Number 1 Blackfriars | Southwark | 163m | 52 fl | U/C - Page 8

potto · January 24th, 2007, 11:16 PM

preferred the taller version and didnt hate the impact it had on Horse Guards, but here is the compromise. I think that this will have a positive effect on this large section of the South Bank that currently does zero for the soul or human minds natural curiosity to explore a place. A tall building was the ONLY solution as the place is crammed with bulky ground scrapers and woefully stumped towers... that is the current reality.

I can not BELIEVE anyone would look toward blackfriars road, from say any of the Bridges to see the current mound of horizontal flat tops and concrete and think of anything positive to say about it. There is something satisfying have a piece of tall slender drama on the pivot of a river... bring on the mini custer I say!

mulattokid · January 25th, 2007, 12:18 PM

The top of this tower looks like a de-bobbler...that battery operated thing you use to chop the fluff bobbles off clothing.

flying tackle · January 25th, 2007, 06:16 PM

i honestly dont like it..i think its an example of modern achitects trying to create something abstract and also its the wrong location for anythin taller than 150.

Varenukha · January 25th, 2007, 06:44 PM

This building has a lot of class - how appropriate that it is not part of a cluster. I like how the south bank is potentially going to gain a series of relatively separate landmark towers.

randolph · January 25th, 2007, 08:22 PM

I'm with you on this one! I agree it has class. However the hieght reduction was a real body blow - it was much better when taller. I'm always surprised about how much hostility this tower gets on this forum.

Zenith · January 25th, 2007, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flying tackle

i honestly dont like it..i think its an example of modern achitects trying to create something abstract and also its the wrong location for anythin taller than 150.

Abstract...where???? Who???

JGG · January 25th, 2007, 11:09 PM

Anyway, whether we like it or not, it is in completely the wrong position, as explained in numerous posts above.

randolph · January 26th, 2007, 01:39 AM

My Dear JGG there you go again! Stating your subjective opinion as if it is objective fact!

JGG · January 26th, 2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randolph

My Dear JGG there you go again! Stating your subjective opinion as if it is objective fact!

Look at the votes above. This is probably the least liked major skyscraper project on this forum, which is a forum of skyscraper enthousiasts. So we actually try to like it... but still may of us remain very concerned about this development. We know you think MoreLondon is beautiful and the new interior of the Dome is horrible, but not many people concur with you on that.

randolph · January 26th, 2007, 11:10 AM

I've got taste, dear boy, a simple thing but hard to aquire!

london lad · January 26th, 2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGG

Look at the votes above. This is probably the least liked major skyscraper project on this forum, which is a forum of skyscraper enthousiasts. So we actually try to like it... but still may of us remain very concerned about this development. We know you think MoreLondon is beautiful and the new interior of the Dome is horrible, but not many people concur with you on that.

What the vote that says 70% in favour of the scheme. Yes very unpopular this one doesn't even get 3/4 of the vote lol

JGG · January 26th, 2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by london lad

What the vote that says 70% in favour of the scheme. Yes very unpopular this one doesn't even get 3/4 of the vote lol

And 30% of the forumers hate it, which is significant because I think we all like skyscrapers. I don't know of another equally controversial major skyscraper project in London

My concern remains that this skyscraper will be used to close the door for good.

Note, Unesco is not some foreigners coming in telling the UK what to do. Unesco is just the tool used by some of your country fellowmen to stop skyscraper development. This is a pure internal London battle. And your opponents love the "Beetham case"! They know they'll have a vast majority of the population behind them when they play this card. That is why - in my opinion- as a skyscaper enthousiast it may be better to distance oneself from this proposal; this development is not worth the loss of credibility it would cause.

potto · January 26th, 2007, 04:24 PM

but what is Beetham overshadowing?! What do people see when they see the ugly mound that is the current Blackfriars road?! Ive stood on Waterloo bridge trying to imagine the impact, but unless i have rabbit eyes there is no way im going to see beetham and the North bank inc st Pauls in one vision!

