Leading Green Party politician Darren Johnson is demanding that London Mayor Boris Johnson "release the briefs given to two architects working on projects"
around EPL side Crystal Palace, according to Elizabeth Hopkirk of BD ONLINE. Architecture 00 and GT Architects have both been commissioned by the Greater London Authority to "work on separate schemes." 00
is exploring "future regeneration opportunities in Upper Norwood,
Anerley and Penge while GT has drawn up a design concept for the
National Sports Centre." Crystal Palace Park is also the subject of a £500M ($782M) plan to rebuild Paxton's "historic palace, with a shortlist featuring
Haworth Tompkins and Zaha Hadid" (BD ONLINE, 11/17). ARCHITECTS JOURNAL's Laura Mark reported the plan for the National Sports Centre is to "reinstate the Paxton Axis and remove the bridge link and other buildings to the front of the main building." But Darren Johnson has "raised concern that the project has 'no coherent vision.'" He said, "[Boris Johnson] should publish the briefs he is giving to consultants to reshape the area, and come clean about how plans to demolish the athletics facilities, build a major commercial development on the park’s hill top, and regenerate the area relate to one another." The Green Party member has urged Boris Johnson to "reconsider his approach to Crystal Palace after fierce opposition from local residents." He added, "I've heard from countless angry residents who feel that the Mayor is imposing one flawed grand project after another on them, with no coherent vision for Crystal Palace Park or the wider area" (ARCHITECTS JOURNAL, 11/17).
