Tesco targets Walkie Talkie workers September 1, 2014 Tesco launched a new flagship store next to the City’s iconic Walkie Talkie building yesterday, in a bid to capitalise on an expected 8,000 thousand-strong workforce set to take over the building. The store, which houses a new Tesco-backed brand Fred’s Food Construction, is based on a New York style deli counter.
Work on building Walkie Talkie tower sunshade gets underway after Scorchie debacle August 20, 2014 Builders scaled the heights of the Walkie Talkie skyscraper in the City yesterday as work got underway to install “aluminium fins” that will prevent its windows reflecting ultra-bright rays and dazzling passers-by. Land Securities and Canary Wharf, the owners of 20 Fenchurch Street, are arming the southern facade of the tower with horizontal blades [...]
City’s Gherkin skyscraper to be sold off with £640m starting price tag July 28, 2014 The City’s iconic Gherkin has been put up for sale on the open market after it collapsed into receivership earlier this year, with a price tag of around £640m. Receivers at Deloitte have appointed their real estate arm and Savills to sell 30 St Mary’s Axe, which will be advertised to buyers across the [...]
Why I’m on a mission to open up London’s iconic skyscrapers to the public July 24, 2014 This is an exciting time for Londoners; we live in one of the world’s great cities, and one that is changing more rapidly than at any time in its history. This change is evident all around us, as new places and spaces appear, new buildings replace old, and London’s parameters are re-defined. I launched Open [...]
Leadenhall Building to open its doors for Cheesegrater views at Open House London July 21, 2014 This year’s Open House festival of architecture, where you get to snoop around buildings you would ordinarily be tackled for trying to enter, features a star attraction: the hitherto unenjoyed view from the top of the Cheesegrater. Yes, on the 20th and 21st of September, the public will be allowed to ride the Leadenhall [...]
Boris Johnson’s sale of London police buildings frees up £125m and housing space July 3, 2014 London mayor Boris Johnson yesterday hailed the better-than-expected sales of under-used police buildings across the capital, which had raised £125m – more than three times the estimate. The figures, in the second annual report of the mayor’s office for policing and crime, showed that 32 no longer operational buildings were vacated and sold in 2013/14 and [...]
Deadly Nightshade sculpture climbs the City walls and beyond July 2, 2014 A City worker strolls underneath sculptor Julian Wild’s “Deadly Nightshade” in its new temporary home on Bishopsgate as part of the Sculpture in the City exhibition, which kicks off today. There are 14 works in total spread out around the Square Mile. The exhibition runs until May next year.
In pictures: Sculpture in the City makes the Square Mile pretty July 2, 2014 The City's streets have started to look a bit more colourful in the past few days thanks to the addition of a number of sculptures dotted around the Bishopsgate area, as today marks the start of the Sculpture in the City exhibition. “A new season of Sculpture in the City has arrived with [...]
Canary Wharf skyscraper sold for nearly £800m June 20, 2014 A partnership led by China Life (CL), a state-backed Chinese insurer, has bought number 10 Upper Bank Street in the Canary Wharf area of London for £795m, according to reports. The skyscraper is one of the most recognisable buildings on the London skyline and will now now be split mainly between CL and Qatar Holdings [...]
The Shard evacuated after reports of smoke in building’s basement June 5, 2014 London's iconic Shard skyscraper has been evacuated after reports of smoke. The London Fire Brigade says that firefighters have been investigating the reports of smoke in the basement of the building. Smoke without fire perhaps, as the fire brigade's statement says that "there is no suggestion at this stage that there is a fire". So [...]