Architect Nick Potts takes us on a walking tour of London to discuss a number of its newly-iconic buildings, nicknamed "The Scalpel," "Gherkin," "The Can of Ham," "The Cheesegrater," and "The Walkie-Talkie." He explains how zoning rules, sightlines, planning laws and more have led to the positioning and design of these "unusual" buildings.
I went to meetings in two of those buildings! With my job I got a special tour of the Lloyds building. That trip was around '95 so my memory... but recall that a big part of the design was driven by Irish bombings fresh on London's mind; with utilities outside to deflect a blast and to facilitate repairs. Don't seem to mention this anymore. We were at Lloyd's when Mad Cow was a big thing. The butlers came in the meeting room and delivered a couple sprigs of asparagus, then they came in with potatoes, then salad. Next came the beef. When they came to me I said no thanks, vegetarian. First time my cohorts were jealous of my diet. The video does not I show the "Shard", maybe because on the other side of the Thames and not London proper. I thought it was still under construction and could not believe it was functioning when the tube stopped there and people were coming in and out.
ReplyDeleteMart -- very interesting! Thanks for sharing. My last trip to London was waaay before these skyscrapers were put up!
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