There’s no denying that high-rise living has changed over the decades. If you cast your eye over London’s skyline you’ll see two drastically different options: the grey-brown, 60’s style, residential tower block, or the monolithic, shining glass commercial beacon.
In comparison to most major cities London doesn’t have many tall buildings, but that’s about to change; with a host of skyscrapers quite literally on the horizon and an ever growing list.
According to a study by New London Architecture last year, there are currently 263 buildings with over 20 storeys planned and a further 24 proposed with over 50 stores or more.
The Shard has already been dubbed the tallest building in Europe at 309m, and it seems its set a trend, soon to be joined by a multitude of towers in the City, Docklands, East London and the eagerly-anticipated Battersea Power Station redevelopment zone in Nine Elms.
However, unlike the majority of London’s pre-existing sky scrapers dotted across the City and Canary Wharf, the newest additions are set to be mainly residential, catering to the luxury property market.
With attributes most of us can only dream of like sky gardens, floating pools and restaurants at dizzying heights the new high rise capital is catering to a particular kind of consumer.
We take a look at just five of those planned:
One Blackfriars – ‘The Boomerang’
Three times the size of the Oxo Tower, this futuristic 170m, 50 storey monster will soon be the talk of the Southbank skyline, next to Blackfriars Bridge.
Arguably nicknamed ‘The Boomerang’ (as anyone who’s actually seen one may not agree), it’s perhaps the most noticeable of London’s sky-high additions with its shining glass exterior and gradually fading colour.
However, One Blackfriars also has sky-high prices, the 274 swanky flats start from £1.15m and rise to a staggering £23m.
One Merchant Square – ‘The Cucumber’
If The Shard and ‘The Gherkin’ were fused together it would be this. At 150m this oddly shaped, 42 storey building nicknamed ‘The Cucumber’ is set for completion in late 2019 / early 2020.
Just one part of the regeneration project surrounding Paddington Station, it will house 222 residential units, a 90 room boutique hotel and a sky bar.
Designed by Robin Parrington, who was also involved in designing ‘The Gherkin’, there seems to be a trend emerging…
52-54 Lime Street – ‘The Scalpel’
The Scalpel has been designed as the visual counterpoint to ‘The Cheesegrater’, sloping in the opposite direction to preserve the view of St Pauls Cathedral. Like its other city counterparts it will be a commercial office development.
The sharply designed glass build will rise 10m taller than the Gherkin (190m), reflecting it in its mirrored surface.
Work has started this year on the £198m build on Lime Street and is set to be completed in 2017.
One Nine Elms
Transforming 3km of the city’s riverside, the Nine Elms regeneration project is the largest in Europe. Rejuvenating the no man’s land between Battersea and Vauxhall, it’s now been nicknamed ‘Dubai-on -Thames’ due to the amount of high-end properties being built.
The two 200m, 1950’s inspired towers that make up 1 Nine Elms will boast luxury apartments and a 5 star hotel, alongside a 50th floor viewing lounge.
The Herzog & de Meuron Building
Designed by Swiss Architects Herzog & de Meuron, this 211m, 57 storey, cylindrical build is currently under construction and is set to look like something straight out of a Star Wars film.
Approved by Tower Hamlets Council, the residential tower will house 468 flats and is just one of the 5 set for Wood Wharf in the areas first phase of mixed use redevelopment .
Later phases of development include a network of parks, squares and over 100 shops and street level eateries.
By now we may have noticed that Londoners have an odd relationship with their city’s skyscrapers, humanising them with names like ‘The Gherkin’, ‘The Cheesegrater’ and Carbuncle Cup nominee ‘The Walkie Talkie’.
Others in the pipeline include the ridiculously named ‘The Can of Ham’ or 60-70 St Mary Axe - at 105m tall and resembles, well you get it …. A massive can of ham. At Least it sits well among London’s ‘Cheesegrater’ and ‘Gherkin’.