Tom Oliver Payne

Tom Oliver Payne | Urban Strategist | Place Identity

[tomoliverpayne]

London Fields, Hackney. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #londonfields #eastlondon #blackandwhitephotography #isocities https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BNumGHHFx/?igshid=5b578qp4dd48

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Sydney Opera House, photographed in 2017. . This week the Australian Prime Minister called for the Sydney Opera House to be used as an advertising “billboard”. It’s not a billboard. It’s World Heritage Site. One of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the world. . I was proud to see 300,000 Sydneysiders not only stand up for this incredible building, but also resist a corrupt NSW government on a dangerous trajectory of commercialisation, heritage destruction and corrupt public/private alliances. Hopefully the end of two awful political careers (@gladysb / @scottmorrisonmp ) and the start of a new era for the city - one in which public space, heritage, culture and architecture are respected and cared for. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #sydneyoperahouse #defendouroperahouse #defendtheoperahouse #sailsnotsales #sailsnotforsale #sydneyoperahouse #architecture #jonutzon #urbanism #ig_cities #architecturalphotography #bnwphotography (at Sydney, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bov7SRRnbJX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1d6kq8pfyif16

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Copenhagen's Three Key Design Cues the World Should Follow | Architectural Digest

There's a reason it's repeatedly named one of the most sustainable, livable, and happiest cities on the planet

“Copenhagen is repeatedly named as one of the most sustainable, livable, and happiest cities on the planet. Synonymous with beautiful architecture and a paragon of people-oriented urban design, professionals shaping Copenhagen are in high demand across the globe...” . My latest piece for @archdigest is up online (link in bio). Thanks for the interviews Bjarke Ingels @big_builds, Mikael Colville-Andersen @copenhagenizer & Dan Stubbergaard @cobearchitects.

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UK’s tallest. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #london #england #uk #architecture #londonarchitect #renzopiano #theshard #shard #urbanism #ig_cities #architecturalphotography #bnwphotography (at The Shard London)

[tomoliverpayne]

Last week my friend @mcallister.jamie and I rode our bikes 250 miles from Porto to Lisbon in Portugal. A few of the days hit 36c so we were nice and warm to say the least. Travelling by bike enables you to see a country like few others can... . We rode through dozens of villages and coastal towns, miles of recently burnt out forests and got to meet some interesting local characters. Arriving into Lisbon - renowned for live music & red wine - to hang w @helensproat was ideal. Beautiful country, awesome little bday adventure. 🤙🏼 (at Portugal)

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Designed by @snohetta & opening in 2008, the Oslo Opera House is the home of Norway's National Opera and Ballet. . 1,100 rooms and a main stage seating almost 1,500 people, it’s the largest cultural building in Norway since 1300 - finally taking out Trondheim's Nidaros Cathedra as the top-dog. . But what I found even cooler than the size or extravagance of the design, is how the building has created an entirely new public urban space for people to check our views of the city. With two sloping ramps on either side of the building, pedestrians are invited to walk onto the rooftop to make the most of this reclaimed section of the harbour. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #oslo #norway #architecture #norwegianarchitecture #urbanism #ig_cities #architecturalphotography #publicspace #bnwphotography #snohetta (at Oslo, Norway)

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For over a century the curvaceous geometry and long silhouettes of these gasometers have formed a part of East London’s skyline. Established as a holding station for the once nearby Shoreditch Gasworks, they’re a reminder of London’s industrial past. While many have been calling for a heritage listing, that looks unlikely for now. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #architecture #architecturalphotography #architecturalhistory #ig_architecture #ig_cities #aerial #drone #urbanhistory #hackney #gasholders #londongasholders (at London Borough of Hackney) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmBJyrohTTt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=91v7hq5kvocv

[tomoliverpayne]

For over a century the curvaceous geometry and long silhouettes of these gasometers have formed a part of East London’s skyline. Established as a holding station for the once nearby Shoreditch Gasworks, they’re a reminder of London’s industrial past. While many have been calling for a heritage listing, that looks unlikely for now. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #architecture #architecturalphotography #architecturalhistory #ig_architecture #ig_cities #aerial #drone #urbanhistory #hackney #gasholders #londongasholders (at London Borough of Hackney) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmBJyrohTTt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=149tkve136aem

