Waterside (building)
Encyclopedia
The Waterside building in Harmondsworth
, London
, is the international head office
of British Airways
. The building, which cost £200 million, is located on Harmondsworth Moor, northwest of Heathrow Airport
, between the M4
and the M25
motorways. Waterside is on the western edge of London
, near West Drayton
and Uxbridge
, in the Borough of Hillingdon
Construction started in September 1995. The project also involved clearing and landscaping the site which was derelict to create a large public park and nature reserve, with a visitor centre. The building was progressively opened between December 1997 and May 1998. The first section of the public park was opened in June 1998, with the remainder in 1999.
The architects were Niels Torp
, supported by RHWL. The Building Services Engineers were Cundall
, the Structural Engineers Buro Happold
and the Construction Managers MACE
.
The building was completed in June 1998. The building, which held its official opening in 1998, includes six sections backing onto a 175 metres (574.1 ft) glazed atrium street; each section represents a continent served by British Airways. Each section has a different theme based on the continent. For instance, Cherry tree
s are planted in the Asia-themed section, Eucalyptus
trees are planted in the Australia-themed section, Birch
saplings were planted in the Europe section, and Hardwood
saplings are planted in the North America-themed section. Nonie Niesewand of The Independent
said that the head office site is "the size of a small town, but on a site as big as Regent's Park
." The building was nicknamed "Ayling Island," after BA chief executive Bob Ayling, by local taxi drivers.
The design includes comprising six limestone-clad four-storey horseshoe-shaped sections which all back on to an internal 'street' that runs inside an atrium
. The street is paved in granite slabs and cobblestone
s, has bridges which cross it overhead, linking the individual buildings, and is looked over by balconies which lead off the bridges.
The street houses a health centre, hairdressing and beauty salon, travel centre, Waitrose
supermarket, bank, restaurants and cafés and a 400-seater auditorium. Susie McKellar and Penny Sparke, authors of Interior Design and Identity, said that the design of Waterside was intended to "both facilitate a change in the way BA staff behave at work and to support a more customer-led culture."
The 9000 square metres (10,763.9 sq yd) gross internal area is mostly open plan offices; no personal space is assigned, although enclosed areas are available for meetings and study. (Although initially no personal places were assigned, in practice, departments have specific locations in the buildings with seat allocations, the overwhelming majority of people sit at the same desks everyday and those desks, and the surroundings, contain their personal ephemera just as in any conventional office. "Hot Desks" - those specifically not allocated for an individual - are infrequent and clearly marked.)
Around 2004 British Airways consolidated several offices into Waterside. Waterside's employee population increased to about 4,000. To deal with the parking situation, British Airways began limiting on-site parking to four days per week, and a Commuter Centre was established.
Harmondsworth
Harmondsworth is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, close to London Heathrow Airport. The village is situated south of West Drayton.The nearest places are: Hayes, Harlington, Heathrow Airport, Longford, London, Sipson, West Drayton and Yiewsley....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, is the international head office
Head Office
Head Office is a 1985 American comedy film, produced by HBO Pictures in association with Silver Screen Partners. It stars Judge Reinhold, Eddie Albert, Lori-Nan Engler, Jane Seymour, Richard Masur, Michael O'Donoghue, Ron Frazier, Merritt Butrick and was directed and written by Ken...
of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
. The building, which cost £200 million, is located on Harmondsworth Moor, northwest of Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
, between the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
and the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
motorways. Waterside is on the western edge of London
West (London sub region)
The West is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow. The sub region was established in 2004 and was adjusted in 2008 to include Kensington and Chelsea. The west has a population of 1.6 million and...
, near West Drayton
West Drayton
West Drayton is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon in the far west of London, England. Formerly part of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District of Middlesex, the district became part of Greater London in 1965....
and Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
, in the Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
Construction
British Airways originally submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Hillingdon in 1990 to build what was then called "Prospect Park" on Harmondsworth Moor. This was withdrawn as the airline believed it would be declined on environmental grounds. An alternative plan was drawn up, promising that the moor would be redeveloped and much of the greenspace conserved, which was accepted.Construction started in September 1995. The project also involved clearing and landscaping the site which was derelict to create a large public park and nature reserve, with a visitor centre. The building was progressively opened between December 1997 and May 1998. The first section of the public park was opened in June 1998, with the remainder in 1999.
