Ludgate and Sampson House | Southwark | approx 165m | Pre-planning

henry · August 26th, 2012, 02:30 PM

Hi guys, not on here much these days, but i came across this and thought it was worth a thread.
Anyone who's ever walked along the south bank will know these buildings.
Looks like PLP architects have been given the task opening up the site and replacing the existing buildings with a collection of towers.
There are some early sketches online, and if they're anything like the final proposals then we're looking at something around the same height as the Beetham tower next door.

You can find out more here, and I've pasted a few of the more interesting images below http://www.ludgateandsampson.com/

Core Rising · August 26th, 2012, 03:45 PM

Cheers, the scale of the development is much bigger that I could have hoped for. It will be great for Southbank to have Ludgate and Samson House replaced.

potto · August 26th, 2012, 06:49 PM

I hate the cowering massing under the safety of the existing planning permission, inevitable though I guess

cnapan · August 26th, 2012, 08:31 PM

It's hard to say anything about this proposal given the pictures are just a load of rectangles, but the two existing buildings offer nothing other than an irritating obstacle to people trying to move around this part of town, so if the development opens up pedestrian thoroughfares, then it'll be an improvement.

I was taking photos of Samson house last week. It displays an almost breathtaking contempt for humanity, and it's no surprise that (at vast expense) this building is going to be destroyed. Don't expect many people to shed a tear.

El_Greco · August 26th, 2012, 08:36 PM

Its not just this building that displays contempt for humanity its entire riverfront!

cnapan · August 26th, 2012, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Greco

Its not just this building that displays contempt for humanity its entire riverfront!

Indeed! Look across the river for perhaps the worst building on the river - the one with the underpass under it.

One day, its time will come. Let's hope it's soon. Imagine the north bank being properly opened up to humanity again...

henry · August 27th, 2012, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potto

I hate the cowering massing under the safety of the existing planning permission, inevitable though I guess

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Post Shard I'd like to see a developer pick a fight over sight-lines. Perhaps a bit of olympic optimism might have rubbed off on Westminster council and EH. Who am i kidding.

ferge · August 27th, 2012, 03:52 PM

I'm a little concerned about a growing number of skyscrapers that are on the river front, It'd be nice to have some low rise elements infront of the towers to keep things tidy (I think). Plus I actually like that building (the non-brute one, is that Ludgate?) and thought it'd (eventually) work well sitting next to the Beetham tower.

vank · August 27th, 2012, 04:04 PM

Hope this tower will look better than Blackfriars Road Tower/Beetham. :P

DanLondon · August 28th, 2012, 12:21 AM

We will have to await the detail of the towers, but if the website is anything to go by, the overall master plan should be pretty good! Like the idea of improving the riverfront walk and developing the railway arches.

cnapan · August 28th, 2012, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanLondon

We will have to await the detail of the towers, but if the website is anything to go by, the overall master plan should be pretty good! Like the idea of improving the riverfront walk and developing the railway arches.

Yes - it should be a stated goal for the city to open up as much river frontage as possible as pedestrianed area. Since I was a kid, much of the south bank has been transformed by this process. Crowds flock to such areas. The river is one of the best assets of the city, and we need to erase the short-sighted post-industrial planning decisions.

Trances · August 28th, 2012, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferge

I'm a little concerned about a growing number of skyscrapers that are on the river front, It'd be nice to have some low rise elements infront of the towers to keep things tidy (I think). Plus I actually like that building (the non-brute one, is that Ludgate?) and thought it'd (eventually) work well sitting next to the Beetham tower.

Have to agree with you there. Not that is any where near happening but the river needs step backs and not a to become like a canyon!

potto · August 28th, 2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferge

I'm a little concerned about a growing number of skyscrapers that are on the river front, It'd be nice to have some low rise elements infront of the towers to keep things tidy (I think). Plus I actually like that building (the non-brute one, is that Ludgate?) and thought it'd (eventually) work well sitting next to the Beetham tower.

I think we can get away with it at this spot; is it is a pivotal bend in the river representing the axis of a wheel. The bendy river also gives the multiple emerging mini-clusters, the City, Blackfriars, London Bridge, Elephant & Castle and Waterloo great dynamism too. There is enough space between them to prevent a complete wall along the river from emerging; with enough conservation places and infrastructure to prevent it from happening in future.

Just such a shame that the the full potential we have sitting before us is not realised with the current development proposals of tall buildings in these multiple locales. They all hit an artificially stunted plateaux so this river shaped dynamism is not as exciting as it could be and it will never hit the popular concept of urban beauty as their bulky masses will certainly be no dreaming spires.

potto · August 28th, 2012, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trances

Have to agree with you there. Not that is any where near happening but the river needs step backs and not a to become like a canyon!

It will never become a canyon.

Trances · August 29th, 2012, 10:42 AM

Very interesting article here about this development and the future of Blackfriars

http://www.londonreconnections.com/2...ng-the-future/

beefykeefy · August 29th, 2012, 02:40 PM

Oh dear.

