Elizabeth House Redevelopment | Waterloo | 123m/53m | 29/10 fl | Approved

[Joe 2007]

Aarghh!!! They look scary! please please don't ever let these be built.

[wjfox]

More news:

- Shell will soon make an announcement about plans for the redevelopment of the Shell Building on the other side of York Road.

- Network Rail is due to select a commercial partner for the redevelopment of Waterloo Station. This is likely to include high-rise office development.

[wjfox]

"Having explored a range of massing options in the consultation process we decided not to seek a new precedent for height at Waterloo, choosing instead to create a complementary grouping with the Shell Centre."
-- David Hudson, P&O

[london lad]

Originally Posted by wjfox2002

More news:

- Shell will soon make an announcement about plans for the redevelopment of the Shell Building on the other side of York Road.

- Network Rail is due to select a commercial partner for the redevelopment of Waterloo Station. This is likely to include high-rise office development.

Where did you get the info from Will??

The shell centre is getting Foster to work up plans. TBH it would probably make the area worse as being closer to the river they probably wont be taller than these proposals but you can but they will be large office blocks adding even more stumpy density to the area. I hope i'm proved wrong

[potto]

Originally Posted by wjfox2002

"Having explored a range of massing options in the consultation process we decided not to seek a new precedent for height at Waterloo, choosing instead to create a complementary grouping with the Shell Centre."
-- David Hudson, P&O

Consultation process?! The democratisation of planning is a good thing, the democratisation of architecture will never work and this is evidence of that!

[wjfox]

Originally Posted by london lad

Where did you get the info from Will??

The shell centre is getting Foster to work up plans. TBH it would probably make the area worse as being closer to the river they probably wont be taller than these proposals but you can but they will be large office blocks adding even more stumpy density to the area. I hope i'm proved wrong

Mentioned on the SE1 site.

[gothicform]

i am finding unfortunately with this proposal that there seems to be a lot of hostility towards it because of the slab like views of the blocks and the sheer wall it throws up from some angles that obliberates the skyline. i wouldnt be surprised if these come in for a roughly ride (and righly so when you see how good the original proposal was).

[wjfox]

Has anyone here emailed the council yet? - lambethplanning@lambeth.gov.uk

[Joe 2007]

The refused Islington Tower is better than all three of these proposed monstrosities put together. It's a pity that it couldn't be built on this site instead.

[El_Greco]

^Dont you get it?Quality buildings have no chance of being built.Thats London for ya!

[Mr Bricks]

^Typical British pessimism

I would say that LBT, Leadenhall, Heron and the pinnacle are top quality buildings. The same goes for the gherkin.

[GazKinz]

Originally Posted by gothicform

i am finding unfortunately with this proposal that there seems to be a lot of hostility towards it because of the slab like views of the blocks and the sheer wall it throws up from some angles that obliberates the skyline. i wouldnt be surprised if these come in for a roughly ride (and righly so when you see how good the original proposal was).

Good, whilst the current buildings are hideous at least they don't impose their ugly facades on the skyline unlike these monstrosities.

[Luke]

The buildings made the Evening Standard yesterday.

The developers say in the article that the project helps fill a gap in the skyline.

[potto]

Uh?! The infamous Eurostar Terminal / Shell tower gap.... well they sure did fill it.

[Zedferret]

These make the Shell Tower look like a fucking work of art. One of the most hideous things you can do is plateau a cluster of buildings all to the same height. a big clifface of tower from a distance, which is more intimidating on the skyline than height. I once had this fear for CW, that they would just build 200m towers because 1CS had to be the highest and it would look like a big slab of glass from a distance.

Get of the train at Waterloo, welcome to London.

The Westminster Windbreak.

[fitz44]

Viewers of a nervous disposition look away now – the site as it currently is, Elizabeth House,

The Tower Building,

Round the back on West Road, this is one of the first views of London Eurostar passengers get,

However the building neighbouring Elizabeth House seems to be coming down not sure what it’s called. Anyone seen plans?

[delores]

Originally Posted by wjfox2002

"Having explored a range of massing options in the consultation process we decided not to seek a new precedent for height at Waterloo, choosing instead to create a complementary grouping with the Shell Centre."
-- David Hudson, P&O

I think the view looking from the bridge shows how such a massing exercise has really failed. I am not sure how they complement the shell centre atall?

It looks a mess now because the shell centres height is now diminished with disorganised bulky massing behind it. I think the strange oppressing angles of the buildings have created a slab of ugly office buildings that hardly create an inspired place to work and live.

[UrbanG]

travelling through this part of town often I can say that it is not just the buildings which are a bit on the sad side - its the enviroment created by their use and the lack of vibrant commercial activity - it feels so desolate for somewhere so prominent. This should not simply be just another office development - it doesn't matter how it looks. This area needs more people traffic and livening up.

[bazzup]

Originally Posted by UrbanG

travelling through this part of town often I can say that it is not just the buildings which are a bit on the sad side - its the enviroment created by their use and the lack of vibrant commercial activity - it feels so desolate for somewhere so prominent. This should not simply be just another office development - it doesn't matter how it looks. This area needs more people traffic and livening up.

A perfect summation of the area. Not sure what the solution is - maybe a mixed use development, which includes some low-cost housing, plenty of small-scale business units and a major office scheme, with a couple of little public spaces chucked in for good measure?

[DarJoLe]

Isn't that what this new scheme is though?

The biggest problem I have with the development is that all three towers are being designed by (mediocre) one trick pony architects.

Having three towers designed by different architects fitting to the Allies & Morrisson masterplan might have been a better way forward.