Your Guide to London Skyline

a brief guide

► by Extension Architecture

London Skyscrapers: new and old favourites, including London skyline at night, showing the Canary Wharf Tower

► public affection

Battersea Power Station (113m) – 1933 – has become a public icon for Britain.

The national public tend to have iconic preferences in British Architecture. Think: Bat-tersea Power Station, which featured on the vinyl record sleeve for the album: Animals, by rock giants: Pink Floyd, as well as various other settings in the 70s to 90s.

Steph Fanizza, Architectural Design & Team Manager

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The BT Tower (190m, 36 storeys) has been part of British culture. It took 3 years to build and although it was the UK’s tallest tower, it is now the 10th tallest.**

Some former British favorites are high towers, for example the BT Tower. Thought to be dated and partly out of use, its current image seems to be a technical museum with a historical legacy, yet it continues to be fundamental to most of our TV channels, especially sports broadcasts.

London skyscrapers

► points of interest

1. Our skyline is comforting and ‘part of the furniture, although developments can be alarming if unwanted, unexpected or too rapid. See also our piece on the changing shape of the London skyline.

2. The Shell Centre has a distinctive retro Art Nouveau look with its Portland Stone cladding and bronzed windows which was apparently much criticized by Modernists at the time of building.

3. How boldly competitive and typical of developers to have a great tower right next door to another great tower! 99 and 100 Bishopsgate really could not get any closer.

4. 20 Fenchurch was to be 200m but the height was revised at 160m due to its proximity to St Pauls, which is has been a protected view from King Henry’s Mound in Richmond Park since 1710. Henry VIII liked the view and issued an edict that nothing was to be built in between the 2 points, or within a dome’s width to either side. With all the eager developers trying to build in the City, the king’s edict has proved increasingly difficult to preserve.

5. The BT Tower, on the other hand, was going to be 111m high but is actually 190m. Completed in 1964, it was well ahead of its time with the engineering phenomenon i.e. the revolving restaurant (now closed), and viewing galleries.

Vast, cathedral-like hall in the recommissioned industrial building on the South bank of the Thames.

6. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott – one of the architects of Battersea Power Station – also designed the Bankside Power Station, which is now the home of the Tate Modern (99m).

7. Battersea Power Station had some cancelled proposals for use as Chelsea Football Club‘s HQ, and then HQ for tech giant: Apple. It will now be for up to 800 residential homes over 5 storeys and around the site; including flats to rent from £450-£700 per week, and for sale @ £0.7-8.15 million!

our pick

► of London skyscrapers

You can bring your watercolours or sketchbook to the river.

► table of towers

The Shard – 306m (310m tip) Storeys: 95 Architect:* Renzo Piano Construction: 2009-2013 Tallest building in London?** tallest in UK Use: Hotel, restaurants, offices, flats, viewing gallery	22 Bishopsgate 278m Storeys: 62 Architect:* GMW Architects Construction: 2008-2019 (under construction) Tallest building in London?** 2nd tallest in UK Use: Commercial	Canary Wharf Tower – 236m Storeys: 50 Architect:* César Pelli Construction: 1988-1991 Tallest building in London?** 3rd tallest in UK Use: offices, retail	Heron Tower – 230m Storeys: 46 Architect:* Paul Simovic, Gene Kohn, Dennis Hill Construction: 2008-2011 Tallest building in London?** 4th tallest in UK Use: Commercial, offices
The Gherkin – 180m Storeys: 41 Architect:* Foster & Partners Construction: 2008-2011 Tallest building in London?** 9th tallest in UK Use: Commercial, offices	The Scalpel – 190m Storeys: 38 Architect:* Kohn Pedersen Fox Construction: 2015-(under construction) Tallest building in London?** 7th tallest in UK Use: Offices, retail	The Electric Razor – 148m Storeys: 43 Architect:* BFLS Construction: 2007-2010 Tallest building in London?** 21st tallest in UK Use: 408 residential flats	The Cheesegrater – 225m Storeys: 52 Architect:* Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners Construction: 2010-2014 Tallest building in London?** 5th tallest in UK Use: Offices
99 Bishopsgate – 104m Storeys: 26 Architect:* GMW Architects Construction: 1973-1976 Tallest building in London?** 48th tallest in UK Use: Offices, right of way, plant floors	100 Bishopsgate 101m Storeys: 40 Architect*: Allies and Morrison Construction: 2008-2019 (under construction) Tallest building in London?** 11th tallest in UK Use: Mixed use	The Walkie-Talkie – 160m Storeys: 38 Architect*: Rafael Viñoly Construction: 2010-2014 Tallest building in London?** 13th tallest in UK Use: Offices, viewing deck, bars, restaurants	Citigroup Centre – 200m Storeys: 45 Architect*: William B Tabler Construction: 1998-2001 Tallest building in London?** 6th tallest in UK Use: Building complex, HQ for Citigroup
Centrepoint – 117m Storeys: 35 Architect*: George Marsh Construction: 1963-1966 Tallest building in London?** 37th tallest in UK Use: bed spaces for young, homeless people	Shell Centre – 107m Storeys: 26 Architect*: Howard Robertson Construction: 1957-1962 Tallest building in London?** 52nd tallest in UK Use: one of Shell’s 2 central offices	Tate Modern, Bankside – 99m Architect*: Sir Giles Gilbert Scott Construction: 1949-1952 Tallest building in London?** 72nd tallest in UK Use: decommissioned power station (1981) / art museum (2000)	Battersea Power Station – 113m Storeys: 5 Architect:* Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Frank Gehry, Rafael Viñoly. Construction: 1929-1933 Tallest building in London?** 48th tallest in UK Use: decommissioned power station
BT Tower – 190m Storeys: 36 Architect:* Eric Bedford Construction: 1961-1964 Tallest building in London?** 10th tallest in UK Use: broadcasting facility	Hilton – 101m Storeys: 28 Architect:* William B Tabler Construction: 1960-1963 Tallest building in London?** 50th tallest in UK Use: 5 Star Hotel, Michelin restaurant	Big Ben, Clock Tower – 96m Architect*: Augustus Pugin Construction: 1825-1859 Tallest building in London?** 72nd circa 75th tallest in UK. Use: bell tower in the Houses of Parliament	London Eye – 135m, 40 cars Architect***: Construction: 1998-1999 Tallest building in London?** circa 27th tallest in UK Use: leisure, 40 car viewing ‘tower’ ferris wheel

Notes

► heights guide

1. **Heights, in terms of tallest rank is literally an ever-changing landscape, especially during a boom time for development and construction. See table for guidance by entering the height you are looking at against the list, if your building is not listed. The rank will be roughly the same as similar heights which you see on the table.

► London architects

2. *Some of these prominent architects may not be based in London, but if you would like to meet architects in London, give us a call on 0203 409 4215, or look online at the list of London architects.
***Julia Barfield, Mark Sparrowhawk, Nic Bailey, Malcolm Cook, Frank Anatole, Steve Chilton, David Marks

► making visits

3. To visit some of these ‘tall boys’, you can do some London sightseeing to enjoy some of the architecture in London, or contribute to London tourism by going on one of the London tours.

► see more

4. Further viewing: you can see more London skyscrapers here.

► get in touch

5. If you would like to speak to a London architect about a small or large, short or tall development, send your details via the contact button below, or call us on 0203 409 4215. Extension Architecture loves to network with developers and investors regarding upcoming plots and support services such as commissioning Feasibility Reports, Economic Statements or Design & Access Statements to help you realise your proposal.

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