Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:44 am  

El Barbudo wrote:

... 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...

Totally agree on this – and yes, 'elegant' is exactly how I'd describe it too.

El Barbudo wrote:

... One of the most shouty-but-boring examples has to be No.1. Poultry ...

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.

This is a really wonderful description.

It also makes me think of Paternoster Square, where Big Ears stuck his oar in about ensuring that it was 'appropriate' architecture for standing next to Wren's glorious cathedral.

In the end, what we got is dismal – the infantilism of architectural pastiche. Personally, I'd have given the space to the likes of Rodgers or Foster and said: 'go to it!'

The Barbican and the South Bank I am rather fond of, personally.

There is a vast amount of dross around. The 'Walkie Talkie' is dire. Heron Tower is ... well, what? All height and nothing more. Broadgate Tower is moderately interesting because it's a rhomboid, but so much else is just all about height.

I do like the no-longer-very-new Lloyds Building (been inside it on one of those 'open house' tours) and the Willis Building nearby (Rodgers and Foster respectively), and the 'Cheesegrater' will be amazing (another Rodgers) although it much taller than I realised.

Perversely, Docklands works rather well, I think – perhaps because it's in one area.

The big buildings are spreading: City Road, which I travel up and down every weekday, is going mad. There's one medium-sized block nearly finished, but at least four more going up on the short stretch from Old Street roundabout to the City Road Basin. The Lexicon is going to 36 stories. Canaletto is going to be 31 (the names are hilarious). From what I can gather, there's also a planned 40-plus storey building. And so on.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:52 am  

If you search enough, there are some really beautiful and/or quirky buildings in London, i don't understand though why they have to be tall to be 'noticed'.

There's a quirky building on Holloway Road (London Met Uni)
and even though it's full of the worst kind of human beings known to man T HoP is an absolutely gorgeous building.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:06 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

If you search enough, there are some really beautiful and/or quirky buildings in London, i don't understand though why they have to be tall to be 'noticed'.

There's a quirky building on Holloway Road (London Met Uni)
and even though it's full of the worst kind of human beings known to man T HoP is an absolutely gorgeous building.

Not easy to do, but it's fascinating to take a stroll down Oxford Street – looking above shop front level. It's surprising what's up there. And beyond Oxford Circus, you have the changes to department store architecture – and even a Barbara Hepworth sculpture on the side of John Lewis.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:12 am  

Mintball wrote:

... Paternoster Square ..the infantilism of architectural pastiche. Personally, I'd have given the space to the likes of Rodgers or Foster and said: 'go to it!'...

So would I.
Pastiche is right ... like a 1990's Portmeirion, without the fun.

It's a bit of an indictment when the only bit that's not blandly forgettable is a small sculpture in one corner (Frink's Shepherd and Sheep).

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:15 am  

El Barbudo wrote:

... like a 1990's Portmeirion, without the fun...

Perfect description.

El Barbudo wrote:

... It's a bit of an indictment when the only bit that's not blandly forgettable is a small sculpture in one corner (Frink's Shepherd and Sheep).

Good point.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:19 am  

I used to work in Greenford and although it's now a tesco, The Hoover Building and it's blue and green lighting always stands out, when i sometimes come back from the North and the M1 is snarled up i use the M40 and come in that way, as soon as i see it i strangely (because i'm northern) feel like i'm home.
Then perversely i have to drive past BX shopping centre (awful looking repressive building).

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:27 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

I used to work in Greenford and although it's now a tesco, The Hoover Building and it's blue and green lighting always stands out ...

A wonderful building.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:35 am  

I don't know it's name, i'm currently googling to find out but there's a building in the city on Leadenhall Street that i absolutely love, it's a metal looking industrial design, it has a stair case on the outside and it's always been my favourite building because it reminds me of buildings you see in dark futuristic films.


*edit Llyods Building

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:47 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

... The Hoover Building and it's blue and green lighting always stands out, when i sometimes come back from the North and the M1 is snarled up i use the M40 and come in that way, as soon as i see it i strangely (because i'm northern) feel like i'm home...

I used to get a bit of that sort of feeling from the Bibendum building as I fancied it was faced with Burmantofts ceramics from Leeds ... reminds me, I need to verify that.

I have a soft spot for Art Nouveau and London lets me down in that respect, I guess that the popularity of the Arts and Crafts movement (of which I am also a big fan) eclipsed it in the UK.
Nonetheless, the Bibendum building is one that cheers me up (although I guess it is more Secessionist than Nouveau really).

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:52 am  

Horatio Yed wrote: I don't know it's name, i'm currently googling to find out but there's a building in the city on Leadenhall Street that i absolutely love, it's a metal looking industrial design, it has a stair case on the outside and it's always been my favourite building because it reminds me of buildings you see in dark futuristic films. *edit Llyods Building A few pics from outside. We've also seen the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and then there's also 88 Wood Street (or London Wall, as most people think of it), which both have the same inside-out approach. I've also seen his law courts in Bordeaux, which are interesting too.

Horatio Yed wrote: I don't know it's name, i'm currently googling to find out but there's a building in the city on Leadenhall Street that i absolutely love, it's a metal looking industrial design, it has a stair case on the outside and it's always been my favourite building because it reminds me of buildings you see in dark futuristic films. *edit Llyods Building A few pics from outside. We've also seen the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and then there's also 88 Wood Street (or London Wall, as most people think of it), which both have the same inside-out approach. I've also seen his law courts in Bordeaux, which are interesting too.