<translation>Newspaper stand Paperhouse in London</translation>

The personality of Thomas Heatherwick cannot be defined in a straightforward manner. More a designer than an architect, he has in his portfolio projects ranging from small design objects to intricate constructions of a technical nature. His cleverness and uniqueness have caught the attention of the local council of Kensington and Chelsea, which commissioned him to design a newsstand. The use of the internet as the primary source of information, as well as the network of large supermarkets, negatively impacts the natural image of the urban environment. England's traditionally conservative approach and the lucrative nature of the mentioned metropolitan zone necessitated the design of a structure that emphasizes space with added values of individuality and uniqueness. Heatherwick Studio responded to the challenge with an object reminiscent of the ergonomic shape of a bee's torso. It has a capsule-like, art deco form of a full ellipsoid made up of horizontal rings. The striped formal expression is close to Heatherwick’s style. It has already been used on the staircase of the Lonchamp store in New York. The object is topped with a skylight around the entire perimeter and a retreating roof cap. At the back of the object, an integrated area serves as a frame for commercial advertising. During the night “operation,” the stand has a neutral appearance more akin to a bland ATM vault than a retail stand. During the day, by means of retractable wings rotating around the main body, it creates an open display case offering a diverse range of newspapers and magazines. The profiled steel support frame houses a shell made of impressive brass strips with a patinated effect. The interior trim features wooden upholstery. The retreating steps also create natural shelves for periodicals. The structure pleasantly enlivens the urban environment. The first stand is located in Sloane Square, while the second is at the entrance to the underground at the busy Earls Court in South London.