Foggy Albion Update

The total number of tall buildings in Great Britain, compared to, for example, the U.S.A., China or the Arab Emirates, is relatively few - to date there are only 49. But for a European country is an impressive figure. In plans for the near future the construction of further hundreds of skyscrapers. The overwhelming majority of them should be still concentrated in London. Just for your reference: of all the currently existing the country’s skyscrapers, that are structures greater than 100 meters hight (including the decorative helmets, which could be spires but not antennas), 38 are located in the capital, one building in Wales, and other ten in cities spread across Britain. Scotland and Northern Ireland generally have not skyscrapers in the present sense of the word. In accordance with the general prospects of high-rise construction in Britain, in Glasgow (Scotland) and Belfast (Northern Ireland) is planned to build three high-rise buildings per each city, and two more in Cardiff (Wales). However, it only plans, and construction has not begun yet. As for London, according to various estimates, there are to be erected from 100 to 119 new tall and supertall buildings. This plans are somewhat reminiscent of the grandiose project for the construction of tall dominants along Moscow Third and Fourth Transport Rings, as well as in residential areas of metropolis, thus some London projects look as realistic as sounded in the late 2000s the figure of 150-200 new skyscrapers for the Russian capital.

In reality the process in Britain is more mundane and prosy, but still the picture is worthy of careful consideration. So, first of all it should be noted that of the grand list of the Britain 169 new verticals, only 11 are started. 9 of them are in London. Another 9 are approved and waiting for the start of construction works (including 5 London’s ones). 39 (26 for the capital) are in the status of concept design and 55 (42 of them are also intended for London development) while staying as projects submitted for discussion by the authorities. Thus, the total number of conceptualized, submitted and already constructed high-rise buildings is about 170. What percentage of these projects will be eventually realized difficult to say yet, but in recent years in this country seen a steady and undeniable interest precisely to high-rise construction. Therefore, we continue to talk about British skyscrapers in more detail.

The new century has brought to London a special craving for change. These transformations of accustomed values system of very conservative British society led to the need of their various visual confirmations. The popular assertion that today it is difficult find London natives on the capital streets is rather true, but it is not a purely British characteristics. In recent decades, this is the predestination of all the metropolises and large cities. The undeniable mutations in the social life of the city led to the desire to build new visible symbols of these changes. Or at least just reflect some current trends in the architecture. High-rise buildings a priori are the best suited to the role of the iconic landmarks to show up the city characters. Therefore, in 2000s for London with such diligence and activity were proposed and designed a variety of high-rise towers and complexes.

Heron Tower, located at and also referred to as 110 Bishopsgate, is a skyscraper commissioned by Heron International in the City of London. Designed by architects Kohn Pedersen Fox, the height of the tower was planned to be 183 metres, identical to that of the City’s then tallest building, Tower 42. The construction works were started in 2007, but after the project was totally revised. The building attracted controversy when first announced, due to its proximity to St Paul’s Cathedral when viewed from Waterloo Bridge. English Heritage was the most vocal of the groups expressing concerns. A public inquiry was subsequently held, the outcome of which was decided by the then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who ruled in the developers’ favour. The tower was given final approval in summer 2002. But the construction works were started only 5 years later. Finally the proposed a 202-metre (663 ft) tall tower was completed in 2012 and topped by a 28-metre (92 ft) mast, giving it a 230-metre (755 ft) total height, and only 202 m without spire that making it the tallest building in the City of London and the third tallest building in London as a whole, after One Canada Square and Shard London Bridge in the Docklands.

Construction engineering works were performed by experts from Skanska, the well-known Scandinavian construction company. Building plot area is 2400 sq. m, and the total rooms area of its 46 floors is 43 000 sq. m. There will be a restaurant and “sky bar” - both open to the public on floors 38-40.

The facades of the new skyscrapers are dramatically different. If from the sides the building reminiscent a strong smooth prism of the classical version of modernism, the main facade consists of five vertical projections (including the angular) and peculiar bay windows, which create a memorable image of the building. Each one has its own diamond-shaped bay windows, protruding above the plane of the roof. Theme of geometrically correct projections in the rectangular building is the undisputed leitmotif, which emphasizes by the horizontal rhythm of the facade decoration and smooth parts of the main volume.

Heron Tower was designed to feature a concierge-style entrance and reception area, incorporating a unique 70,000-litre aquarium with 1,200 fish. The aquarium is the largest privately-owned in the country and contains over 60 different species of fish in an entire sustainable ecosystem; the species were selected by expert biologists and animal curators to ensure compatibility and adaptability to the aquarium environment. The tank is attended to by a dedicated team of two full-time fish attendants, who feed the fish a diet rich in natural ingredients according to their requirements and monitor the tank for water chemistry and fish health, and two to three part-time divers who clean the rockwork and windows twice a week. There is also a bar that covers the ground and first floor names “Drift bar”, which serves food and drink. Heron Tower utilizes photovoltaic cells to generate renewable energy, allowing it to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’ in January 2010.

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MARIANNA MAEVSKAYA text,
photos ALEXEY LYUBIMKIN, Rafael Vinoly Architects