The Real Reason London's Skyscrapers Are Oddly Shaped - Cheddar Explains

London's skyline is spotted with several distinctly shaped skyscrapers. Londoners have awarded these unique building with some quirky nicknames including the Gherkin, the Shard, and the Cheesegrater. But these now iconic buildings weren't designed this way for purely aesthetic purposes.
Further reading:
Emporis www.emporis.co...
Historic England historicenglan...
CNN www.cnn.com/20...
Metropolitics metropolitique...
Office for National Statistics www.ons.gov.uk/
BBC www.bbc.com/ne...
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[@hpsauce1078]

We know you really wanted to make this video because it gives you an excuse to talk about cheese graters, isn't that right Cheddar?

[@Ramtamtama]

Cheesegrater 2: Cheesier Than Thou

[@spheredude6003]

The channel is called *cheddar* :P

[@konsultarvode6527]

@@spheredude6003 no way?

[@kyotokid4]

..so London is going to have two cheese graters, the original one for Cheddar and the new one most likely for Cheshire.

[@allanrichardson1468]

The early phased array radar buildings in the sixties (for all I know, probably the new ones also) were shaped like a ten story or more, hundred foot or more wide, 45 degree cheese WEDGE! The 45 degree wall, facing in the direction to be surveilled, was filled with an array of thousands of antennas whose signal phases were computer controlled to electronically “point” in any direction. Today they are probably much more complex, but geometry would probably dictate a similar shape. But of course, they aren’t located in a city, for security reasons! The one I toured in 1968 was on an Air Force Base in Florida. We got the censored declassified tour, of course.

[@chungdha]

Some people like to collect unusual shaped toys of buildings

[@Adam-tj6is]

oh... OH

[@chowderwhillis9448]

Do they vibrate?

[@jeffscookies3236]

@@chowderwhillis9448 Earthquakes

[@chowderwhillis9448]

@@jeffscookies3236 lol true

[@getawaysuv]

*sits on the buildings*

[@captainhoratiobungleiii7147]

I can't believe you didn't discuss the "walkie-talkie". The weirdest shaped building probably anywhere.

[@tonyclifton265]

and it focuses sunlight on the street below, melting objects like car parts

[@TY-sx3jb]

@@tonyclifton265 Not anymore

[@hmalik5232]

@@TY-sx3jb how did they get rid of the problem?

[@TY-sx3jb]

@@hmalik5232 Changed the windows

[@hmalik5232]

@@TY-sx3jb I thought the issue was the curvature of the windows bending light and concentrating it, did they make the windows tinted or something?

[@eclipsetricks6134]

Critics called the Eiffel tower "ugly" when it first came out who knows how these buildings will be treated like in the future

[@thabiso5792]

The Eiffel tower quite ugly

[@PortraitofAsha]

It's still ugly

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

The Eiffel Tower is a monument, not a purpose-built residence/business/mixed use.

[@LuvzToLol21]

The Eiffel Tower was never meant to be a permanent building anyway

[@WithinTheShadows00]

I am from the future and the London skyline is still ugly.

[@randomdude4207]

London is such an extraordinary city, since skyscrapers will conquer it in the next few years anyway they should at least have attractive shapes and offer something interesting to honor the city. It's always been special, and hopefully always will be.

[@ninja1676]

They should built modern buildings far apart from older buildings because it overshadow their historical areas that were there way before them. It wouldn't be nice to have that type of skyline, it's not simply not balance by time or style.

[@shanekeenaNYC]

However when you restrict too much you forego potentially immense innovations. What if the historical walk-up that is cherished now has major structural deficiencies and doesn't hold up to modern code? What if the lack of sustainability simply makes it unworthy to preserve? Even diamonds age, so what do you do? Preserve it? Destroy it without replacement? No? You break the ruler and build a new diamond.

[@duncanadelaide4054]

In 400 years it will be completely balanced by its age. You must remember, those 'historical areas' contain buildings as old as the Tower of London (the oldest portion of which was built in 1066 CE) just streets away from the Leadenhall Market, which is in a building built in 1881 CE (to replace a building built in 1449 CE). If the Gherkin is still standing in 2420 CE, an a 25th century building gets put up next to it, people may very well complain that "25th century architecture completely overshadows the historic 21st century architecture and throws the skyline off-balance". But London's entire charm is based off of old buildings near even older buildings near seemingly impossibly old buildings. It's a chain in which the newest links are modern structures.

[@RexGalilae]

This is why many historical metropoles have "New" and "Old" sections, allowing the history to live in harmony with the present

[@michellebyrom6551]

Separating old and new quarters works where the two districts have different purposes eg Hausmanns central Paris and La Défènce. In Londons case, the bombings from WW2 left a lot of empty sites. There's over a millennia of building in London so it's impossible to claim one style being more locally authentic than another. Keeping the skyline and overall visual aesthetics in mind for new buildings maintains a pleasant environment. Shape and scale matter more than style in this perspective. Quite how the walkie talkie got through planning I've no idea. Its top heavy shape puts pressure on the area around it. Balanced sculptures don't have to narrow at the top. They do have to have a good relationship with the space around them. Height, mass and sightlines are part of this.

