Designed by Foster Associates in the late 1960s for insurance company Willis Faber Dumas, the Willis Building is an open plan office with an entirely glass curtain wall.
Recognised by a grade I listing, it is considered one of Ipswich's most historically significant buildings, but by today’s environmental standards, the single glazed façade performs poorly, suffering from overheating in summer and excessive heat loss in winter.
This project proposes a new façade for the Willis Building as well as improvements to the public realm.
A passive design approach brings the building to 21st century environmental standards, while maintaining the spirit of an elegant high-tech icon.
Technical design of the cladding to a new railway bridge over Botley Road, for its temporary use as a pedestrian footbridge.
Tools used: Rhino, Grasshopper, Microstation 2D and 3D, Adobe Illustrator
1:1 prototypes were developed to refine the perforated pattern, arch motif and play of light.
Feasibility study and concept design for a new public bridge for walking, wheeling and cycling over the Cowley Branch railway line. The proposed bridge connects Blackbird Leys to the south with the communities and facilities to the north, including Tesco, Arc Oxford and the station platform of the proposed new Oxford Cowley Station.
Gregor Ferguson is a London based designer currently working at WW+P, an architectural practice specialising in high quality transport and infrastructure.
BSc (Hons) Architecture, University of Bath, 2022
MSt Architecture, University of Cambridge, 2026 (Current)
Website programmed by Gregor Ferguson.
E: info@gregorferguson.com
T: +44 7770 976264