Newcastle Guy · January 26th, 2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGG

And 30% of the forumers hate it, which is significant because I think we all like skyscrapers. I don't know of another equally controversial major skyscraper project in London.

Doon Street? 20 Fenchurch street?

JGG · January 26th, 2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newcastle Guy

Doon Street? 20 Fenchurch street?

OK, this is the top three, I agree.

Skid-Mark · January 26th, 2007, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randolph

My Dear JGG there you go again! Stating your subjective opinion as if it is objective fact!

He's got a point, you also support a petition that's call's for people to object to "skyscrapers" , you're as good as campainging agianst the Shard!

I think this tower is very posotive, i preferred the previous design simply for it's proportions, however i still think this will be a great addition should it be built.

Wrocman · January 26th, 2007, 10:25 PM

Great shape ! When is the construction starting ?

johnnypd · January 27th, 2007, 12:20 AM

this building looks perfectly fine when viewed dead-on from the north or from above (an imaginary view that reduces the impact of the bulge), but at an angle or in profile this is one of the ugliest towers i've ever seen proposed anywhere. the tower will only look slim from a small amount of views, in the most part you will see how misshapen it is. coupled with Beetham's laughable track-record at delivering a polished final product with top-class cladding, i think this will be a true blot on the landscape if it is ever built.

london lad · January 27th, 2007, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGG

And 30% of the forumers hate it, which is significant because I think we all like skyscrapers. I don't know of another equally controversial major skyscraper project in London

My concern remains that this skyscraper will be used to close the door for good.

Note, Unesco is not some foreigners coming in telling the UK what to do. Unesco is just the tool used by some of your country fellowmen to stop skyscraper development. This is a pure internal London battle. And your opponents love the "Beetham case"! They know they'll have a vast majority of the population behind them when they play this card. That is why - in my opinion- as a skyscaper enthousiast it may be better to distance oneself from this proposal; this development is not worth the loss of credibility it would cause.

Yes but JGG your using your personal opinions as fact again. Fine you don't like it & another 29% but there are 70% that think its very good , a clear majority. The only people moaning about this is EH & Westminster & now that the height has been reduced it probably wont be seen from St James park which was there main gripe.

This tower has been in the tabloid media twice now, once when first proposed & secondly with the redesign. There was no backlash against the tower from anybody apart from those mentioned above & the poll Beetham did for the open day showed the locals were in favour of it. So if there is to be such a backlash how come there's been barely been a wimper in the last year & a half this has been public knowledge. Even UNESCO don't seem to be interested in this tower.

jimbo · January 27th, 2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by london lad

Yes but JGG your using your personal opinions as fact again. Fine you don't like it & another 29% but there are 70% that think its very good , a clear majority. The only people moaning about this is EH & Westminster & now that the height has been reduced it probably wont be seen from St James park which was there main gripe.

This tower has been in the tabloid media twice now, once when first proposed & secondly with the redesign. There was no backlash against the tower from anybody apart from those mentioned above & the poll Beetham did for the open day showed the locals were in favour of it. So if there is to be such a backlash how come there's been barely been a wimper in the last year & a half this has been public knowledge. Even UNESCO don't seem to be interested in this tower.

absolutely. the Evening Standard which is usally anti and quite vitriolic from time to time published a straightforward story on the tower and had little negative to say.

i agree with johnnypd in that some angles are much more flattering. The side on view does continue to show a fat and quite bulbous perspective, but in all the design is not without merit, and i think overall it will be a positive addition to the location. Potto made a good impassioned argument about the current state of Blackfriars Road, and by god I agree.

the other big issue that has been raised by darjole amongst others is the quality off the cladding and finish, something perceived to be missing in other Beetham / Simpson Towers in L'pool, Brum and and Manchester. I'm tempted to give it the benefit of the doubt, and hope that it turns out better than those mentioned above.

