services and public spaces. EFE

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