London and New York are perhaps the two most popular cities for tourists on the planet, and there are countless parallels to be drawn between them. From the underground system and the cultural similarities, to the sheer vastness of the cities themselves, you could say they are almost two sides of the same coin. One thing that London has been severely lacking, however, is an iconic ice rink to match the ones at New York's Rockefeller Centre and Central Park. This could be set to change in the near future, however, if global architectural and design consultancy NBBJ has its way.
NBBJ have designed a series of floating ice rinks for the Thames, in a bid to reconnect Londoners with an ancient winter tradition
The firm has designed a series of floating ice rinks for the Thames, in a bid to reconnect Londoners with an ancient winter tradition, which dates back to the 17th century when Frost Fairs were held on the frozen river. During the harsh winters of the time, these fairs would be held on the river, with groups of musicians, stalls selling local produce and trinkets, and numerous fairground attractions. Imagine a typical English church fete, only held on a much larger scale (and obviously on a frozen River Thames). It must have been truly special, but unfortunately, progress stood in the way of the Frost Fair, as when the old London Bridge was replaced in 1831, the removal of the “Starlings” on which it rested meant that the river no longer slowed down sufficiently for a solid enough freeze.
The new Frost Flowers concept by NBBJ, however, would see frozen discs put in place above the river to be used as ice rinks, Christmas markets or exhibitions. Each disc will be made up of several metal slabs, which will be held in place over the Thames with tie rods and will unfurl like flowers (hence the name), slotting together to create a disc just below the water level. The water above the disc will slow down allowing it to freeze to the metal, and the frozen water also increases the disc’s buoyancy, lifting it up so that it floats on top of the river, mimicking mimics the effect of a natural river bank, against which water freezes. The firm claims the structures could be easily installed, and could also be adapted to suit different locations along the river, or other cities around the world.
The new Frost Flowers concept would see frozen discs put in place above the river to be used as ice rinks, Christmas markets or exhibitions
Metal features heavily on the Thames, from the cranes surrounding the riverbanks, to the imposing London Eye. NBBJ design director Christian Coop says that Frost Flowers will complement the river’s skyline, and that the metal flower design is a language very similar to London’s nautical past. He said of the concept: “In a dense, modern city such as London, the Thames provides a unique open vista where the history and origins of this great city can be viewed. A draw for Londoners and tourists alike, the South Bank has become a bustling leisure area with bars and markets lining the river. New space is now desperately needed, and accordingly we looked to our heritage to find one possible solution.”
Being in open space on the Thames, as opposed to a crowded ice rink or market in the city, will be the biggest draw, according to Coop. The circular design is also an alternative to the conventional square ice rink. NBBJ is currently looking into starting a funding campaign in the new year to have the concept taken on, and even though I'm not a Londoner and loath ice skating (no balance), if it ends up as a crowd-funded campaign, I'd genuinely consider signing up because it looks so cool. Literally!
The Frost Flowers will complement the river’s skyline, and that the metal flower design is a language very similar to London’s nautical past
Frost Flowers is the third concept that NBBJ has proposed for London in 2015, following a design for shadow-free skyscrapers and a plan to turn the London Underground's Circle Line tunnel into a 17-mile-long moving walkway. The firm is also working on the orb-shaped Seattle headquarters for Amazon.
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK.
