Project Maggie center in London by Steven Holl

After two years of criticism towards the Maggie community center project by New York architect Steven Holl, permission was granted at the beginning of this year, and construction began in mid-June on the historic site of St. Bartholomew's Royal Hospital, founded in 1123. Holl's design in central London will replace a brick building from the 1960s on a site of 600 m² and, unlike previous Maggie centers, which are mostly single-story, it rises three stories high. The translucent glass façade with rounded corners conceals two additional structures: a supporting reinforced concrete frame and an inserted core of bamboo stairs. The colorful façade elements with blurred contours are derived from the musical notation of Gregorian chants, which inspired Holl. The name of the symbols "Pneuma" comes from Ancient Greek, where it meant "spirit" or "breath," allowing Holl to incorporate a double message into the design referring to the longevity and dignity of the place while also suggesting a suitable new function. Completion of the building is planned for next year, marking it as the second Maggie center in London.

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