Gehry backed out and now so has investor, ING – the King Alfred project is deadTheKing Alfred development in Brighton was to be Frank Gehry’s firstcommercial venture in the UK, but following a series of difficultiesover planning and redesign, Gehry pulled out last week stating inBritish newspaper, the Times that, “Something happened there that Idon’t quite understand”. Today, local press have revealed that thefinancial backers, ING Real Estate, have also abandoned the project,inevitably signalling its permanent demise. Heather James, Communications Director at Karis Holdings, the leisureand housing project’s developer, last week seemed nervous but adamantthat the project would continue despite Gehry pulling out. Speaking ofthe prospect that planning may not be viable without Gehry on board,she said: “No, we already have our planning so that’s ok.”Having commenced a review of the project on 2 June it has been clearthat the development was in jeopardy. James, however, said: “As youwould imagine we are constantly reviewing the project as would be thecase with most architectural firms during this credit crunch.”£13 million has already been spent on the project and Chairman andManaging Director of Karis, Josh Arghiros, is in a fight against timeto secure new funding before the project crumbles beyond repair. Hetold Brighton newspaper, the Argus, that he was in talks with twoprospective investors and hoped that Gehry would come in to revise theproject: “We want to have Frank Gehry on board to amend the scheme andI think this could give us the opportunity to get the best of this. Wenow need to sit down with the council and discuss viability.” However, as investor ING were included in the planning consent, thiswould now be void and it is dubious that Gehry will return to theproject. Speaking last week of the cloaked exit by Gehry, James said:“The British planning system is not designed to cater for architectslike Frank Gehry... I think it’s quite difficult to cater forarchitects to keep changing designs. We do have to have a cut-offpoint.”King Alfred also involves architects HOK sport and CZWG but even theirinvolvement seems shaky given the response by CZWG’s Piers Gough thathe “doesn’t have very much to contribute on the matter”. Karis Holdingswere unavailable to comment following the most recent revelations.
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