Tall Buildings
Tall buildings have a significant role to play within a city. As a dominant entity the tall building is a landmark, a focal point, and an icon of the city. Traditionally, only special civic buildings such as town halls and churches were given the importance of having domes, towers and spires that rose above the rooftops, marking a public square, plaza or town centre. Built for civic purposes, and designed to reflect the unique history and culture of the place, these buildings are of a timeless nature, secured in their longevity. To be fundamentally sustainable, longevity is key. Will the building’s materials age well? Will it be reliant on mechanical systems that quickly become outdated and need to be replaced? Will the building’s “style” be adaptable to different uses and relevant to future generations?
Today the competition for international investment puts pressure on city councils for tall buildings and architecture that portray an image of prosperity and investment. These designs compete with each other for the spotlight, creating visual tension rather than harmony. As a consequence of building the same scattered skyline, cities across the globe are beginning to look indistinguishable from one another. However, in the long run this may actually hurt the city’s potential to draw international investment and visitors, and will be difficult to reverse.
Tall Buildings Map: A selection of new and proposed tall buildings in Greater London
This map is a visual reference that pinpoints a selection of tall buildings proposed, approved and/or commenced across London. It allows users to see what is being proposed in selected areas and provides useful resources, including essential facts and links to planning applications and architects’ visualisations.
To use the map, click on any of the location markers and a summary listing of information about the building will display. Select the building name from here to view full details, or use the links in the left hand menu to browse the proposed tall buildings.