This is the second instalment in my new monthly column, featuring a different Maggie’s centre each month. This month it’s the turn of Maggie’s London and I want to take you there the way I got there on Friday 22nd September – that is on foot, through the rain, via 10 mile nocturnal hike.
We started at Leadenhall Market (above) at 7.30pm. There has been a marketplace on this site since Roman times, and by 1321, the area around Leadenhall manor was a known as “a meeting place for poulterers”, who were are joined, in 1397, by cheesemongers. Having been partly destroyed in The Great Fire of 1666 it was rebuilt not long after, becoming a covered structure for the first time. It was knocked down again in 1881 and redesigned by Sir Horace Jones (architect of Billingsgate and Smithfield Markets) and then extensively restored in 1991.
The next building of note on our architectural tour was the Tower of London, home to the crown jewels, ravens and beefeaters; as well being where King Henry VIII had two of his wives (Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn) executed – only real VIPs were executed here, and they were executed by axe.
Before long we were at City Hall being entertained by a wonderful gospel choir singing one of my favourite songs, which almost brought a tear to my eye. We took a moment while admiring the incredible view to remember why we were doing this.
City Hall, designed by Foster + Partners, was designed to be an open democratic space. It’s open to the public, so any time you want to come and see the GLA at work, you can. The shapes created by the stairs are quite incredible and it’s worth a visit to see those alone.
I would just like to point out that it was still raining at this point!
After a quick detour (for some hot food and a drink), we found ourselves on the Southbank, possibly my favourite corner of London.
Included in the Night Hike was a trip on the London Eye. The view from the top was spectacular and it provided opportunity for a little rest and the chance to talk to our fellow hikers. After that, we powered on for the rest of the walk and I’m afraid my sore feet distracted my from taking any further photos. We arrived at Maggie’s London at midnight, having walked 10 miles in four and half hours, with every sympathy for those who were doing the 20 mile hike!
Maggie’s London is within the grounds of Charing Cross hospital on Fulham Palace Road and I’ve written about it before, so I won’t go into too much extra detail here. I recently heard the project architect from Richard Rogers, Will Wilmshurst speak about how the design developed, so I’ll just mention some of the things I learnt from him about the centre.
The building is in a really tricky location between the hospital and a very busy main road. The spiral shape of the design came from a desire to protect the people inside the centre from what was going on outside. Trees planted all the way around the perimeter and an ‘open arm’ to draw people into the centre, both contribute to the success in rising to this challenge.
The architects worked closely with the landscape architect Dan Pearson who created a pathway from the hospital entrance. Knowing that people often find it hard to come into a centre for the first time, there are lots of places people can stop and sit along the way if they lose their nerve for a while, allowing them to be part of Maggie’s without having to cross the threshold. They can see right into the centre from these points to remove some of the fear of the unknown. I was really moved by this level of insight and empathy.
Inside the materials used are intentionally honest and natural, with the flash of bright green providing a positive burst of energy. Some sort of nature is visible from almost every window and the hospital is almost completely obscured.
I’m really proud that I did the Night Hike. It was exhausting, especially right in the middle of London Design Festival, but the work that Maggie’s does is really special and I’m glad to have been able to contribute to that in a small way.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- maggie’s :: gartnavel
- creative spaces :: maggie’s cancer caring centres
- out and about :: celebrating maggie’s and oma / progress
- out and about :: designjunction
Declaration of Interest: I am very privileged to work part time as a writer for Maggie’s, an incredible charity who provide emotional, practical and social support for people with cancer and their families and friends from stunning buildings set within the grounds of specialist cancer hospitals. These are my opinions; not those of Maggie’s.
