News
Alison Brooks Opens ‘Back to the Future’ forum, Oslo Urban Week
09.2024
Alison Brooks opened the packed three-day ‘Back to the Future’ forum at Oslo Urban Week with a conversation alongside Andreas Magnusson, activist for youth in the built environment, and Peter Butenschøn, renowned architect, urban planner, and writer.
Her keynote, ‘Making Future Heritage: Context is Everything,’ explored how diversity, civicness, locality, memory, and context are interpreted within the built environment – through the lens of projects such as Ely Court and Unity Place (both part of Brent Council’s twenty-year South Kilburn Regeneration Masterplan), Rubicon and Cadence.
Held in Oslo’s historic Kvadraturen district – celebrating its 400th anniversary this year – Oslo Urban Week focused on shaping future built environments through sustainability and contextual sensitivity. The event took place on 24 September at Telegrafen, Oslo, where Rasmus Reinvang and Maren Bjerkeng joined the discussion, seeking solutions for more resilient cities.
Photography by Maria Brox, OMA. Check out the event here.
Open House Festival 2024 Tour of South Kilburn
08.2024
Join us on Saturday, September 14th, for a guided walk through 20 years of the South Kilburn Regeneration Masterplan in North West London, led by the team at Alison Brooks Architects.
As part of this year’s Open House Festival, drop in and delve into Brent Council’s ambitious 20-year regeneration efforts. Discover the evolution of our ethos for Ely Court, Kilburn Quarter and Unity Place. Trace the development of 19th century typologies such as Terraces, Flatiron Block, Link Block, Mews House, Mansion Block and Mansard roofs, while reflecting on the lessons learned and the ongoing conversation around affordable housing in London.
Open House Festival is a London-wide festival that opens up and celebrates the city’s architecture, special sites and neighbourhoods, with open days and events taking place across all 33 London boroughs.
Sign up for the tour here: https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/10231
Toronto City Council Approves First Phase of Quayside
07.2024
Toronto City Council has approved the zoning for the first phase of Quayside, a project that reflects the vision of Waterfront Toronto, Dream, and our entire Quayside design team.
This project aims to create a dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable community on Toronto’s former industrial waterfront.
This milestone would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of Waterfront Toronto, Dream, Great Gulf, and our masterplan team, including Henning Larsen, SLA, Adjaye Associates, Two Row Architect, and executive architects, Architects Alliance.
Inspired by the character of Toronto’s warehouses and the charm of its King Street and St. Lawrence neighbourhoods, our masterplan and first phase, Western Curve, are set to transform the city’s waterfront. We’re excited to continue this journey and bring this visionary project to life for Toronto.
Alison Brooks and Rasmus Astrup of SLA: Transforming Urban Landscapes
07.2024
Alison Brooks and Rasmus Astrup of SLA teamed up for a keynote presentation at the Festival of Place in Boxpark Wembley.
The duo showcased three innovative Toronto projects that reimagine the city’s post-industrial waterfront and brutalist legacies.
Their presentation, centred around the theme “Transforming Urban Landscapes,” highlighted the integration of natural elements into the regeneration of Toronto in Canada. Christine Murray, Editor-in-Chief and Director of The Developer and Festival of Place, chaired the double-act.
Alison Brooks and Rasmus Astrup showcased three innovative Toronto projects that reimagine the city’s post-industrial waterfront and brutalist legacies:
- Waterfront Toronto – A bold vision for sustainable urban development featuring an ensemble of mid- and high-rise buildings stitched together by a community forest.
- Bissell Building, University of Toronto – A revitalization of the Brutalist Claude T. Bissell Building, home to the Faculty of Information in downtown Toronto.
- David Crombie Park – A revitalization of a historic 1970s landscape designed to meet the needs of the local urban community.
Their keynote emphasized sustainability, community, and the seamless blend of architecture with natural surroundings, offering valuable insights into the future of urban design and the potential for nature to reshape our cities.
You can watch their conversation here.
Alison Brooks Appointed to AA Council
06.2024
We are excited to announce our Creative Director Alison Brooks’ appointment as one of four members to the esteemed Architectural Association Council.
Joining PQ Choi, Cindy Walters and Steven Ware on the council is a significant achievement which will allow her to have a hand in shaping the next generation of bright young talents at the oldest private school of architecture in the UK. As practicing architects, all four new members of Council will draw on their experience and knowledge to help shape the AA’s future as part of a five-year strategy developed by AA Director Ingrid Schroder.
The new Council members were elected following a vote by AA Members, including current students and staff, in April 2024 and begin their three-year appointment on 15 July.
Alison Brooks Architects Wins Architizer A+ Best Medium Firm
06.2024
Receiving entries from over 80 countries, Alison Brooks Architects has won Best Medium Firm in the Architizer A+ Awards.
This achievement recognizes the value of aesthetics, performance, and impact in the act of building – a perfect culture fit with our design ethos.
We’re grateful to all Alison Brooks Architects staff past and present for their contributions.