a thread to talk about tower 42. less a thread about rating the building or saying if you like it, more a thread about rhumour and speculation and dare i say it facts if you happen to have those too. :)




post quoted from heron tower thread:
Not sure how true the rumour is and it may not be at all but apparently T42 is earmarked for demollition in the next 10 years. A certain well know demolition company I have heard are providing the owners advice on how it could be knocked down.

As I say probably no truth in this at all but just a whisper I have heard from a source within the aforementioned demo company.


my opinion:
i don't think t42 is inherantly loveable, it's just another thing you grow to love. you can't seriously think visitors come to london and when they see it they think 'ooh that's fantastic', most of them will think 'ooh that black bit at the top looks a bit shit'. then when they come back a few times they may grow to love it. it's the same with battersea, i only like it because it is familiar and has impact, the first few times i saw it it just looked bland and industrial.

t42 could be in the sights of developers as it wouldn't surprise me if a listed building status was looming on the horizon and that of course puts a limit on the money the building can generate as an investment, i.e. there will suddenly be no possibility of building something bigger, which may be asked for in say 20 years.

all that said, i did love t42 the first time i saw it up close, but many people never get near it.

By no means is T42 a classic skyscraper in international terms, but it has gradually become an icon of modern London. It has begun to inspire some affection in people even with no real interest in skyscrapers, or even architecture at all. Personally I think it's great, certainly since the stainless steel strips were added, and the bar at the top has the best current view in London.
I really hope it doesn't get demolished - the skyline needs something which is established and which provides a contrast to the glassy modern additions.

I absolutely love T42. The thought of it being demolished fills me full of dismay.

Frankly it does sound like a ludicrous idea but you never NEVER know do you. Do you?

I remember it going up as a kid and being thrilled to see it going up and up and up. Of course the 'Post Office Tower' and Centrepoint (not to mention Trellick Tower which I grew up in the shadow of) had been around for ages but for me T42 was a proper skyscraper and is still the defining emblem of The City despite more extravagant and illustrious projects coming along since it was built. I love it's solid austerity - pin-stripes and bowler.

Is there another building in the world like it?

I think I'd cry and cry and cry if they knocked it down. :cry:

I agree. I'd hate to see this go. Wouldn't be the same.

I dnt think they will ever take it down.
I mean its 183m tall! refurbished not long ago! dnt look too bad! and cnt/wnt be replaced with anything much bigger!

and on top of that cost vs benefit?

I am sure that it would be listed. It used to be the tallest cantilevered building in the world when it was constructed.

Culturally the building is important in architecture in the UK, even if it is not a world famous piece of design.

I'm not a massive fan of Seifert but this along with CentrePoint and Globe House should be preserved ad infinitum.

I am sure that it would be listed. It used to be the tallest cantilevered building in the world when it was constructed.

Culturally the building is important in architecture in the UK, even if it is not a world famous piece of design.

I'm not a massive fan of Seifert but this along with CentrePoint and Globe House should be preserved ad infinitum.

Centre Points a terrible-looking building. Tower 42 has more personality.

please someone post some pics. I love tower 42

like this?

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/57Tower42_pic1.jpg

It looks like a piece of shit you wouldn't look twice at in Sao Paulo but I guess that's its charm. It's got a good lighting scheme and is well proportioned. It's been the icon of the City of London for almost 30 years and the design still looks strong even around the modern greats of Foster's gherkin and willis building. I'd miss it!


http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss353/jackus2009/London/P1000318.jpg

In fact it's almost nostalgic. It's my favourite skyscraper in the UK after the gherkin

Some pictures of the tower from me:

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/DSCN0111.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/DSCN0084.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/DSCN0124.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss180/KingOfTheTitans/DSCN0090.jpg

It looks like a piece of shit you wouldn't look twice at in Sao Paulo but I guess that's its charm. It's got a good lighting scheme and is well proportioned. It's been the icon of the City of London for almost 30 years and the design still looks strong even around the modern greats of Foster's gherkin and willis building. I'd miss it!


In fact it's almost nostalgic. It's my favourite skyscraper in the UK after the gherkin

So it's your second favourite skyscraper in the UK, well proportioned and the design looks strong. And it looks like a piece of shit...

It looks like a piece of shit you wouldn't look twice at in Sao Paulo:? T42 would be the tallest building in Sao Paulo, and indeed in the whole of Brazil. It's also much better quality in both design and build quality than a typical Sao Paulo high rise.

I'm rather fond of it - it's a London landmark reference for me along with the Post Office Tower. I love the architectural conceit of the shape of the plan being that of the NatWest logo.

Gratuitous photo

http://www.cybertects.co.uk/gallery2/d/68967-4/200711_1639.jpg

I like it. Although I think it only really looks good if you can see the bottom of it as well as the top. It's the overhang that makes it for me.

It looks like a piece of shit you wouldn't look twice at in Sao Paulo

I think it would stand out quite a bit, its quite distinctive...

It's an iconic piece of the London skyline. I only wish the uppermost mechanical floors were recladded with something brighter.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4168225343_07601d9b26_b.jpg

Natwest Tower opening, 1981 -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GNs9xv410g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5_iRs-qPfw

A reigning Monarch opening a new skyscraper in historic London, make the most of that folks - I can't see it happening much in the future :|

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8540250.stm

Thought this was interesting, even though the Beeb falsely claims T42 to be 'the second tallest building in the UK'.

Maybe they're behind the times and think that London still only has two skyscrapers. ;)

Tower 42 Up For Sale:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Londons-Tallest-Skyscraper-Tower-42-Goes-On-Sale-For-300m-In-The-City/Article/201004215600768?lpos=Business_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_6&lid=ARTICLE_15600768_Londons_Tallest_Skyscraper_Tower_42_Goes_On_Sale_For_%3F300m_In_The_City

Is it a 'For Sale' sign?
http://i51.************/2uh7p81.jpg

It's still illuminated just now - 10:30am - and looks like this with some graphic or text on it which I can't make out from here.
http://i56.************/9sfreq.jpg

http://i53.************/24lvhoh.jpg