View Poll Results: What's your opinion of this building?
Love it! Superb design, perfect height and location.	191	29.25%
Like it. Good design, and the height seems reasonable for this location.	237	36.29%
Good design, but it needs to be taller.	108	16.54%
Good design, but it needs to be shorter.	23	3.52%
Hate it! Awful design, unsuitable height and location.	94	14.40%
Voters: 653. You may not vote on this poll

January 25th, 2007, 12:18 PM	#142
mulattokid BLAND Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London Posts: 8,423 Likes (Received): 103	The top of this tower looks like a de-bobbler...that battery operated thing you use to chop the fluff bobbles off clothing. __________________ Quote: "Everything in life is our fault...but that's not our fault" (By a friend of Quentin Crisp) www.jclodge.com (my singer sisters site) The headlines read: 'another footballer is charged with sexual miscontuct'! Is it pure coincidence that a mans Scrotum resembles a brain - requisite with both hemispheres, and its truncated spinal cord - always in search of sensation? (Mark Joseph 2008)

January 25th, 2007, 06:16 PM	#143
flying tackle time for a change Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 717 Likes (Received): 0	i honestly dont like it..i think its an example of modern achitects trying to create something abstract and also its the wrong location for anythin taller than 150. __________________ signature was too medium sized.

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January 24th, 2007, 11:16 PM	#141
potto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 13,511 Likes (Received): 257	preferred the taller version and didnt hate the impact it had on Horse Guards, but here is the compromise. I think that this will have a positive effect on this large section of the South Bank that currently does zero for the soul or human minds natural curiosity to explore a place. A tall building was the ONLY solution as the place is crammed with bulky ground scrapers and woefully stumped towers... that is the current reality. I can not BELIEVE anyone would look toward blackfriars road, from say any of the Bridges to see the current mound of horizontal flat tops and concrete and think of anything positive to say about it. There is something satisfying have a piece of tall slender drama on the pivot of a river... bring on the mini custer I say!

January 25th, 2007, 06:44 PM	#144
Varenukha London, UK Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 702 Likes (Received): 0	This building has a lot of class - how appropriate that it is not part of a cluster. I like how the south bank is potentially going to gain a series of relatively separate landmark towers.

January 25th, 2007, 08:22 PM	#145
randolph Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 1,695 Likes (Received): 9	I'm with you on this one! I agree it has class. However the hieght reduction was a real body blow - it was much better when taller. I'm always surprised about how much hostility this tower gets on this forum.

January 25th, 2007, 11:09 PM	#147
JGG LONDON - Westminster Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,841 Likes (Received): 0	Anyway, whether we like it or not, it is in completely the wrong position, as explained in numerous posts above.

January 26th, 2007, 01:39 AM	#148
randolph Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 1,695 Likes (Received): 9	My Dear JGG there you go again! Stating your subjective opinion as if it is objective fact!

January 26th, 2007, 11:10 AM	#150
randolph Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 1,695 Likes (Received): 9	I've got taste, dear boy, a simple thing but hard to aquire!

January 26th, 2007, 04:24 PM	#153
potto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Posts: 13,511 Likes (Received): 257	but what is Beetham overshadowing?! What do people see when they see the ugly mound that is the current Blackfriars road?! Ive stood on Waterloo bridge trying to imagine the impact, but unless i have rabbit eyes there is no way im going to see beetham and the North bank inc st Pauls in one vision!

January 26th, 2007, 10:25 PM	#157
Wrocman BANNED Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wrocław Posts: 2,417 Likes (Received): 0	Great shape ! When is the construction starting ?

January 27th, 2007, 12:20 AM	#158
johnnypd Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Newcastle/Edinburgh Posts: 6,088 Likes (Received): 8	this building looks perfectly fine when viewed dead-on from the north or from above (an imaginary view that reduces the impact of the bulge), but at an angle or in profile this is one of the ugliest towers i've ever seen proposed anywhere. the tower will only look slim from a small amount of views, in the most part you will see how misshapen it is. coupled with Beetham's laughable track-record at delivering a polished final product with top-class cladding, i think this will be a true blot on the landscape if it is ever built.