HOME | DD

Description
Taken from the 10th floor of the Switch House, Tate Modern. On the right is the building known as the "Walkie Talkie" or 20 Fenchurch Street as it's officially known. It has been nicknamed 'The Walkie Talkie' because of its distinctive shape. Construction was completed in spring 2014, and the top-floor 'sky garden' was opened in January 2015. The 34-storey building is 160 m (525 ft) tall. It features a highly distinctive top-heavy form which appears to burst upward and outward. A large viewing deck, bar and restaurants are included on the top three floors; these are, with restrictions, open to the public.
The tower was originally proposed at nearly 200 m (656 ft) tall but its design was scaled down after concerns about its visual impact on the nearby St Paul's Cathedral and Tower of London. It was subsequently approved in 2006 with the revised height. Even after the height reduction there were continued concerns from heritage groups about its impact on the surrounding area. The project was consequently the subject of a public enquiry; in 2007 this ruled in the developers' favour and the building was granted full planning permission.

In 2015 it was awarded the "Carbuncle Cup" for the worst new building in the UK in the previous 12 months.

The building in the middle, known as "The Cheesgrater" (it's official name: The Leadenhall Building) has a distinctive tapering shape, angled at 10 degrees. This was a response to specific planning requirements protecting views of major London landmarks, especially St Paul’s Cathedral in the City and the Palace of Westminster. It is 225 m (737 ft) tall.

Description
Taken from the 10th floor of the Switch House, Tate Modern. On the right is the building known as the "Walkie Talkie" or 20 Fenchurch Street as it's officially known. It has been nicknamed 'The Walkie Talkie' because of its distinctive shape. Construction was completed in spring 2014, and the top-floor 'sky garden' was opened in January 2015. The 34-storey building is 160 m (525 ft) tall. It features a highly distinctive top-heavy form which appears to burst upward and outward. A large viewing deck, bar and restaurants are included on the top three floors; these are, with restrictions, open to the public.
The tower was originally proposed at nearly 200 m (656 ft) tall but its design was scaled down after concerns about its visual impact on the nearby St Paul's Cathedral and Tower of London. It was subsequently approved in 2006 with the revised height. Even after the height reduction there were continued concerns from heritage groups about its impact on the surrounding area. The project was consequently the subject of a public enquiry; in 2007 this ruled in the developers' favour and the building was granted full planning permission.

In 2015 it was awarded the "Carbuncle Cup" for the worst new building in the UK in the previous 12 months.

The building in the middle, known as "The Cheesgrater" (it's official name: The Leadenhall Building) has a distinctive tapering shape, angled at 10 degrees. This was a response to specific planning requirements protecting views of major London landmarks, especially St Paul’s Cathedral in the City and the Palace of Westminster. It is 225 m (737 ft) tall.