Splinter, Cucumber and Grater. Why are there such strange skyscrapers in London

But what restrictions on the construction of such giants exist in the British capital?

There are already several well-marked skyscrapers – "Shard" (Fragment), "Wookie-Toki", "Cheesegrater" (Syroterka) and "Herkin" (Cucumber). The panorama of London is regularly updated with skyscrapers, which offer memorable and brilliant names.

At present, the authorities have received for consideration a construction project of a new skyscraper whose author is the architect Lord Norman Foster.

According to the plan, the Tulip building (Tulip) will have a height of 305.3 m. It will rest on a "stem" and will include in the upper part an observation platform, a restaurant, a small park and a teaching area. A bird's eye view of London will be possible by taking a ride in a transparent capsule.

The building will be just below the "Shard" just one meter and will become the second tallest skyscraper in London and all of Britain.

The City of London will now have to consider the request design company Foster tower and partners. The company hopes to build a skyscraper by 2025.

When and if "Tulip" will be built, its visitors will most likely have a view with a large number of new skyscrapers.

According to the New London Architecture focus group, 510 buildings of 20 or more storeys were in planning stage in London in 2017.

Other British cities, including Manchester, Bristol and Norwich, will soon acquire their skyscrapers.

There is no clear definition of the term "high-rise building". In a city with a low building, a ten-storey house can become such. In a city with a large number of high-rise buildings, a 40-storey building will be considered.

Permits for the construction of high-rise buildings, as well as for all buildings in England, are issued by local government councils.

"Authorization requests for large-scale construction are a big responsibility," says an employee of Planning Insight Consulting Agency. "After all, the results will be visible for several generations."

In reviewing construction applications, local government councils determine the impact of new buildings on existing infrastructure and transport load, and whether they do not hide the light of day for residents of local communities. neighboring houses.

Local self-government councils may, although they are not obliged, develop a development plan for their region, on which the style of the new buildings will depend.

In London, the municipality makes additional recommendations for construction, which apply to the entire city. For example, the construction of high-rise buildings should be considered only in areas where they integrate well and will not spoil the existing ensemble. They should also be well combined with neighboring buildings, have an impact on the modernization of the urban environment, if possible, give access to all on the upper floors and use the first floor to socially useful activities.

The location of buildings should not contribute to the increase of wind, noise and excessive reflections. In addition, they must not interfere with aviation communication, navigation and telecommunication systems.

There are also rules for the protection of monuments and architectural monuments. For example, the design of the skyscraper "Lidenholl-building", called "Syroterkoy", had to be modified at the design stage so that visitors to the historic "Cheshire Pub" Fleet Street could see St. Paul's Cathedral.

The high-rise construction guide explains why in London, unlike New York and Chicago, there is not such a variety of rectangular heights and why skyscrapers are built in a concentrated manner and not over a larger area.

Foster and Partners stated that Tulip would look like a bud and that the building area would be minimal, making this building a cultural and social reference site, complementing the nearby Gerkin building.

In 2017-18, the City of London has approved 99% of construction projects. The chances of a new skyscraper are so great.

However, the project "Tulip" does not like everyone. The city's architectural committee received a letter in which a disgruntled inhabitant suggested holding a contest for the ugliest skyscraper.

Can this someone & # 39; a cancel the decision of the local government council?

If the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, believes that the layout of the building is contrary to his vision, he can request the project and approve or reject it independently.

Last year, he authorized the construction of two high-rise buildings in the Tottenham and Weldstone areas. Initially, local government councils rejected these projects.

Throughout England, at all stages – from design to completion – construction projects can ask local communities and the Minister of Autonomy. But this happens very rarely.

When Manchester City Council approved a new £ 200 million project, including a 39-story hotel, activists asked the government to understand why the decision was made. But the government refused to intervene.

If we take into account the small area available for construction in London, the housing shortage and the exorbitant value of the land, we can say with certainty that in the years to come, there will be more and more buildings of great height.

However, even the tallest British skyscrapers are significantly inferior to high-rise buildings in the United States and China, said Peter Murray, head of New London Architecture.

It was not so long ago that we would compare with American cities. Today, attention has shifted to the Middle East and the Far East.

Peter Murray

Head of the new architecture of London

According to the Skyscraper Center, London and Seattle are ranked 56th in terms of the number of buildings over 150 meters tall, including 18 in the British capital, with Hong Kong in the front row with 353 towers. On the second New York, in which 269 such heights. Moscow is in 32nd place with 37 skyscrapers.

Paris has only two buildings of more than 150 m, Madrid has five and in Berlin, there is none at all.

According to the version of the Council on Tall Buildings and the Urban Environment – an international organization dedicated to the problems of high-rise construction, only three buildings in the world belong to the category of very tall buildings (more than 600 m).

The "tulip" of 300 meters compared to them will seem miniature.

The decision to authorize or prohibit the construction of a London skyscraper will be taken in the coming months.