New Blackfriars station - World's Largest Solar Bridge

[JMSmiths]

"The new Blackfriars station, which is being built on a bridge spanning the River Thames, is on its way to becoming the world's largest solar bridge"

http://www.power-technology.com/proj...-solar-bridge/

I used to travel through the London Blackfriars station every day about 10 years ago and I always wondered how beautifully it can be redesigned as it spans across the river Thames. It always had the potential to be a major London attraction.

Glad to see its redevelopment is finally coming to an end.





Image credit : http://www.power-technology.com/

The illustration is a bit odd looking. What are the latest site developments? Have they finished the work on Thameslink platforms yet?

[McBane]

I love how BIG and BOLD London thinks. It has managed to successfully maintain its history (unlike NYC) without sacrificing growth. They're certainly not afraid of contemporary, ultra modern architecture clashing with the old. American cities are extremely conservative.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by McBane

I love how BIG and BOLD London thinks. It has managed to successfully maintain its history (unlike NYC) without sacrificing growth.

I would wager that a significantly higher proportion of NYC is landmarked than in London (their "heritage" equivalent).

If anything, NYC does too much landmarking relative to other cities, and it probably is something of a drag on growth.

But, yeah, London does think big, and projects like this are awesome. The European cities operate under a totally different framework, with an absense of federalism.

[Swede]

The solar panels on the roof aren't the big thing about the renovated station/bridge IMO, the big thing is that the station is moved out onto the bridge! Both sides of the Thames will have entrances to the same station! This while the station has an increased capacity and the Thameslink services are being improved as well.

More info on the current situation:
http://www.londonreconnections.com/2...s-blackfriars/
LondonReconnections is an excellent blog about transit in London.

[nito]

Originally Posted by JMSmiths

The illustration is a bit odd looking. What are the latest site developments? Have they finished the work on Thameslink platforms yet?

Admittedly I haven't been to Blackfriars for sometime now, but the Underground platforms have now reopened.

As for the four cross-river platforms (of which two are teminating, and two are through), all won't be fully utilised until works elsewhere on the Thameslink route are completed in the coming years.

As Swede mentioned, the building of the station aross the Thames is a big achivement. Two other interesting achievements include the fact that the bridge that the station is being built on is 126 years old and that the station has remained open for a significant period of time despite the drastic overhaul.


A pic of the interior as of last month; once the boards on either side are removed, the station will offer good views of London


Image taken by Labs test on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062003...n/photostream/


The following aerial pics from last month show that around 50% of the solar panels have now been installed.

Originally Posted by nito

Blackfriars
Installation continues on what will become the world’s longest solar bridge.


Image taken by Network Rail: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...egoryID-8.aspx


Image taken by Network Rail: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...egoryID-8.aspx


Image taken by Network Rail: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...egoryID-8.aspx


Image taken by Network Rail: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...egoryID-8.aspx

Originally Posted by Crawford

I would wager that a significantly higher proportion of NYC is landmarked than in London (their "heritage" equivalent).

If anything, NYC does too much landmarking relative to other cities, and it probably is something of a drag on growth.

But, yeah, London does think big, and projects like this are awesome. The European cities operate under a totally different framework, with an absense of federalism.

Potentially true, but I suspect that there is overall more building stock that is of 'historic nature' in London that isn't listed but would be exceptionally hard to demolish or alter.

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by McBane

I love how BIG and BOLD London thinks. It has managed to successfully maintain its history (unlike NYC) without sacrificing growth. They're certainly not afraid of contemporary, ultra modern architecture clashing with the old. American cities are extremely conservative.

I used to think that we had the tackiest famous landmark in the world (Hollywood Sign), until BIG BOLD London built a fucking ferris wheel that now dominates it's skyline. Not all of their progressive ideas have been good ones.

[nito]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

I used to think that we had the tackiest famous landmark in the world (Hollywood Sign), until BIG BOLD London built a fucking ferris wheel that now dominates it's skyline. Not all of their progressive ideas have been good ones.

Technically the London Eye isn't a ferris wheel because the pods are fixed to the superstructure and the entire structure is cantilevered. The success of the London Eye also led to new ferris and observation wheels being constructed across the globe. What is amazing however is that it was meant to be temporary and only had planning permission for five years till 2005 (now extended until 2025).

While I haven't been up it myself, it has become another landmark for the city which is quite an achievement.