[tomoliverpayne]

I visited Copenhagen for a research project in 2012 and have been back every year since. There are a million reasons why I love it so much, but mainly because it's not an aggressive, traffic heavy, overdeveloped city... People are friendly, bike riders are respected and encouraged, the architecture - old and new - is elegant, nightlife is fun, and the Baltic is clean (in the harbour ... amongst the ferries is fine). . There seems to be a simplicity, pragmatism and calmness that I haven't experienced in any other city. It's no wonder it's architects and urban designers are in demand around the world. . This year my friend Mark and I rode our bikes up north and crossed over into Sweden for a couple of days. Awesome little trip and as always - can't wait to get back. Thanks also @flemmingstensballe & @copenhagenizer - legendary Danes. 🇩🇰 _____________ . . . . . _____________ #copenhagen #denmark #cph #urbandesign #architecture #ig_cities (at Copenhagen)

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I met with urban design legend Mikael Colville-Andersen in 2015 at the launch of a new street in Copenhagen. Here is what he had to say about Istedgade in the neighbourhood of Vesterbro.

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[tomoliverpayne]

Checking out one of Sydney’s disused tram sheds last year. . The city’s tram network was - at one point - the largest on the world. There were thousands in service covering 300 km of track. The lines were all ripped up in the 1960s to make way for motorways, which ripped through some of its most beautiful neighbourhoods. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #sydney #newtowntramshed #bnw #bnwphotography #architecturalhistory (at Newtown, New South Wales)

[tomoliverpayne]

Checking out an old brickworks on the outskirts of Toronto. Jesse Darling 📷. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #toronto #evergreenbrickworks (at Toronto, Ontario)

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London. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #bnw #bnwphotography #london #spicollective (at London, United Kingdom)

[tomoliverpayne]

The Barbican, London. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #thebarbican #barbican #barbicancentre #londonarchitecture #architecture #architecturalphotography #brutalism #brutalistarchitecture #brutalismo (at Barbican Centre)

[tomoliverpayne]

Keeling House, London. Designed by Sir Denys Lasdun in 1954. . I used to look at Keeling House from my old balcony and wonder why this elegant modernist building was built with these strange wing-shaped blocks. . Turns out Lasdun wanted to replicate the social elements of Victorian street life - the overlooking balconies encouraging residents to chat with each other. . This was one of architect, Lasdun’s, earliest projects before he shot to worldwide fame. In 1993 the council voted to demolish Keeling, but it was saved by the private sector. . It became the first post-war council building to receive a Grade II* heritage listing. . Before Lasun's death in 2001, he'd designed dozens of amazing buildings across London... Photo project in the works. :-) _____________ . . . . . _____________ #keelinghouse #londonarchitecture #sirdenyslasdun #denyslasdun #modernistarchitecture #modernism #architecture #architecturalphotography #brutalism #latemodernism #brutalistarchitecture #sosbrutalism #brutalismo (at Bethnal Green)

[tomoliverpayne]

Paris’ wide avenues and open spaces aren’t as old as many people think… In the mid 1800’s Napoleon III asked urban planner, Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, to bring air and light to the centre of the city to unify the different neighbourhoods and make it more beautiful. At the time most of the centre was tiny laneways and overcrowded slums. . Between 1853 and 1927 entire districts were destroyed, but huge boulevards, parks, squares and fountains were created. . A lot of people see Haussann as an arrogant, imperialist megalomaniac who ripped the heart out of the city. To others, he was a visionary who transformed Paris into the ‘city of light’. Love or hate the guy, Paris wouldn’t have the distinctive look if it weren’t for his wild ideas. . This is my favourite boulevard views - looking from Arc De Triomphe toward La Defense, photographed last year. _____________ . . . . . _____________ #paris #architecture #urbanplanning #archiphoto #arcdetriomphe #haussmann #architecture #architecturalphotography #architecturaldigest #guardiancities #ig_architecture #ig_cities #arcfly (at Arc de Triomphe)