The Walkie Talkie is a glorious building and the Carbuncle Cup jury are just architectural snobs September 3, 2015 Most of the critics of Rafael Viñoly's “Walkie Talkie” at 20 Fenchurch Street are other architects or professional moaners. Laypeople, like the City workers milling around the building at lunchtime, are more amenable. As if to prove my point, Sir Simon Jenkins, a vocal and consistent critic of, well, just about anything built since bricks [...]
As the Walkie Talkie is awarded the Carbuncle Cup, is it really the UK’s worst new building? September 2, 2015 James Hughes, conservation adviser at The Victorian Society, says Yes The Walkie Talkie’s “victory” in this year’s Carbuncle Cup is a vindication of our director’s argument in City A.M. in January that it is London’s ugliest building. It was the most nominated entry and its crowning demonstrates that it’s not just conservationists who feel that [...]
Walkie Talkie awarded annual Carbuncle Cup as judges declare it the UK’s ugliest building September 2, 2015 It's divided opinion since its plans were first unveiled – but now judges of the Carbuncle Cup, the annual award for Britain's least aesthetically-pleasing constructions, have declared the Walkie Talkie to be the UK's ugliest building. It had stiff competition, mind: the Rafael Vinoly-designed building, developed by Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group, was up [...]
London mayoral elections: Tower blocks are no place to bring up families – it’s time for Londoners to reclaim their horizon September 2, 2015 "We believe most of the wave of proposed towers now hitting the city will do permanent damage to its public spaces and views, without answering London’s real housing and employment needs. There is a lack of evidence for the benefits of these buildings, of planning that can direct them well, and of genuine public consultation." [...]
London property prices: The Shard skyscraper smashes record for office rents as Leonteq Securities takes entire 26th floor August 25, 2015 A letting at The Shard skyscraper in London Bridge has smashed price records for the South Bank and the City, as the hunt for office space in the capital heats up. German-listed IT company Leonteq Securities is understood to have struck a deal to take the entire 26th floor of the tower for over £90 [...]
Network Rail is poised for £1bn sale of properties including Vinopolis site and Brixton arches August 16, 2015 Network Rail has taken the first step towards selling off its £1bn commercial property portfolio after hiring bankers to conduct a review of its estate. The government-backed organisation, which runs all of Britain’s rail infrastructure, confirmed that it is working with boutique investment bank Rothschild to explore ways in which it can “make more [...]
Chinese insurance giant Anbang nears £750m Heron Tower deal August 9, 2015 The Heron Tower in the City that is part-owned by property tycoon Gerald Ronson could soon change hands after a Chinese insurance giant emerged as a frontrunner to buy the skyscraper for £750m. Anbang Insurance, a privately owned group that last year snapped up New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel for almost $2bn (£1.3bn), is close [...]
100 people evacuated at The Shard after fire breaks out on 33rd floor August 4, 2015 The Shard has been evacuated after a fire broke out in one of the London landmark's restaurants on the 33rd floor this morning. Around 100 customers were evacuated from restaurants on levels 31, 32 and 33 by staff, and there have been no injuries. The Brigade was called by 1112. Seven fire engines [...]
Walkie Talkie owners face fresh woes over Sky Garden July 30, 2015 First there was the little problem of the Walkie Talkie dazzling passers-by and melting cars. Then there was the bad hair day it brought to City workers. Read more: Walkie Talkie Sky Garden: How to book a visit to the stunning public park with views across London Now, in another spate of bad luck, it seems [...]
City of London to buy iconic Smithfield building for £34.6m as Museum of London’s new home July 28, 2015 The City of London has agreed to buy back London's historic Smithfield Market for £34.6m, City A.M. understands. The Victorian general market site has lain empty for more than 20 years after several failed attempts to redevelop it. However, it could become the new home for the Museum of London if the sale goes through. [...]