LONDON | 20 Fenchurch Street | 160m | 36 fl | U/C

[capslock]

there's a render of the vinoly scheme in london in todays' standard - not a very good one mind you. I have my doubts it will happen in this guise

[Medo]

Here it is

[Jack Rabbit Slim]

Skyscrapernews.com has again updated the information on this tower, including a new rendering:

03 Mar 2006 > Vinoly Tower Proposed For 20 Fenchurch Street

A planning application has been filed today for the new tower to stand on 20 Fenchurch Street designed by Rafael Vinoly. The 192 metre tall tower to replace a current sixties mid-rise will contain 45 floors of space and is being developed by Land Securities.
The appearance is roughly that of a traditional internationalist block that has been contracted to the centre creating an inwards curving southern face and curving crown that also slopes to the south deferring itself to the Thames. Thanks to the look it's already being dubbed "the walkie talkie".
The project is being developed by one of the U.Ks largest property businesses, Land Securities at a cost of £200 million with Foster and Partners also onboard to help keep these down whilst maintaining build quality and the unique design.
The building has already been endorsed by local council, the Corporation of London, with Peter Rees stating that the City is adopting a "fruit basket" approach, whilst there are few murmurs of opposition from Heritage Bodies. It may not be the most graceful building ever thanks to the apparent squatness but the unique design will certainly help the City achieve their aim of a mix of avant-garde architecture.
Land Securities hope to secure an easy ride through the planning system and construction could begin on site as early as 2007 with completion for 2010 although a pre-let may be required to see the project commence despite the increasingly bullish attitude from the likes of Heron and British Land.




I can't say I really like the design at all, it may gow on me over time, but I doubt it. To be very honest with you, I could have designed a much better looking tower then that given 5 hours and a pen+paper! Still, it may get revisions, you never know!

[Sikario]

I quite like the curved part, but I think it's far too fat at the top and the sides.

[Newcastle Guy]

I think it would alot better if the top was thinner, and if a tower or two were added between it and the dense cluster

[Sikario]

A little sleeker -

[Jack Rabbit Slim]

Can't say that looks a whole lot better; I mean, not matter how slim, or fat or short etc you make it, it still does not alter the fact that it is a pretty bland, uninteresting design that doesn't belong in the heart of London!

I am seriously hoping I will somehow learn to like the tower after I've seen it a few hundred times, or-the better option-they will totally redesign the whole thing!

[wjfox]

Horrendous.

[malec]

I don't think it's that bad. It's not very interesting but still, not the worst thing ever

[NothingBetterToDo]

I think its Vile

[caw123]

Originally Posted by malec

I don't think it's that bad. It's not very interesting but still, not the worst thing ever

It's very interesting IMO.

Still shit though.

[Lance]

I think a nice boxy scraper, but clad with something other than glass or steel would be nice. Something a bit more traditional and classy.

[Zaki]

that design is horrible. If that gets built it will kill the that whole areas skyline. It was so nice without it.

[wjfox]

Originally Posted by Zaki

that design is horrible. If that gets built it will kill the that whole areas skyline. It was so nice without it.

Completely agree - and not only that, but it will flood the market with yet more surplus office space. The City is already struggling to attract tenants without yet another whopping 200m+ tower.

[Jack Rabbit Slim]

I wouldn't object to it as strongly if it were for the Canary Wharf area, but right in the heart of London, next to all those beatiful skyscrapers and low/mid-rise buildings....ahhhhh it doesn't bare thinking about! Come on English heritage, you gota pull somethin out the bag on this one, not just ure usual limp complaints, but a full on, chained to the building kinda protest!! Or good old Ken could prevent it I guess...

Who'd have thought that the arrival of a proposed 192m tower next to London's deveolping main cluster would cause so much dislike and objection... dammit why couldn't they have just yanked Foster himself away from whatever project he's currently working on, and say, 'design us a tower worth of London, mate'

[Spearman]

Easy, guys. It's not the best, but it is still just 190m; it won't dominate. Rather, it will "fill up", and contrast the existing towers. It will be strange, but it won't be bad.

btw; why don't they build more residential scrapers in London? With those ancient, narrow streets, getting around the centre of the city is impossible above ground, and pretty hard below, as far as I remember it. Living in that cluster must be attractive to someone....

[Dan1987]

Nobody lives in the City, its a deadzone with no nightlife

[London]

yeah. London has individual districts for individual activities.

The square mile - business
West End - Shopping
China Town - Restuarants... etc...

But all of that is gonna change with residential development being planned for the City.
Yet, i dont know how its gonna cope because the Centre of the City has no avenues, and it can get as packed as a carnival sometimes. But around the London wall area, there are avenues.

[themongrel]

the only resident in the square mile in ken livingston (his official mayors residence) i think if high rise flats start in london it'll be on the south bank. people tend to go for the midrises on the river instead

as for this new tower, its way to fat. i do like that slimeline version thou, back to the drawing board me thinks

[weird]

I don't like it. Dissapointing design..