Strata | Southwark | 147m | 43 fl

[statix101]

I know this is part of a regeneration project in that area, but Christ, until that is complete, talk about 'The Strata' being a 'jewel in a sea of shite'.

This whole area reminds me of how all of London looked like in the mid 1980's on a school trip....dowdy, litter strewn, grey concrete miserableness.

[Wild@Heart]

It's a fantastic shape. I love it. And by the sounds of things the cladding will make it one of the most striking towers around. When the turbines are going on the top... well, we'll really be in 'the future' then won't we? Very exciting!

[and-r]

it's about 23 floors there, so another 20 floors plus the large crown/windmill feature to go

[fitz44]

Cladding update; as Wellenflug mentioned the cladding has extended around the East side of the tower now and one panel has had the film removed. Very white indeed.

[Noostairz]

initial impression is it looks sharp, surely a major concern though is how visible any staining of that crisp white will be, and then how to properly maintain it? i'm no expert in this area, but would that be a fair concern?

thanks for the pictures by the way.

[Nihil Dicit]

Originally Posted by fitz44

Cladding update; as Wellenflug mentioned the cladding has extended around the East side of the tower now and one panel has had the film removed. Very white indeed.

Geeze that cladding's bright!!

I hope it doesn't get sooted up with the usual London pollution and grime and turn a dull streaky grey, particularly given that this building sits next to one of the busiest traffic intersections in central London...

Can any cladding experts out there provide some assurance??

[SE9]

Near one of the busiest traffic intersections in South London

It shouldn't be a problem.
Pan Peninsula's also clad in white stone (I assume this is stone too).

Pan Peninsula in early '07:



It won't require constant maintenance; the rain will sufficiently clear most grime that accumulates. It will need cleaning once in a while, over the course of time, but then again every building does.

[fitz44]

The panels don't look stone SE9 - they look metal with an enamelled-type finish, so weathering shouldn't be a problem. The facade is designed to look like “one of solid forms that have been pared back to reveal successive layers” beneath an “external protective coat” according to the architects;

/

[DarJoLe]

It's a shame it's not actually like the metallic brown we were lead to believe it was in the original renderings. The bright white and heavy black enamel panelling could look quite 80s tacky on the skyline.

[Stuey1]

I think that I prefer it to the brown metallic. What do others think?

[fitz44]

I think the cladding will suceed or fail largely on the detailing rather than colour. We will all have our own preferences as to the ideal colour palette, but I understand DarJole's concern as this type of cladding has mainly been seen in London previously on 80's and 90's reclads.

[spenster]

Gun metal effect cladding would have looked very metropolis. This could have a good 80's look though - think star wars star destroyer. Still think this is such a ground breaking design that the cladding material will be very secondary compared with the cladding design and tower design.

[BorderBoy]

maybe it's not goin' t be white all the way up but modulated? The design of it looks very sixties - which will suit E an C I think.

[GazKinz]

Taken next to the Walbrook site

[Brightonboi]

Its huge ! cant wait to see it fully erect!

[mulattokid]

A man after my own heart

Great updates in various threads GazKins

[twilight_2008]

Blimey =\ Its huge already! Im sure there will be something that cleans the building, just like 30 St Mary Axe.

[Frankus Maximus]

Sneaking up from behind!

[Gherkin]

Thanks for today's photos, Frankus!

[SE9]

As promised, Strata updates. All taken earlier today: