The London Skyline Is Finally Taking Shape!

The Architects' Journal have reported that Land Securities are planning a tower for the City of London.

Designed by Rafael Vinoly, it will be 45 storeys and will replace an existing 90m midrise built in the 1960's. The site is near the river, close to London Bridge, to the south of the main skyscraper cluster.

No official renderings have been released yet, but I've drawn the exact location of the tower, and the minimum height we can expect (see pics below).

Apparently the building will resemble a "huge curved television facing the Thames" or the 1950s Ericsson phone design.

The proposals are set to go before Corporation planners this summer.

According to sources working on the project, the design is "deferential" to the Tower of London and a nearby listed church, helping to appease the heritage bodies. It has also received positive comments from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

Notes:
Originally proposed at 70-storeys/220m, this has now been reduced in height, and the footprint has been shrunk.
The building will taper in at the bottom to provide uninterrupted views from Waterloo of London Bridge Tower,
which should fit right between it and Kings Reach Tower. It will stand in a very prominent location, and a public
viewing gallery will be located on the top 2 floors, offering stunning views across the capital. The building will
feature a 6-star hotel and luxury apartments, each with their own internal conservatory space as with 1 Deansgate
in Manchester.

Notes:
This is a 47-storey mixed-use development and would be one of the tallest buildings on London's South Bank.
Its height and location make this a controversial project, as it would infringe on famous views from St James' Park.
It would also interfere with views from the pods in the London Eye. For many people, the design and aesthetics of
the tower are also unappealling. It cannot be denied, however, that this project would greatly help in
regenerating the surrounding area, improving pedestrian links and other amenities.


Current Status:
A planning application was submitted in May 2006. Despite its height and the controversial location, it stands a fair to moderate chance
of being approved, as the developers have spent a great deal of time consulting with Southwark Council.