REAL LIFE EXPORTER above the T
he bold and dynamic Guangzhou International Finance Centre was designed to make a statement. At 440m
high it is one of China’s loftiest buildings and the tallest ever designed by a British architect. So it’s hardly surprising that this outstanding tower is attracting accolades and business interest from around the world for the London-based partnership Wilkinson Eyre. Named Best Tall Building in Asia/ Australasia by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in 2011, the 103-storey monolith is topped with a fi ve-star-plus Four Seasons hotel and sightseeing area. There is also a shopping mall, conference centre, offi ces and serviced apartments. “The tower is certainly creating interest and we are getting invitations to do other towers or mixed-use projects around China,” says Wilkinson Eyre director Dominic Bettison (pictured right). “The same client has commissioned us to design another super high-rise tower in Wuhan, which will be taller than London’s Shard, soon to be Europe’s highest building.” Wilkinson Eyre, founded in 1983, has 138 staff and overseas offi ces in Shanghai, Singapore and Melbourne. The architectural practice has twice won the prestigious Stirling Prize, in 2001 for the Magna Project, near Rotherham, and in 2002 for the iconic Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Such a prestigious achievement enhanced its standing and credibility with potential clients globally. The fi rm established a Hong Kong base six years ago to service the Guangzhou project and the company is now establishing a permanent regional
30 | springboard |
www.ukti.gov.uk Towering rest
Eye-catching design and cutting-edge technology are helping a growing fi rm of London architects gain an international reputation, writes Janet Tibble
presence there. “It makes good business sense to be in Hong Kong,” explains Bettison, “because it is a global market open to foreign currency. You can easily open bank accounts, take offi ce space, attract international staff and carry out all the practicalities of running a company in this fast-growing region.”
WINNING BUSINESS Explaining how Wilkinson Eyre goes about securing overseas contracts, Bettison says: “We have a team in London that seeks out international opportunities and we open a local support offi ce whenever we win a signifi cant project. We research opportunities via publications, websites and competitions.
“If we win a competition it gives us a good start in that country. Another way of attracting business is through links with international engineers. Their clients may request a list of recommended architects to introduce us to a project. “In China, we maintain good relations with local design institutes (LDIs), which comprise engineers, architects and quantity surveyors. We have a number of ongoing projects with the LDI in Beijing. “Once we are on a shortlist, UK Trade & Investment can help by lobbying at government level, which is particularly useful in China. It will also visit a potential client to put our case forward.” Wilkinson Eyre set up in Singapore when it was commissioned to design the Far East equivalent of Cornwall’s Eden Project, building two vast conservatories as part of the Gardens of the Bay development in Marina South. Creating a spectacular new destination for the city, the cooled glass houses, one moist and
one dry, will display plants from all over the world using sophisticated cooling and dehumidifying technology. “Singapore’s National Parks Board creates a lot of organic waste from looking after the city’s vegetation, which will be used in biomass boilers,” says Bettison. In Melbourne, the fi rm’s design for the Swinburne University of Technology is leading to further leads in Australia. Comprising a six-storey block fl oating above a retained Victorian façade, its vertical fi ns offer optimum shade while achieving an ethereal 3D shape. Building on the expertise gained in designing the 2012 Olympic Basketball Arena, Wilkinson Eyre is exploring opportunities at the 2016 Olympics and beyond. “We are not a large fi rm, but we are successfully carrying out projects all over the world,” he continues to add. “You need energy, enthusiasm and to be prepared to travel frequently. It shows that doing a good job can, in time, help to attract further business.” ■
www.wilkinsoneyre.com
UKTISUPPORT
Scarlett Huang and Jacqui Mullen UK Trade & Investment, British Consulate-
General Guangzhou, China
“It was easy to help Wilkinson Eyre in China because the company is very proactive. We have been able to make introductions for them and look forward to continuing to do so. We believe there are signifi cant opportunities here in South China. The dramatic Guangzhou International Finance Centre has acted like a calling card for them, attracting attention and further interest in the company.”
PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK JOHNSSON
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