PRESS INFORMATION 16 SEPTEMBER 2009

Swedish sustainability experts wins competition to redevelop Southend Pier

The competition attracted 74 entries and 5 was shortlisted. Southend Pier was in 2007 voted Pier of the Year and is the longest pier in the world. An iconic pier with its own distinctive character, history and people. One of the main attractions of the Pier is the view of the sea, and in particular, the feeling of being on the sea.

”A key element of our proposal is to make sure that the people of Southend use the Pier and take it into their heart. The Pier Head should be a vibrant place filled with activities”, says Fredrik Pettersson, architect in charge together with Niels de Bruin, landscape architect. We envision a walkable and bikeable street with attractive destinations located every 500 metres.

The Pier should be an extension of the High Street’s urban fabric onto the sea. We have proposed a series of destinations starting at Priory Park and ending at the Pier Head, transforming the pleasure pier into an urban pier. We imagine The Pier Head designed as a public space functioning like a modern agora, part theatre, part art space, acting as a vibrant meeting place for both the people of Southend-on-Sea and visitors.

The main feature of the new Pier Head design will be an open air theatre with a terraced platform that will create lee, view point and seating for the audience. The outdoor theatre, with the Southend coastline as backdrop, has the capacity of 500 spectators. New buildings, a Culture Centre and a Restaurant, will be built offshore next to the existing Pier Head, creating a balanced enclosure and populated edges around the theatre space.

”The dramatic curving shapes of the buildings are derived from the wind and the waves themselves. This public, yet enclosed, space will be perfectly integrated into the scenery. It will be sculpted by wind and wave”, says landscape architect Niels de Bruin.

Materials will be low maintenance and long-lasting. In this specific setting we prefer materials with an untreated natural finish such as timber, corten steel and glass. These materials will add personality and warmth to the elegantly shaped buildings. The aggressive maritime environment is extremely hard on most traditional building materials and they have to be considered carefully in the design process.

All new buildings will be self-sufficient. Energy efficient design and renewable energy sources including wind turbines for electricity, natural ventilation and sea water heat pump, will make it a carbon neutral development.

”Southend Pier is a unique structure with an interesting history. The new additions will continue the evolution
of the structure, enhancing the quality of space at the end of the pier, while respecting the historic fabric”,
says Tim Lucas, Price & Myers.

PRESS INFORMATION 5 FEBRUARI 2009

White demonstrates sustainable architecture at exhibition in Paris

The exhibition is organized by the French firm of architects Un souffle sur la ville (http://www.unsouffle.com/). The programme opens with Charlotte Falstrup from White in Næstved being interviewed by the architects Line Nelund Dross and Julien Mizermont from Un souffle sur la ville, who want to create a personal portrait of an architect committed to sustainability issues.

As an extra feature, posters of the project will be exhibited in set design format and built up using vegetable cartons. Charlotte Falstrup also made the model of White’s set design. The chosen project is “Rede I vassen” (Nest in the reeds), a visitor centre in Kristianstad designed by the architect Fredrik Pettersson at White in Copenhagen.

The exhibition opening will be at 7 p.m. on 5 February and the exhibition will run until 8 March.

The participating firms of architects are:
BSAA, Christensen & CO arkitekter, Claus Hermansen Arkitekter, Cobe arkitekter, Dorte Mandrup arkitekter, SEA, EFFEKT, KHR arkitekter, Vandkunsten and White arkitekter.

For further information about the exhibition in Paris, please contact:
Marketing manager Malene L Snedgaard, tel +45 21131655, malene.snedgaard@white.dk

PRESS INFORMATION 4 JULI 2008

Swedish sustainability expert to talk in London on July 9th

MSc Anna Graaf is White’s Director of R&D Sustainability and in charge of introducing the company’s environmental expertise on the international market, where the UK is identified as a priority focus area.

”For nearly two decades, White have invested seriously in establishing a unique department of highly qualified experts in the environmental field. I feel safe to say that our accumulated knowledge and experience have very few competitors in the architectural business today.”

White has a long tradition of environmentalism in architecture, working with several high profile projects such as Hammarby Sjostad in Stockholm and low energy housing at the Western Harbour in Malmo.

