One Tower Bridge | Southwark | U/C

[Smoggie_Si]

I've got nothing against the design but don't think that they're at all appropriate for the setting. The height detracts from Tower Bridge, a lower rise development would work better, ideally one that obliterates the GLA building

[Munch]

i really dont think the height detracts from tower bridge... in fact i think putting taller buildings only accords respect for the older buildings.. "even with these tall modern buildings tower bridge still captures the imagination"

It is a different story with St. Paul's given its position..... for example, tower bridge against the city skyline is much mor exciting than tower bridge standing tall but alone..

[Smoggie_Si]

Originally Posted by Munch

i really dont think the height detracts from tower bridge... in fact i think putting taller buildings only accords respect for the older buildings.. "even with these tall modern buildings tower bridge still captures the imagination"

Don't agree at all. I'm looking out over Tower Bridge as I type and the proposed development would cut off much of my sightline of it. That would be the same for many areas south of the river, can't see how blocking views of the bridge can possibly be affording it respect.

Originally Posted by Munch

It is a different story with St. Paul's given its position..... for example, tower bridge against the city skyline is much mor exciting than tower bridge standing tall but alone..

Agreed, but the City skyline isn't right next to it! Tower Bridge needs space to have its full impact.

[wjfox]

Originally Posted by Smoggie_Si

Tower Bridge needs space to have its full impact.

Totally and utterly agree 100%...

[Zenith]

Nick Taylor

Is that entire block newly built? Thats amazing and London needs more developments like it, maybe taller in certain areas, but they are amazing for this day in age.

Im surprised you didnt know about these mate. Yeah well It takes more guts and imagination to actually build these georgian designs again but they almost never do.

[london-b]

The building is great, very good looking, but it's in the wrong place. I think if the city had enough room it could help bulk it up a bit.

[nick_taylor]

Originally Posted by Peyre

yup, its better than a car park And doesn't look totally out of place with GLA and More London

Well i'd rather have a car park than those things - I mean, what are they the 00's tower block? Repetitive, mundane, bile, and right next to one our most treasured monuments. This is something that should not be 'treated' to such a building. Infact one day, if this were ever built, the GLA building and all of More London would be redeveloped (under my guidance) and one large square created akin to that of Russel Square, but opening out onto the Thames (ie one side would be the river and a grand boulevard along the Sout Bank) and the buildings would be built no more than 18 storeys in height (lower towards the river). The style would be that of neo-gothic and their location would easily pay for the added detail put into constructing excellent facades but modern interiors.

I mean how much is it to ask for something that is neo-gothic in such a location where you would still make a bucket load from the sales of apartments, offices, etc...


Infact this pushes me even more towards the property business. The next Beetham/Trump, but with styles to regeneration akin to UrbanSplash (one of, if not the finest property development companies in the UK) and new builds that would make the Victorian architects nod in delight. I mean the potential is so much, imagine the marketing approach: 'why live behind drab steel and glass when you can live in a unique setting of brick and history'.

Watch this space in 15 years for Taylor Group Properties leading a regeneration of the River Thames. Naturally a statue and building dedicated to myself would be a requirement and I'd be remembered for recreating the true centre of London: the Thames.

[DarJoLe]

Sounds like you're trying to turn London into Paris.

I can't think of anything worse.

[Zenith]

Watch this space in 15 years for Taylor Group Properties leading a regeneration of the River Thames. Naturally a statue and building dedicated to myself would be a requirement and I'd be remembered for recreating the true centre of London: the Thames.

yes id thank you for employing me as deputy director and paying me an extortionate amount of cash. I will also gladly replace the north bank buildings directly around St Pauls with wonderful victorian/georgian buildings.

[Zenith]

Sounds like you're trying to turn London into Paris.

I can't think of anything worse.

Hardly...dont you think we should at least try to build some buildings in forgotten styles.

[nick_taylor]

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

Sounds like you're trying to turn London into Paris.

I can't think of anything worse.

Like Paris? No way! I call this corrective surgery of areas of London that have been scared, eg the banks of the Thames. Also neo-gothic is a style that fits London but Paris far less so.

Then again what would your alternative be other than steel and glass and something that would compliment Tower Bridge and the Tower of London?

[Munch]

I agree Nick-taylor, successful architects never reject the wisdom of those that have come before them... many of ours do.

Smoggie Si, thanks for your points... ultimately for some reason i am just not very confident about that plot and do not think anyone will come up with anything better... i dont know why though....

I hate the empty space there now though...

[DarJoLe]

Originally Posted by nick-taylor

Also neo-gothic is a style that fits London

No architectural style 'fits' London. I thought that was the whole reason London is the best city in the World, because you can't pin it down architecturally.

Demolishing a massive stretch of land and retro-fitting it into one particular style just to make it 'fit' would be the worse thing to happen to London. The city has changed organically over centuries, to wash all that away and mould it into something it isn't would fail miserably.

London has to make the mistakes. It constantly re-invents itself and takes a few risks now and then. Granted, not many work (mainly because NIMBYs water them down to shit) but isn't that part of the charm of London? Beautiful, yet in that kind of 'random' way?

Originally Posted by nick-taylor

Then again what would your alternative be other than steel and glass and something that would compliment Tower Bridge and the Tower of London?

Nothing. I'd green over the coach park, link it in with the proposed redevelopment of the park around the GLA and give the local community a say in what they want. I just find the whole 'we must build on every available sliver of land' mentality London has quite disturbing to be honest.

