Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:58 pm  

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... ondon.html I reckon it won't happen but it does beg the questions ... a) Why? I mean, just why? b) Would you live in it?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... ondon.html I reckon it won't happen but it does beg the questions ... a) Why? I mean, just why? b) Would you live in it?

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:17 pm  

El Barbudo wrote: a) Why? I mean, just why? Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is a massive braggart. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013 ... -rich-list Why build the tallest building in the world? Because it's cool. Personally I think the costs of building so high aren't worth the extra costs, but I'm glad that the developers of the Petronas Towers and the Burj Kalifa did so because they are beautiful buildings. I think the developers of the Taipei 101 shouldn't have bothered though. b) Would you live in it? Sure, if I could afford it, which I never will be able to.

El Barbudo wrote: a) Why? I mean, just why? Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is a massive braggart. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013 ... -rich-list Why build the tallest building in the world? Because it's cool. Personally I think the costs of building so high aren't worth the extra costs, but I'm glad that the developers of the Petronas Towers and the Burj Kalifa did so because they are beautiful buildings. I think the developers of the Taipei 101 shouldn't have bothered though. b) Would you live in it? Sure, if I could afford it, which I never will be able to.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:34 pm  

I've seen the Petronas towers, beautiful wasn't what came to my mind ... but KL railway station was interesting.
I've also seen the Shard, bloody ugly came to mind... but, with a bit of luck, the viewing level will kill off the custom for the London Eye, which is also an eyesore.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:42 pm  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-23036213 Meantime they couldn't even get the design on a 30 storey building correct so that it didn't create a wind tunnel at ground level severe enough to lift up a truck and throw it across a busy junction like a Tonka toy last year. My daughter has to walk past this corner of the building every day and when its windy there are often several people clinging to the now-hastily-erected barriers on the road side, unable to move until the wind drops. If you are a kite retailer looking for a good site to pitch your wares on then Bridgewater Place is it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-23036213 Meantime they couldn't even get the design on a 30 storey building correct so that it didn't create a wind tunnel at ground level severe enough to lift up a truck and throw it across a busy junction like a Tonka toy last year. My daughter has to walk past this corner of the building every day and when its windy there are often several people clinging to the now-hastily-erected barriers on the road side, unable to move until the wind drops. If you are a kite retailer looking for a good site to pitch your wares on then Bridgewater Place is it.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:53 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

I've seen the Petronas towers, beautiful wasn't what came to my mind

I've also seen the Shard, bloody ugly came to mind... but, with a bit of luck, the viewing level will kill off the custom for the London Eye, which is also an eyesore.

Agree about the Shard. Have to agree to disagree about Petronas though, I love those buildings. After the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong it's probably my favourite.

The London Eye. I kind of agree with you about it being an eyesore, but I would say it's a "positive" eyesore because it does give fantastic views. It also brings attention to Old County Hall, which is a building I like but is practically ignored because of the building diagonal to it.

St Thomas's Hospital is an eyesore and needs to be moved. The Shell Centre is an even bigger eyesore and needs replacing.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:01 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

Meantime they couldn't even get the design on a 30 storey building correct so that it didn't create a wind tunnel at ground level severe enough to lift up a truck and throw it across a busy junction like a Tonka toy last year....

Yeah, but that's just you northern monkeys.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:10 pm  

If he can afford it then let him do it. Whether it looks rubbish or not make sure it is 100% funded by him or his company/people and all we can do as a nation is charge him massive rent

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:20 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

... The London Eye. I kind of agree with you about it being an eyesore, but I would say it's a "positive" eyesore because it does give fantastic views. It also brings attention to Old County Hall, which is a building I like but is practically ignored because of the building diagonal to it...

I actually think it detracts from the County Hall and, with the stuff now in County Hall and all the busking noise etc, has reduced that part of the South Bank to a mini theme park reeking of fries.
I am hypocritical though because I accepted a freebie ride on the Eye ...I agree about the view but don't think it's worth the visual impact on the South Bank. In my pod, most people were taking photos of themselves with the Palace of Westminster as a backdrop rather than looking at the more distant view and my guess was that very few could identify what was out there.
For me, the best views in London are from Hungerford Bridge looking North East along the river and from Parliament Hill or Primrose Hill.

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

...St Thomas's Hospital is an eyesore and needs to be moved. The Shell Centre is an even bigger eyesore and needs replacing.

St Thomas' doesn't look good, I agree, not sure how it could be relocated though.
Disagree about the Shell Centre but the area could do with a tidy-up.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 5:25 pm  

Ande wrote:

If he can afford it then let him do it.

He can't.

"I am now inviting the major cities of the world like Shanghai, Moscow, New York, London and regional cities in the Middle East to come and give their offers,"

Prince Alwaleed said countries interested in hosting the world's tallest tower would have to offer attractive financing terms, tax breaks and other government support.

Re: Mile-high building for London? : Wed Jul 03, 2013 6:17 pm  

The Shard is dire – primarily because it is so big, and stands so much on its own, that it detracts from anything else.

I do not dislike modern architecture per se – I don't dislike tall buildings per se – but in London at present we're just seeing a situation of, frankly, pissing contests.