After what looks like finally seeing the back of these two monsters, I can sense another disappointment looming.

More cladding, glass and steel shite offset by average open spaces with a few caffs 'n' coffee gaffs to try and liven things up...

Not sure the river should be a high rise alley. Looks like we're heading that way.

flare · August 29th, 2012, 03:14 PM

The river is 250m wide at this point. It is not an "alley"

hifive605 · August 29th, 2012, 04:13 PM

creates a nice dramatic exit to the bridge with the simpson tower. Proportions and massing look slim and elegant, if quality materials are used this could be a massive change for the better..

beefykeefy · August 29th, 2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flare

The river is 250m wide at this point. It is not an "alley"

OK then a valley. Better?

You know what I meant clever bollocks.

jamiefearon · August 29th, 2012, 05:07 PM

a river is a valley

August 26th, 2012, 02:30 PM	#1
henry Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London Posts: 566 Likes (Received): 0	Ludgate and Sampson House \| Southwark \| approx 165m \| Pre-planning Hi guys, not on here much these days, but i came across this and thought it was worth a thread. Anyone who's ever walked along the south bank will know these buildings. Looks like PLP architects have been given the task opening up the site and replacing the existing buildings with a collection of towers. There are some early sketches online, and if they're anything like the final proposals then we're looking at something around the same height as the Beetham tower next door. You can find out more here, and I've pasted a few of the more interesting images below http://www.ludgateandsampson.com/

August 26th, 2012, 08:36 PM	#5
El_Greco I Like Palm Trees Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 16,756 Likes (Received): 267	Its not just this building that displays contempt for humanity its entire riverfront! __________________ My Photos : Lisbon\|Madrid\|Rome\|Naples\|London\|Rotterdam\|Fes

August 27th, 2012, 04:04 PM	#9
vank Near Bruges Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 5,653	Hope this tower will look better than Blackfriars Road Tower/Beetham. :P __________________ My favorite cities: 1) London, UK 2) Paris, France 3) Bruges, Belgium

August 29th, 2012, 10:42 AM	#15
Trances , , and , Fade to Black. Join Date: May 2003 Location: Living in London Posts: 7,896 Likes (Received): 4	Very interesting article here about this development and the future of Blackfriars http://www.londonreconnections.com/2...ng-the-future/ __________________ "Are we ready to go farther or have we already gone to far?" “He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future.”

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August 26th, 2012, 03:45 PM	#2
Core Rising Ampersands & What Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: London/ Nottingham Posts: 4,833	Cheers, the scale of the development is much bigger that I could have hoped for. It will be great for Southbank to have Ludgate and Samson House replaced.

August 26th, 2012, 06:49 PM	#3
potto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 13,496 Likes (Received): 250	I hate the cowering massing under the safety of the existing planning permission, inevitable though I guess

August 26th, 2012, 08:31 PM	#4
cnapan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 844 Likes (Received): 105	It's hard to say anything about this proposal given the pictures are just a load of rectangles, but the two existing buildings offer nothing other than an irritating obstacle to people trying to move around this part of town, so if the development opens up pedestrian thoroughfares, then it'll be an improvement. I was taking photos of Samson house last week. It displays an almost breathtaking contempt for humanity, and it's no surprise that (at vast expense) this building is going to be destroyed. Don't expect many people to shed a tear.

August 27th, 2012, 03:52 PM	#8
ferge Like 'Berg' Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Wigan Posts: 5,424 Likes (Received): 85	I'm a little concerned about a growing number of skyscrapers that are on the river front, It'd be nice to have some low rise elements infront of the towers to keep things tidy (I think). Plus I actually like that building (the non-brute one, is that Ludgate?) and thought it'd (eventually) work well sitting next to the Beetham tower.

August 28th, 2012, 12:21 AM	#10
DanLondon Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 103 Likes (Received): 0	We will have to await the detail of the towers, but if the website is anything to go by, the overall master plan should be pretty good! Like the idea of improving the riverfront walk and developing the railway arches.

August 29th, 2012, 02:40 PM	#16
beefykeefy Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 56 Likes (Received): 1	Oh dear. After what looks like finally seeing the back of these two monsters, I can sense another disappointment looming. More cladding, glass and steel shite offset by average open spaces with a few caffs 'n' coffee gaffs to try and liven things up... Not sure the river should be a high rise alley. Looks like we're heading that way.

August 29th, 2012, 03:14 PM	#17
flare Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North London Posts: 1,166 Likes (Received): 2	The river is 250m wide at this point. It is not an "alley"

August 29th, 2012, 04:13 PM	#18
hifive605 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 367 Likes (Received): 15	creates a nice dramatic exit to the bridge with the simpson tower. Proportions and massing look slim and elegant, if quality materials are used this could be a massive change for the better..

August 29th, 2012, 05:07 PM	#20
jamiefearon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: London Posts: 760 Likes (Received): 80	a river is a valley