32 replies to this topic

[tombarnes]

The Port of London Authority building will be converted to hotel use.  From Hotel-Online....


    http://www.hotel-onl...1135292316.html

[Inkdaub]

I love these towers.  I wouldn't worry about the historical aspect of a city like London...there's enough history there to support some modern towers.  The contrasts will enahance each other.

[KC_to_London_2007]

London is an AMAZING city..my favoutite. buuut..i cant say that i am for all of these modern towers ruining some of the older architecture that surround them. Progress is good, but at what cost?

[monsoon]

London is a living city and I am glad they continue to allow it to change.  Every building in London was new at one time or another.

[Citydweller]

None of these buildings show aqny sense of place, only of time. These are buildings that could be in Berlin, Houston or Singapore. If there are to be tall buildings in the core of London, then they need to work harder to be unique to London, especially at the ground level, where so far, all of them are very inhumane.

[Chtimi]

Citydweller, on Jun 16 2006, 08:39 AM, said:

None of these buildings show aqny sense of place, only of time. These are buildings that could be in Berlin, Houston or Singapore. If there are to be tall buildings in the core of London, then they need to work harder to be unique to London, especially at the ground level, where so far, all of them are very inhumane.

These skyscrapers show that London is a city of its time, very living. The city's wonderful heritage is not destroyed, this vertical architecture is a plus. I like it.

[waccamatt]

Chtimi, on Jun 16 2006, 04:19 PM, said:

These skyscrapers show that London is a city of its time, very living. The city's wonderful heritage is not destroyed, this vertical architecture is a plus. I like it.

London has come so far since I visited in the mid 80's.

[damus]

Those are all wonderful renders. I hope they all get built, London's architecture quite a bit better than what we see here in the USA. Not as many "out of the box" designs, though I have seen a few. Hopefully all these towers could draw some attention away from the "egg" tower.

[marapets]

London has a history of grand skyskraper project s but they all get cancelled i reckon the same will happen to a few of these the london bridge project is already on the verge of being cncelled.

[Newcastle Guy]

122 Leadenhall's demolition is well underway, and it was announced last week that it would be built without tenants. Because the building is being demolished from the bottom up, it should start construction within about a month.

Bishopsgate Tower has been bought and fully funded by Arab Investments, and renamed 'The Pinnacle'. Demolition is starting in weeks, and it will be built without tenants.

Norton Rose have FINALLY moved out of the Heron Tower site. Demolition will commence, and it is fully funded. It has been announced as spec build, and will need no tenants.

Riverside South is now under construction, and has recieved a height increase to 236m above ground level. It will be the tallest tower in Canary Wharf when completed. It is likely to recieve tenants easily, as vacancy levels are at around 3% in canary Wharf, lower than they have ever been.

the Shard has been 65% pre let now. It needs to secure more funding, not that that shouldn't be much of a problem. PWC have announced they will vacate the current site in June/July, and demolition is to start in September, with construction next year. Hoardings have gone around the area recently with big renders announcing that the renaissance of the area has begun.

Broadgate Tower, 165m, is topping out, and renders have recently been released of a taller neighbour to it designed by Norman Foster, designer of the much loved and iconic Swiss Re building.

Wood Wharf, consisting of 3 skyscrapers of around 150m for the east end of Canary wharf is to go in for planning in a month or two.

Heron Quays West in canary Wharf, which is likely to consist of twin towers around 200m, will go in for planning soon, and development is due to begin in August 2008 or before that, much earlier than we expected.

The 125m Willis Building in the Heart of the city is finishing off externally, and the 100m Stock Exchange redevelopment nearby is coming on well.

100 Bishopsgate, a 165m tower for the City near Heron, was approved not too long ago. It will not start construction until 2011 or later however.

Demolition has started on the site of the now approved Multiplex Living Tower, 147m, in E&C.

So, for now, I don't see much getting cancelled. In fact it is all looking quite positive:)

[Chtimi]

Ah, good news for the Shard. Thank you Newcastle Guy for this clear summary, there are so much projects in London ! London is going through roaring years, and not just in architecture.

[Newcastle Guy]

Chtimi, on May 29 2007, 09:25 PM, said:

Ah, good news for the Shard. Thank you Newcastle Guy for this clear summary, there are so much projects in London ! London is going through roaring years, and not just in architecture.

Thats fine:) It doesn't mean The Shard is certain to go ahead, but it should hopefully get the £500m it needs. The HSBC European HQ in canary Wharf recently sold for £1.1billion, so while costs may have risen, I expected final sale price will have too:)

For a full list of tower projects (there are LOTS) have a look here:

http://www.skyscrape...ad.php?t=446250

While the likes of Dubai and Moscow may be building gigantic towers in stupid numbers, London is mainting a very high quality standard that, in my opinion, they aren't. And I'd take that over lots of huge but ugly towers any day.

Edited by Newcastle Guy, 30 May 2007 - 10:07 AM.

[AJohnstone]

I agree in that London has held strong in maintaining its character in the midst of the skyscraper race. If the city does follow through with such modern buildings, they should be as far from any historic landmarks as possible within a reasonable commute. There is a reason that Canary Wharf was built and why it is held so high in respect.