The Mariner’s Quarter contains a proposed set of two apartment towers, the James Cook and Marco Polo buildings, that will be developed on the last phase of the vibrant Royal Wharf master plan, located east of the business district Canary Wharf in London. Situated at the heart of the Royal Docks, Royal Wharf will be a vibrant mixed-use development with over 3,000 homes, a new school, shops, offices and restaurants catering for almost 10,000 residents, with panoramic views of the River Thames.

Its striking silhouette along the Thames waterfront is created by the subtle tectonic shift of these three boxes, unifying the housing block into a single twisting urban entity. To maintain the strong master planning relationship with the adjacent Marco Polo Building, the James Cook Building utilises a similar façade treatment while reversing its colour palette for subtle differentiation. Inspired by the varying patterns of London’s weather, the building’s façade and character is designed to cater to the four seasons.

Each unit has the ability to adjust the position of their sliding louvered panels to provide sun and wind shading capabilities depending on the weather or season. This gives the building façade an organic and lively feel – similar to the fluctuating seasons in nature. The sliding panels, combined with the dynamic twist of the blocks, work together to create a high-impact flagship design.