This big wall of green is… well, quite literally a wall of green.  It’s a demonstration of the possibilities of “green walls” that have been developed by various companies around the world.  This particular demonstration was created by General Electric and put up for the public to see in Trafalgar Square in London.

We’ve seen architects from Tokyo to Seattle claim that green walls are the next big thing.  Unfortunately, more often than not they are used as bandages for poorly planned buildings that unduly encroach on sidewalks or otherwise degrade the urban experience.

In the parlance of Portlandia fans — if you put a bird on it, it’s art.

We’ve yet to see a successful long-term green wall deployed, though a few in the Pacific Northwest are showing promise.  But even there we’ve been told that they use far more water than conventional greenery and are a maintenance nightmare.

Maybe G.E. came up with some clever solution, which is why it was touting this in front of a million tourists in London.  Or maybe not.

Fans of author Agatha Christie who also follow the adventures of her Belgian detective on the small screen will recognize this apartment building.  Fictionally, it’s called Whitehaven Mansions, the home of Hercule Poirot.

In reality, it’s called Florin Court on Charterhouse Square, and was picked as a filming location for the television shows because of its wonderfully curving art moderne facade.

Sadly, the park across the street is private, and jealously guarded by the neighbors.

On the day we visited, a film crew was just packing up its trucks and moving out.  Perhaps if we’d arrived just a few hours earlier we would have seen David Suchet taking his mustache for a walk.

What waits inside the historic cold storage warehouses in the Smithfields section of London?  Not cow carcasses.  Not anymore.

The evocative Victorian facades now hide a power station that generates electricity from natural gas.  Meanwhile, other warehouses are being converted into storefronts for edgy boutiques, and intentionally hard-to-find restaurants.

Towering neon marks the boardwalk of the seaside resort, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Our sister blog, the Chicago Architecture Blog, recently published a lengthy interview with John Lahey, the C.E.O. of architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz.

He talks about the history of his company, and not only its projects in Chicago, but also One Rincon Hill in San Francisco, the blandness of Vancouver architecture, and what kinds of projects appeal to him.  It’s worth a read:

Inside Solomon Cordwell Buenz

Our friends at Hines sent this along:

(SAN DIEGO) – Hines, the international real estate firm, and its joint venture partner comprised of institutional investors advised by J. P. Morgan Asset Management celebrated today the start of construction of a 13-story, 415,000-square-foot office building, the second office building at La Jolla Commons, which is located in San Diego’s University Towne Center (UTC) submarket. The partnership announced that LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer*and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA), has signed a long-term lease for the entire building and will consolidate its operations from seven UTC locations as part of its commitment to fostering an engaging and collaborative work environment for its employees. The firm’s employees will relocate to the new property upon its planned completion in mid-2014.
LPL Financial Chairman and CEO Mark Casady remarked, “As we break ground on this site, we celebrate the strength and success of our company, honor the hard work and dedication of our employees, and look forward to continuing to be an employer of choice in the city of San Diego for many years to come.”
Podium guests at the “LPL Financial at La Jolla Commons” groundbreaking ceremony were: Hines President and CEO Jeff Hines, LPL Financial Chairman and CEO Mark Casady, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Council Member Sherri Lightner, and Hines Managing Director for Southern California Paul Twardowski.
Hines, which is an owner and is managing the development for the joint venture, also introduced its general contractor, the San Diego office of Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, a nationally recognized leader in construction management and planning.
“Hines and J.P. Morgan Asset Management are proud to play a part in LPL Financial’s presence in San Diego, and we look forward to delivering a truly remarkable asset that is a moniker of solid business judgment,” said Hines Managing Director and Partner Paul Twardowski.
AECOM of Los Angeles was the design architect, and tenant improvements are being designed by the Charlotte, NC, office of Gensler. The building’s exterior will be a predominately glass curtainwall system incorporating highly efficient, insulated double-paned glass with a clear, low-emissivity coating. Hines is pursuing LEED® certification and will incorporate many sustainable features including under-floor air distribution and extensive use of reclaimed water for building systems and waste water.
The modernistic tower will enjoy excellent visibility and access from Interstate 805 and La Jolla Village Drive. In addition to nearby amenities offered by the Westfield University Towne Centre Mall and La Jolla Village Square, the master-planned La Jolla Commonscampus will also include two acres of park space surrounding the office towers and other mixed-use components. Planned on-campus amenities will include a restaurant, bar, spa, gym and meeting space.

About LPL Financial:

LPL Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA), is the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer*, a top RIA custodian, and a leading independent consultant to retirement plans. LPL Financial offers proprietary technology, comprehensive clearing and compliance services, practice management programs and training, and independent research to more than 12,800 financial advisors and approximately 670 financial institutions. In addition, LPL Financial supports over 4,000 financial advisors licensed with insurance companies by providing customized clearing, advisory platforms and technology solutions. LPL Financial and its affiliates have more than 2,700 employees with headquarters in Boston, Charlotte and San Diego. For more information, visit www.lpl.com. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.
*Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2011

As London’s architecture ages, much of it must be replaced.  The new retail and office complex called One New Change (1 New Change, London, England) is a good example of what’s been going on in the recent past, and what we can expect in the near future.  See also, Tower Bridge House and Tower Place.

It keeps to the same scale as its surrounding buildings so that it doesn’t overwhelm the neighboring historic architecture.  Its glass facade also reflects the nearby historic buildings, in this case Saint Paul’s Cathedral.

In essence, the new aesthetic that is starting to dominate London’s new buildings is to simply replace the traditional stonework with plate glass.  It will be interesting to see what London evolves into if this trend continues for another 10 or 20 years.  Will London be known as “The City of Glass?”

If you haven’t seen it yet, there’s a new tourist information center building in London, right next to Saint Paul’s Cathedral.  The design is striking and modern, and very glassy to welcome in the timid traveler.

The former Riviera Theater in Charleston has been reborn as a hotel, preserving its festive marquee.

A quiet day at the diminutive Charleston International Airport.  The airport was actually carved out of a nearby military base.  But what is lacks in destinations and services, it makes up for with the easiest security procedures in the nation.