KPF and the City of London Corporation were recently honored as joint recipients of a City Heritage Award for Building Conservation in recognition of the rebuilding of the Sixty London gatehouse and adjoining Holborn Viaduct restoration. Both completed in the fall of 2013, the schemes were honored for the high standard of their craftsmanship and finish, restoring the intersection to its former glory.

The rebuilding of the northeast gatehouse, destroyed during the Second World War, was a crucial part of the KPF-designed Sixty London scheme. The gatehouse re-establishes the original symmetry of four gatehouses which historically stood at the intersection and facilitates pedestrian flow between Farringdon Street and Holborn Viaduct.

Historical sensitivity was a primary concern for the entire development. Careful analysis of the existing gatehouses and a rigorous approvals process informed the design to ensure the gatehouse stood as an exact replica of the original. The level of detailing is exemplary, including the intricate yet substantial hand-sculpted statue of Sir Hugh Myddleton crafted specifically for the design. The full range of natural stone used was quarried within the United Kingdom and all sculptural elements carved by local craftsmen.

According to KPF Design Principal John Bushell, “KPF is honored to be recognized by the City Heritage Society. As a team, we were fully committed to safeguarding the historic fabric of this important gateway to the City. The gatehouse was a crucial part of our vision, restoring the original grandeur of the intersection and developing a vibrant sense of place to an area in need of regeneration.”

The Right Hon. Lord Mayor Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE will be unveiling a City Heritage Society plaque on the reconstructed northeast gatehouse at 60 Holborn Viaduct on the morning of July 7th 2014.

> via kpf.com