The first of our preview series on shortlisted projects is One New Change in London’s Paternoster Square

One New Change, submitted by Bovis Lend Lease

Building next to St Paul’s cathedral is not easy. Paternoster Square was the bloody battleground between classicists and modernists for over a quarter of a century while the highlight of the short-lived and notoriously unpopular Lord Holford scheme that preceded it was its appearance in the video for Robbie Williams’ hit Anglels. So, even if it did have to survive a covert attack from Prince Charles, One New Change has got off lightly. Jean Nouvel’s controversial first UK project is a major retail and commercial development that aims to bring shopping and weekend activity to the belligerently monocultural City of London for the first time in generations. Another first is the dramatic public space on its roof offering stunning new views of its venerable neighbour. Yet One New Change mixes deference with provocation and by no means seeks harmony with its historic surroundings. Its impact on its surrounding streetscape is surreal and it assumes the shape of a brown and hulking glass bauble squashed and chamfered into a deformed prism.

Project team

Client: Land Securities
Concept architect: Ateliers Jean Nouvel
Delivery architect: Sidell Gibson Architects
Structural engineer: Arup
Services engineer: Hoare Lea
Cost consultant: Davis Langdon
Lighting consultant: Speirs & Major
Construction manager: Bovis Lend Lease
CDM co-ordinator: Schal
Acoustic consultant: Hann Tucker
Facade access consultant: Reef Associates

Each day in the lead up to the Building Awards ceremony next month, we will profile one of the finalists in the Project of the Year and Public Building Project of the Year. The winners will be announced as the Building Awards ceremony taking place on April 7. To book a table at the Building Awards visit the web site here.