Another First Impression panellist, this time James Procter from the School of Architecture at Westminster University, comments on new projects on the Building website
About the scheme
Zaha Hadid's’ design for an opera house and cultural centre in Dubai is a dune-shaped building that will sit on an island in the Seven Pearls district of the Middle Eastern emirate and will contain a 2,500-seat auditorium, an 800-seat theatre and an arts gallery with 5,000m² of exhibition space.James Procter: I think that the Hadid scheme is very futuristic yet surprisingly natural. I like the simplicity of the design and basic colour scheme.
About the scheme
King Abdullah Economic City, in the Arabian desert, aims to house 2 million people by 2020 and create over a million jobs. It will also include one of the world's largest ports.James Procter: I really like the Middle East schemes.
About the scheme
Danish artist Olafur Eliasson's four giant waterfalls to be installed at sites along the waterfront in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Governors Island in New York until mid-October.James Procter: The waterfalls in New York are very impressive and I like what they seem to be doing!
About the scheme
Foster + Partners' elephant house at Copenhagen Zoo will house eight elephants in conditions designed to replicate the feel of their former Asian habitat.James Procter: A poor imitation of St Pancreas Station!!
