Compared to other European cities, London has a relatively high number of skyscrapers – 33 – but compared to American or Asian cities, it is still not many. Like the previous Amsterdam, London is an “old city”. The UK developed much earlier than today’s skyscraper cities, such as Hong Kong. Demolishing these functional buildings at a time when skyscraper technology was beginning to emerge, and building skyscrapers, just didn’t make sense.
The British, or London, limits on the construction of high-rise buildings are interesting.
In addition to very strict building regulations in the UK, there is an easement called RIGHT TO LIGHT, which is legislation that allows the owner of a building with windows to retain natural light. He can thus prevent the construction of buildings that might affect his access to natural light.
One of the other rules is that towers must not obstruct selected views of St Paul’s Cathedral, including views from Hampstead, the Thames or Richmond Park… For example, the 224 metre high Leadenhall Building in the City of London, nicknamed the ‘Cheesegrater’, had its profile narrowed to preserve views of St Paul’s Cathedral from the historic Cheshire Cheese pub on Fleet Street. This line of sight helps explain why London, unlike New York or Chicago, does not have many rectangular high-rises and why high-rises stand in groups rather than spread over a larger area.
The first significant wave of high-rise building in London occurred in the 1960s. Eric Bedford’s Post Office (now BT Tower) represents the spirit of this era. At 177 metres, it is the tallest building in the whole of Britain. It was completed in 1964 and the public is particularly drawn to its revolving restaurant at the top. The original purpose of the tower was to transmit high frequency radio waves. For the system to work, the tower had to remain stable – which is why it was secretly designed to withstand a nuclear attack on London.
They moved the whole city to Mars? I guess Brexit really did mean Brexit.
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Compared to other European cities, London has a relatively high number of skyscrapers – 33 – but compared to American or Asian cities, it is still not many. Like the previous Amsterdam, London is an “old city”. The UK developed much earlier than today’s skyscraper cities, such as Hong Kong. Demolishing these functional buildings at a time when skyscraper technology was beginning to emerge, and building skyscrapers, just didn’t make sense.
The British, or London, limits on the construction of high-rise buildings are interesting.
In addition to very strict building regulations in the UK, there is an easement called RIGHT TO LIGHT, which is legislation that allows the owner of a building with windows to retain natural light. He can thus prevent the construction of buildings that might affect his access to natural light.
One of the other rules is that towers must not obstruct selected views of St Paul’s Cathedral, including views from Hampstead, the Thames or Richmond Park… For example, the 224 metre high Leadenhall Building in the City of London, nicknamed the ‘Cheesegrater’, had its profile narrowed to preserve views of St Paul’s Cathedral from the historic Cheshire Cheese pub on Fleet Street. This line of sight helps explain why London, unlike New York or Chicago, does not have many rectangular high-rises and why high-rises stand in groups rather than spread over a larger area.
The first significant wave of high-rise building in London occurred in the 1960s. Eric Bedford’s Post Office (now BT Tower) represents the spirit of this era. At 177 metres, it is the tallest building in the whole of Britain. It was completed in 1964 and the public is particularly drawn to its revolving restaurant at the top. The original purpose of the tower was to transmit high frequency radio waves. For the system to work, the tower had to remain stable – which is why it was secretly designed to withstand a nuclear attack on London.
They moved the whole city to Mars? I guess Brexit really did mean Brexit.