Neiheiser Argyros, an architecture studio based in London and Athens, has unveiled a striking architectural addition to the North Greenwich tube station in London. This impressive structure, named the 'North Greenwich Sculptural Screen,' consists of a 14-meter-high perforated metal screen that covers the station's exhaust exit and fire escape.
The screen is constructed using corrugated aluminum and features a sizable digital display screen, as well as a café and public toilets. The corrugated aluminum cladding serves a dual purpose, concealing and revealing the station's infrastructure, resulting in a dynamic cover that transforms in appearance throughout the day. The screen's angular design and translucent perforated facade create captivating patterns of light.
"The angular form is the result of a simple rectangular box transformed by its site constraints and programmatic ambitions."
Despite its lightweight construction, the shell-like enclosure effectively camouflages the station's facilities. It houses a large digital media screen, public restrooms, and a small café concealed behind a full-height bi-fold door. Neiheiser Argyros designed this structure in harmony with the 'Tide' elevated linear park, which was a collaborative effort with Diller Scofidio + Renfro. These two architectural elements, while in close proximity, maintain a deliberate contrast in their visual aesthetics.
Where the 'Tide' park features a curvaceous and solid design, the 'North Greenwich Sculptural Screen' stands out with its angular and translucent characteristics. This intentional difference in design creates a dynamic interplay between the two structures, each expressing its unique visual language, almost as if they are engaged in a dance without physically touching each other.
