The Mariner’s Quarter comprises the 40m tall James Cook and 60m tall Marco Polo Apartment towers, strategically positioned within the Royal Wharf master plan in London. Notably, the Marco Polo tower serves as a bold cornerstone along the Thames waterfront - its striking silhouette emerging from a thoughtful tectonic shift of three stacked boxes, uniting the housing block into a dynamic, twisting urban entity. Inspired by the ever-changing patterns of London’s weather, the buildings’ facades intentionally undergo seasonal fluctuations. The implementation of movable louvred screens provides each unit with nuanced control over sun shading or wind-breaking capabilities based on real-time weather conditions. This responsiveness imparts a tangible and lively 'breathing' quality to the development. The uppermost block rises as a visually captivating landmark without compromising the rectilinear aesthetic of the architectural surroundings. Capitalising on the panoramic river views, the upper and lower blocks are thoughtfully rotated around a central axis, offering commanding views of the water even for east-facing units situated away from the immediate waterfront. The middle block, comprising apartments on the 8th to the 13th storey, is purposefully rotated in the opposite direction, providing vistas overlooking the Thames Barrier, and Park. (Photos by Bennedict Luxmoore)