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by nick-taylor

Is that entire block newly built? Thats amazing and London needs more developments like it, maybe taller in certain areas, but they are amazing for this day in age.

yes it is newly built i always walked past the site when it was under construction three or so years ago, thinking it would be some new glass thing, then left london for a few months, came back and thought i had gotten lost cos there were old buildings up! they are really pleasant buildings, not ground-breaking or anything, but they are not built for a ground-breaking purpose, unlike say a museum or music-hall, which should use modern designs, but for more mundane purposes and as a result looks much better than 99% of equivalent modern buildings.

RE: the pics darjole put up, i think it looks okay from the back of the development, but it is just not good enough for one of the most photographed sites in the world.

[GazKinz]

Nick-taylor and Zenith, couldn't agree with you more, the victorians borrowed styles from many different periods, why can't we? Im all for exciting modern glass and steel buildings, but lately all we seem to get are banal glass walls, all these developments around cheapside and St. Pauls illustrate my point. We should be repairing the damage that has been done to London, not making more mistakes.

[potto]

Originally Posted by nick-taylor

I mean how much is it to ask for something that is neo-gothic in such a location where you would still make a bucket load from the sales of apartments, offices, etc...

One of the original proposals back in the err early 90s? Was of a long neo-gothic block.

I still think the LA should have tried harder to get that Islamic museum built here originally proposed by an arab philanthropist next to St Thomas hospital but now being built in Canada due to political intervention.

However i do like slender residential cylinders like that one next to Tate Modern, just wish perhaps that maybe a georgian style terrace was built in front with the towers appearing behind it just to break it up a bit and make them easier on the eye

[Zenith]

[img]No architectural style 'fits' London. I thought that was the whole reason London is the best city in the World, because you can't pin it down architecturally.[img]

Its funny you know but despite all the many developments over the years, a 2nd world war and the post war mistakes London is still predominantly victorian, as is the Uk as a whole in fact. So yes London isnt all about one style but Victoriana underpins everything in the city.

To me a good proportion of the modern architectural movement is much like the contemporary art movement. Full of its own self importance, over inflated and shallow. Reinvention is good but we seem to live in a perpetual present. Why shouldnt we still use old styles of architecture? In fact I like it when a victorian or georgian building is tastefully updated. I think for instance that the Great Court in The British Museum is one of the most harmonious spaces ive seen.

Why is

[nick_taylor]

Originally Posted by DarJoLe

No architectural style 'fits' London. I thought that was the whole reason London is the best city in the World, because you can't pin it down architecturally.

Demolishing a massive stretch of land and retro-fitting it into one particular style just to make it 'fit' would be the worse thing to happen to London. The city has changed organically over centuries, to wash all that away and mould it into something it isn't would fail miserably.

London has to make the mistakes. It constantly re-invents itself and takes a few risks now and then. Granted, not many work (mainly because NIMBYs water them down to shit) but isn't that part of the charm of London? Beautiful, yet in that kind of 'random' way?

Nothing. I'd green over the coach park, link it in with the proposed redevelopment of the park around the GLA and give the local community a say in what they want. I just find the whole 'we must build on every available sliver of land' mentality London has quite disturbing to be honest.

Indeed that is a reason as to why it is the best city in the world....but the mistakes don't contribute to it being the best city in the world, if anything they detract away from it. You can have excellent modern peices such as Swiss RE, Lloyds of London, etc... but some of the concrete and monolithic steel and glass slabs that are going up detract away from this immensely.

Also one style is not necessarily how I would aim it all. Neo-gothic would be a nice underpinning due to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, but don't forget you can play with neo-gothic to get some interesting differences, eg the red St Pancras or golden Palace of Westminster.

Also I proposed a square which would front onto the Thames. That would mean you'd have a fork road coming in from Tooley Street opening into a pedestrian green square akin to Russel Square and then a large river frontage which some buildings and developments seem to fail at, eg More London. There are all too many areas where the Thames is shut out and I'd love to see this changed where people work, live, eat and drink along what has been at the heart of the city. This is the only true way of unifying the north and south banks.

[Zenith]

Also I proposed a square which would front onto the Thames. That would mean you'd have a fork road coming in from Tooley Street opening into a pedestrian green square akin to Russel Square and then a large river frontage which some buildings and developments seem to fail at, eg More London. There are all too many areas where the Thames is shut out and I'd love to see this changed where people work, live, eat and drink along what has been at the heart of the city. This is the only true way of unifying the north and south banks.

I totally agree with you ! Why is it that this isnt a high priority for the authoritys concerned ? One thing I always notice when in London is the lack of life around the river. Yes people walk the two banks but its not enough is it ! And I too am tired of buildings like the GLA, more london etc even the national theatre contribute nothing to the banks of the river. Some of the mediocre North bank buildings say a big up yours to the river as well. I found it hilarious how snobby stuffy tennants of some riverside apartments thought riverboats moored outside cluttered up the river and looked a mess. These riverboats are some of the only signs of life on the banks.

A park fronting on to the river is a brilliant idea. Id like to see more activity on the banks, a real sense of energy.

The much criticised Richmond Riverside by quinlan Terry is a wholly modern development. It is primarily criticised for being pastiche. Critics moan that its behind its faux exterior is a wholly modern interior. But isnt this so for many other redeveloped buildings as well? Would this look out of place on the thames in central london? Perhaps but I certainly dont think neo gothic would.

Quinlan Terry: “I don't think we can ignore the Modern Movement. But I wouldn't have minded at all if it hadn't happened. I think the world would be a much nicer place.”

[Bob]

The development at Richmond is fairly successful. However when I walked past it a few weeks back the clip on moulded stone was looking a bit tired and '80's tatty. It can't be seen from a distance but because of the cheapness of the scheme it will probably be knocked down sometime in the next 50 years. I think a better comptemporary building/s could have been built there that serve the people using them far better.