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1982-83 Architect, Greater London Council Architects 1985-98 Associate, William Alsop & Jan Störmer (Alsop Lyall & Störmer, Alsop & Lyall, Alsop Barnett & Lyall) 1998-2004 Director, Percy Thomas Architects June 2004 – present Special projects director, Capita Percy Thomas |
Jonathan Adams is embarrassed at hearing that a Cardiff agent has described him as “the man of the moment”. But Adams’ modest exterior belies a considerable pride.
Adams is the man behind the design of one of Wales’ most iconic buildings, the Wales Millennium Centre. Criticism that the £104m centre was draining Wales of its arts budget were dispelled when the centre was opened by the Queen last December. Commentators dubbed it “a hugely impressive artistic centre” and a “glittering example for Wales”.
The WMC joins a host of other buildings to have popped up in the city, signifying just how far Cardiff has come in the last 10 years.
The changing city
However, Adams has his own opinions on how Cardiff is developing, and he is not afraid to express them.
But first it’s back to the modesty. Adams, who was one of the driving forces behind the design of the WMC, is keen to point out that the WMC was a team effort from Capita Percy Thomas, the architect firm for whom he works as special projects director. However, the design was heavily influenced by his past.
Born and bred in Cardiff, Adams completed the first part of his architecture degree in the city before heading to London when he was in his 20s. But it was when he joined the Architectural Association that he met the man who would have not only a big impact on his career, but would also become his employer of 14 years. That man was Will Alsop with whom he worked on projects like London’s North Greenwich tube station.
“Anything I have done since working with Will Alsop is a result of what I have learned from him. And I learned a lot, both good and bad. I grew up with him.”
When speaking of Alsop, there is one question that begs to be asked – what did Adams think of his mentor’s failed attempt at building the Fourth Grace in Liverpool? Spiralling costs were blamed for the plug being pulled last July on the futuristic scheme after estimated costs rose from £228m to £324m.
The answer brings Adams back to Cardiff and the WMC. Adams says he wasn’t surprised Alsop’s scheme was aborted. “With any project of that size, it is going to be difficult to get it to go ahead. It’s because high-profile developments require an awful lot of luck.
Adams says it wasn’t plain sailing getting the WMC off the ground. “Cultural buildings like this have to be supported by politicians and the public, thereby avoiding dissent which can derail projects.”
Over the past few years, the WMC is only one of many buildings that have transformed the face of Cardiff. The Millennium Stadium and the St David’s Hotel are two of the most notable; there is also LandSec’s planned extension to the St David’s shopping centre.
While Adams is pleased with all the development in his home town, he does have some concerns: “Cardiff is currently at an interesting stage, but there needs to be a great leap in planning.”
Planning throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s was dictated by the Cardiff Bay Development. With much of that development either completed or underway, Adams says fresh thinking needs to be engendered.
“What needs to happen is more strategic thinking. There’s still a tendency in Cardiff to approach planning in a haphazard way. Large projects are just dropped into locations without enough thinking having gone into the the future plan of the city.”
As examples, Adams cites Orion Land & Leisure’s proposed £700m 90-acre Sports Village on a site overlooking Cardiff Bay. “Is there any need to build that now?” he asks. “It’s an area disconnected from the city.” He also cites Lloyd George Avenue calling it a “yawning gap between the bay and the city centre”.
Planners in need of sophistication
“Intelligent and sophisticated thinking about the whole city is needed, because at the moment the city planners do not possess the right degree of sophistication, ” he says.
Although it appears Adams is full of criticism for the city, he does have some good things to say about Cardiff’s planners. He points out the city has “some excellent individuals”. This leads him to the Design Commission for Wales, and he laments that the group was created “for those who feel powerless about making a statement about design. It is there to raise the standards of the debate concerning design”.
The group, which Adams was instrumental in setting up in 2002 has already taken a swipe at LandSec’s St David’s 2 scheme. It criticised the developers for placing the buildings too close together.
Peter Cleary, development director atLandSec, says his company is adopting a pluralistic approach to the scheme.
Aside from architectural issues, Adams is keen to talk about his latest project which involves bringing forward young architects. Capita Percy Thomas is setting up a division to enable young designers to have a meaningful input into projects.
Adams says he would like to rediscover the hotbed of thinking that he experienced in his days at the Architectural Association in London. And if he has his way, there will be more Alsops in the future, with Adams making a mark not only in Cardiff but throughout the UK.
