Alsop, Will

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Will Alsop (born 1947) is an English architect based in London, responsible for several distinctive and controversial modernist buildings - most in the United Kingdom.

Alsop's buildings are usually distinguished by their vibrant use of bright color and unusual forms. While Alsop has won praise from some critics and fans of avant garde architecture, he has also faced criticism from fellow architects and some segments of the general public.

Alsop studied at the Architectural Association School of Architecture and set up a practice (Alsop & Lyall) with fellow student John Lyall in Hammersmith in 1981, subsequently renamed Alsop & Stormer in 1991. Alsop and Stormer divided into separate practices in 2000, Alsop forming Alsop Architects. Alsop has practices in London, Singapore, Toronto, Beijing and Shanghai. Alsop Architects was partially bought out in early 2006 by the SMC Group and is now known as SMC Alsop.

Alsop's book SuperCity was particularly controversial. It has been the subject of a Channel 4 television documentary and an exhibition at the Urbis museum in Manchester [1]. This book describes his vision of a' Supercity' - a futurisitic conurbation - stretching along the M62 corridor, from Liverpool to Hull. It includes a discussion of how the increasing inter-connectivity of the cities along this corridor is changing the concepts of a 'city', and how they can be developed to merge the idea of rural and urban. It also includes a number of architectural ideas of possible buildings and communities in this city. Although he has seen some political support in his ideas, with The Times claiming that John Prescott is a supporter [2], the SuperCity also has its criticisms. It is claimed that his book and visions show signs of parochialism [3], and a misunderstanding of how people travel and self-identify. He is also accused of taking a highly globalist stance and ignoring the needs of those who cannot afford to travel.

His plans for a "Fourth Grace" to be built on Liverpool's Pier Head waterfront - the so-called "Cloud building" - were cancelled in June 2004, officially because of rising costs and unrealistic design.

Alsop's architectural talents may be the subject of controversy but he has managed to build up an international reputation and a certain degree of fame. Nortwithstanding this, like fellow avant gardist Zaha Hadid he has actualised relatively few buildings from his designs.