Re: Mile-high building for London? : Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:36 am  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

Agree about the Shard. Have to agree to disagree about Petronas though, I love those buildings. After the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong it's probably my favourite.

The London Eye. I kind of agree with you about it being an eyesore, but I would say it's a "positive" eyesore because it does give fantastic views. It also brings attention to Old County Hall, which is a building I like but is practically ignored because of the building diagonal to it.

St Thomas's Hospital is an eyesore and needs to be moved. The Shell Centre is an even bigger eyesore and needs replacing.

I would say that the HSBC building in Hong Kong is a much better, more imaginative design than the Bank of China tower.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:38 am  

Bigger isn't always better.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:50 am  

JerryChicken wrote: Thats what they said about that helicopter That building is another crappy building. Just reading the comments section in the Daily Wail about that crash. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... aring.html Where TF do they get these people?

JerryChicken wrote: Thats what they said about that helicopter That building is another crappy building. Just reading the comments section in the Daily Wail about that crash. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... aring.html Where TF do they get these people?

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Thu Jul 04, 2013 9:06 am  

chile wrote:

I would say that the HSBC building in Hong Kong is a much better, more imaginative design than the Bank of China tower.

My profile pic is of Victoria Justice. On IMDB someone listed her in a "list of actresses who are said to be beautiful but aren't". My only response to that is an utter bewilderment to what in hell they're looking at.

That's the same response when I look at pics of the HSBC and BoC towers.

I don't like most of I M Pei's buildings. The Louvre pyramid excepted, most of his other buildings I don't really like. But the Bank of China Tower I just love.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Thu Jul 04, 2013 10:15 am  

Speaking of iconic buildings ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23175255

Speaking of iconic buildings ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23175255

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Thu Jul 04, 2013 11:00 am  

El Barbudo wrote: Speaking of iconic buildings ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23175255 That was one of the last remaining sites for Chelsea to get to build a new stadium. I don't think Earls Court is an iconic building. It is an iconic place because of the events that have taken place there, but the buildings themselves are nothing special at all.

El Barbudo wrote: Speaking of iconic buildings ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23175255 That was one of the last remaining sites for Chelsea to get to build a new stadium. I don't think Earls Court is an iconic building. It is an iconic place because of the events that have taken place there, but the buildings themselves are nothing special at all.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Thu Jul 04, 2013 11:15 am  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

That was one of the last remaining sites for Chelsea to get to build a new stadium.

I don't think Earls Court is an iconic building. It is an iconic place because of the events that have taken place there, but the buildings themselves are nothing special at all.

I'm more concerned about the pompous oaf approving the demolition of the estates, in favour of toffs' housing

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:17 am  

Mintball wrote:

The Shard is dire – primarily because it is so big, and stands so much on its own, that it detracts from anything else.

I do not dislike modern architecture per se – I don't dislike tall buildings per se – but in London at present we're just seeing a situation of, frankly, pissing contests.

completely agree with that, it's exactly what i think.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:09 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

completely agree with that, it's exactly what i think.

Yup, me too.
The buildings in HK mentioned in earlier posts don't do it for me either, they lack style and imagination.

If I may put aside the politics of buildings and their purpose, I'd like to mention the Gherkin, which to me is a superbly elegant blend of engineering and aesthetics ... like a huge Faberge egg from a distance when it glitters in the daylight and, as you approach, it seems to get smaller and the shape is such that, when you arrive next to it and look up, its height tapers out of sight so you don't see all of it and it doesn't dominate from street level.
The best modern building in The City, in my opinion.

One of the most shouty-but-boring examples has to be No.1. Poultry which is basically a meretricious layer cake of dressed stone wrapped around the same old, same old, style of ferro-concrete skeleton.
When you demolish listed Victorian buildings (as was done in this case), it should only be justified if what you put there next is better ... and it simply isn't.
The harsh brutal nature of the Barbican (even though I hate the whole idea of brutalism and still believe it was a misconception) and the South Bank centre, did at least have an idea behind them which is exactly what No 1 Poultry lacks, it is like a little girl wearing all her mother's make-up.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:33 am  

I actually like the Barbican towers, they're almost distopian which makes them interesting, the shard just looks like a half finished tower, i understand the shape is so that it doesn't interfere with St Pauls vista.

Speaking of views from London, Archway bridge locally known as suicide bridge in Highgate has some cracking views as long as you don't pick the day some one just received their credit card bill.