The architects were Niels Torp
Niels Torp
Niels Torp AS is an architectural firm based in Oslo, Norway. The company is named after the founder, Niels Torp.-Works:* Scandinavian Airlines Head Office * Waterside...
, supported by RHWL. The Building Services Engineers were Cundall
Cundall Johnston and Partners
-Awards:*Sustainable Consultant of the year award, 2010 Building Sustainability Awards.*Most Sustainable Remediation Project, 2010 Remediation Innovation Awards*Research, Studies and Consulting Award, 2010 ACE Engineering Excellence awards....
, the Structural Engineers Buro Happold
Buro Happold
Buro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
and the Construction Managers MACE
Mace (company)
Mace Group Ltd, commonly known as Mace, is a global consultancy and construction firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has operations across 49 countries, offering a variety of services that span the entire property life cycle, from fund monitoring, cost consultancy, design management,...
.
The building was completed in June 1998. The building, which held its official opening in 1998, includes six sections backing onto a 175 metres (574.1 ft) glazed atrium street; each section represents a continent served by British Airways. Each section has a different theme based on the continent. For instance, Cherry tree
Cherry Tree
Cherry Tree may refer to:* A tree that produces cherries* An ornamental cherry tree that produces cherry blossomsPlaces* Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania, a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States* Cherry Tree, Oklahoma...
s are planted in the Asia-themed section, Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
trees are planted in the Australia-themed section, Birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
saplings were planted in the Europe section, and Hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
saplings are planted in the North America-themed section. Nonie Niesewand of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
said that the head office site is "the size of a small town, but on a site as big as Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
." The building was nicknamed "Ayling Island," after BA chief executive Bob Ayling, by local taxi drivers.
The design includes comprising six limestone-clad four-storey horseshoe-shaped sections which all back on to an internal 'street' that runs inside an atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
. The street is paved in granite slabs and cobblestone
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
s, has bridges which cross it overhead, linking the individual buildings, and is looked over by balconies which lead off the bridges.
The street houses a health centre, hairdressing and beauty salon, travel centre, Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
supermarket, bank, restaurants and cafés and a 400-seater auditorium. Susie McKellar and Penny Sparke, authors of Interior Design and Identity, said that the design of Waterside was intended to "both facilitate a change in the way BA staff behave at work and to support a more customer-led culture."
The 9000 square metres (10,763.9 sq yd) gross internal area is mostly open plan offices; no personal space is assigned, although enclosed areas are available for meetings and study. (Although initially no personal places were assigned, in practice, departments have specific locations in the buildings with seat allocations, the overwhelming majority of people sit at the same desks everyday and those desks, and the surroundings, contain their personal ephemera just as in any conventional office. "Hot Desks" - those specifically not allocated for an individual - are infrequent and clearly marked.)
Around 2004 British Airways consolidated several offices into Waterside. Waterside's employee population increased to about 4,000. To deal with the parking situation, British Airways began limiting on-site parking to four days per week, and a Commuter Centre was established.
Awards
- Civic TrustCivic TrustThe Civic Trust of England was a charitable organisation founded in 1957. It ceased operations in 2009 and went into administration due to lack of funds/...
Awards 2000, Winner - National Lighting Design Awards of Excellence 2000, Winner
- RIBARibaRiba means one of the senses of "usury" . Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence fiqh and considered as a major sin...
Best of British Awards 1999, Winner - British Council for Offices 1999, Winner
- British Construction Industry Award 1998, Winner
External links
- Case study on BA Waterside at the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) – accessed November 2006.
- Duffy, Francis. "Working at Waterside - conduciveness as a workplace of the British Airways' headquarters in Harmondsworth, England." The Architectural Review. August 1998.
- "BA Waterside." Buro HappoldBuro HappoldBuro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
.