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King's Cross gas landmark may bounce back as a giant trampoline
Dan Carrier and Mark Blunden14 Sep 2009
A trampoline and a slide are among the ideas shortlisted to transform a disused Victorian gas holder near St Pancras station.
The 67-acre site is being redeveloped as part of a facelift that has brought the Eurostar to north London and converted the Victorian station into a £100million hotel and apartments.
Although decommissioned in the Eighties, the 25-metre high Gas Holder Number Eight, overlooking the Regent's Canal, is Grade II-listed and cannot be dismantled.
The King's Cross Central Limited Partnership, which owns the land, held a competition to decide the 1850s structure's future. It received 80 entries, from which a shortlist of five was chosen for the £2.5million project.
One concept includes a giant slide to take visitors around the edges of the gas holder and a rooftop trampoline to allow people to bounce high above King's Cross. The trampoline's base would form the roof of a community centre below. The scheme's designer Tarek Merlin, of Feix and Merlin in Southwark, said: "We wanted people to experience the holders up front, up close and at height."
The shortlist also includes a proposal by Hakes Associates for a giant silver ball to act as a mirror in the middle of the gas holder. Also in the running is an events venue with gardens and a proposal for a "serene" pavilion and landscaped green space. Ian Lerner, of the King's Cross Conservation Area Advisory Committee, said: "It has to provide a focal point and be used to make sure people stay in the area in the evenings."
Bridget Evans, of the King's Cross partnership's parent company Argent, said: "The gas holders are an important reminder of industrial past. It's exciting that we can blend a new idea with such an important heritage feature." The winner will be named next month.
Reader views (5)
Having growing up around this monument to our industrial past. Listing it enhances the variation that London has. The differences between adjacent buildings could be over a century, which gives London such an amazing old new feel. I am eagerly looking forward to finding out who the winner is.
- Greg, London, 29/09/2009 11:54
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I think this is a great idea. Turning something that once was quite an eye-sore into something more attractive and useful can only be a positive thing. This just shows how artistic and creative London is and proves that we dont always have to be surrounded by boring looking office blocks!!
- Caroline O'Neill, London, 29/09/2009 10:54
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I think a better question is how can a Gas Holder be classed as a Grade II listed building in the first place? It's not exactly beautiful, is it? Tear it down...
- Paul, Chatham, UK, 29/09/2009 10:54
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What a stupid idea.What's happening to this city?
- Steve, London, 29/09/2009 10:54
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What a shallow suggestion...
Is really a giant trampoline the best thing these so called architects can come up with?
What else?
So disappointing..I hope it never gets built
- Liz, london, 29/09/2009 10:54
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