Buildings
Viñoly Proposes Curved Tower in London
(archrecord.construction.com - 04/17/2006)
By Robert
Such
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| Image courtesy Rafael
Viñoly Architects |
Rafael Viñoly’s proposed
45-story Fenchurch Street Tower in London could give the city’s
skyline a distinctive new look.
Viñoly says the building, which
would be located near the Tower of London in the city’s
historic center, “appears to lean toward the river as
if emerging from the outcrop of the site topography, focusing
its views to the Thames.” He adds that facade’s
slight curves complement the curvature of the river and follow
the geometry of the Medieval streets around the site.
If construction of the 630-foot tower
is approved, it would provide around 850,000 square feet of
office space and 12,000 square feet of retail space. Viñoly’s
design proposal also includes a ground-level public park,
a restaurant, and a bar.
The developer, Land Securities, invited
Viñoly to propose a design for the tower a year ago,
and at the beginning of March the company submitted its application
for planning permission.
The plans will be reviewed by a city
planning committee near the end of this year. Construction
could start next year, with a provisional completion date
of 2011.
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