Of course, Sweden’s Nordic climate has always been a driving force for architects and builders towards low energy approaches and sustainable solutions. Thicker walls and air tightness come naturally in a cold country. The current reports on climate change have further underlined the need for more innovative solutions, and White aims to keep it’s position as progressive innovators in this field.

”Sweden has for a long time been recognised as a pioneer in sustainability in general, and is now taking a lead in sustainable architecture”, says Keith Boxer, UK manager for White Architects. ”As an Englishman, I do believe that the UK has a lot to learn from Sweden and I agree with Sir Nicholas Stern that Sweden is ahead of he UK on most of the Key issues when it comes to addressing climate change and the increasing cost of energy”.

”By combining our own skills with Keith’s long experience and network of contacts, we hope to have the opportunity of contributing to the British Government’s aspirations to improve the conditions for sustainability in the built environment and tackling climate change”, says Anders Svensson, CEO of White Architects.

Information to editors:

Greener than Thou? Sweden Goes Sustainable aims to showcase some of the challenging and visionary ideas that have emerged in recent years from architectural practices in Sweden.

Greener than Thou? was commissioned by the Embassy of Sweden in London and is curated and designed by Johan Berglund and Dean Pike of 42architects. There will be seminars and workshops in conjunction with the exhibition. The exhibition will be on display at Kinnarps showroom in Dryden Street, Covent Garden, June-Aug 2008.

Read more about the exhibition at http://www.lfa2008.org/event.php?id=273&name=Greener+than+Thou++Sweden+Goes+Sustainable

White Architects of Scandinavia was founded in 1951 and has played an integral part in the development of the Swedish welfare state for more than half a century. Today the employee-owned company is also a leader in sustainability and environmental issues. In January 2008 White International was formed to bring White’s sustainable integrated design (SID) expertise to the rest of Europe.

White is also developing new applications for renewable energy and high-tech techniques for building with wood. The company is also a frontrunner in reducing hazardous building materials in order to acheive sounder buildings for users and inhabitants.

Read more about White Architects at www.en.white.se

Keith Boxer is a qualified architect with more than 10 years experience of working with sustainable energy projects. His previous positions in the UK have included Director of Sustainability at Sheppard Robson Architects, Director of Sustainability at Whitbybird Engineers and Innovation Director at Manchester Knowledge Capital, where he has been involved in the development and implementation of a wide range of practical sustainable energy initiatives across Greater Manchester.

PRESS INFORMATION 16 NOVEMBER 2007

Norrland pine in a high-tech look – the shape of future residential construction

Wood has been making a strong comeback in the construction sector for several years. Following a change to the regulations, the green light has been given to the construction of tall buildings out of wood.

The companies behind Älvsbacka Strand are Martinsons Byggsystem AB, Lindbäcks Bygg AB and White Arkitekter AB – three well-established companies holding leading positions within their respective areas, which together are pioneers within this new field of wooden construction. The common starting point is a strong conviction about the future of wood. In environmental terms, wood is an ideal raw material – eternally renewable, locally available and sustainable. Wood provides a healthy living environment, is easy to shape and easy to lift. And last, but not least, it is beautiful.

“Wood is an ancient, yet at the same time ultra-modern building material,” says Lennart Sjögren, architect at White’s office in Umeå and one of the driving forces behind a system developed in-house that includes everything from design support and project management to manufacture and assembly.

The technology is now so well developed that skilled wood construction produces significantly better results that the conventional materials used in the sector.

The building process that has been developed for Älvsbacka Strand is particularly well suited to Nordic conditions. It includes newly developed assembly and weatherproofing techniques, which allow construction to proceed more or less whatever the weather, as well as a sealed construction process and a covering system that follow the building as it rises up. The system has also been created to help the work progress quickly.

The construction system itself is much faster, with a smart system approach in all respects. This is an entirely new type of industrial construction. The site work and the foundations will be completed by the end of 2007, with assembly commencing by the second week of the new year. The building will be ready for occupation just in time for the 2008 summer holidays.

“Sales have been extremely successful, and we have sold all but one of the 18 apartments,” says Göran Johansson at Svensk Fastighetsförmedling in Skellefteå.