[@carinedemolin7832]

If you visited Seoul, you'd see an amazing example of old and new buildings coming together. For example from Gyeongbokgung palace, you are surrounded by sky scrapers but somehow it doesn't feel odd. It actually reflects the culture of the country: very modern but respectful of its past. Walking through London, the architecture flows pretty nicely most of the time and you find yourself going from Victorian areas to more modern ones without really noticing it.

[@crazyc4793]

Fun fact: the form of the Empire States building is almost entirely decided by the NYC building code (setbacks and maximum distance between the building core and the facade etc.)

[@allanrichardson1468]

That’s probably why, except for the spire, it resembles the Chrysler building.

[@campkira]

yeah it was accoding the road upfront.. same with some of my build there are hegith limited..

[@knycxjourneying]

Personally, The weirdest of them all is the walkie talkie, the cheesgrater and gherkin are fine.

[@taekatanahu635]

Cheese Grater looks okay. I wouldn't direct such praise towards Walkie Talkie and Buttpl... pardon me, Gherkin! Neither of them fits to the surrounding city.

[@taekatanahu635]

But I get your point. If all the skyscrapers were designed like Gherkin, the skyline would look pretty cool actually. Whereas if they looked like walkie talkie, you would question your sanity and then burn alive shorty after.

[@greatportlandstreetmodelra6513]

I actually like 20 fenchurch street. In fact, its my favourite skyscraper.

[@marshmarshall4619]

@@greatportlandstreetmodelra6513 You most be either a masochist or have severe problems with your eyesight !!!

[@greatportlandstreetmodelra6513]

@@marshmarshall4619 I do admit, its a daring design, but it fits better than those „1000km“ high pillars without character.

[@hogatiwash7750]

the walkie talkie is still ugly. there's no harmony with the rest of the city

[@Totalinternalreflection]

extra bread no pickle yeah that’s the only one I don’t find aesthetically pleasing as well

[@someoneorsomething7591]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/np21f4Jurcilnbc

[@ARW.7]

Can’t argue it has a cracking sky garden though with some of the best views!

[@HDTomo]

It melted cars

[@FLRSKLVR]

It's my favorite one for that same reason, it's the one that stands out the most.

[@patriciahammondsongs]

Well speaking as a Londoner I can say that the actual nicknames are a little different, and affection has little to do with it. The names were chosen by the PR firms for the corporations that built them.

[@kyle8851]

Sounds like the policy continues to be a good thing as it protects views of an historic site while making the rest of the surrounding cityscape more interesting to look at. Sounds like a win win to me! Hope to visit London someday to see these intriguing buildings and sites!

[@carlo_berruti]

As to buildings’ height limitations, Milan gives another interesting example. Until the late 50s, it was forbidden to erect buildings that would stretch beyond the height of the golden Madonna statue that’s on top of Milan cathedral’s spire (108 metres or 354 feet). When the permission for the first building taller than this was given, in the 50s (for the Pirelli Tower, 127 metres or 417 feet tall), a replica of the “Madonnina” statue was put atop the building’s roof, as a sign of continuity and respect. Ever since, all of Milan’s skyscrapers bear a replica of the statue on the rooftop, as a symbol and a form of respect for traditions.

[@bloatedblitz]

"The Jerkin' Gherkin" -Rimmy Downunder

[@guymandude9054]

No, it’s not ISP, Its Jimmy Downunder

[@bloatedblitz]

@@guymandude9054 my mistake, i have fixed it

[@beholdmatsikure2222]

KZbin: hey wanna see some weirdly shaped buildings? Me: Yea why not

[@SeanVedell]

I like the building policy of Toronto in the 70’s. “We need a really tall tower so everyone can watch TV”. CN Railways: “Hold my beer, eh.”

[@Voello]

Everybody keeps mentioning the 'Walkie Talkie' in the comments but, it's not even the worst planned building. The 486ft 'Electric Razor' has three giant 30ft wind turbines built into it, but it was designed wrong and so they don't actually turn and produce any electricity.

[@danielmorris6523]

Legend has it that if you stand under the cheese grater in London every so often a chef who works on the top floor throws off a packet of cheese.

[@forwardslashbeats3091]

From where I live in London, I get a pretty good view of the city of London's buildings. During the construction of one building, I believed for the longest time that they had arranged the glass on it to look like a giant play button. It was 6 months before I found out that it's actually two buildings and just because of the angle of my view in New Cross, the roof of one building perfectly overlays the front of a much larger building to make it look like the button. I like to believe that this was intentional.

[@oddrocket2743]

The London Skyline is really cool and Britain's historic buildings must be protected. What they currently have is a reasonable compromise to allow construction while protecting their history.

[@kayzeaza]

I think it looks more homely and cozy almost. Compared to the cold industrial feel of NYC

[@islaperris4065]

I think the policy is a win win situation, London ends up retaining its views of beautiful and historic buildings as well as gaining unique and interesting new ones, rather than obstructing the views with boring copy and pasted box shaped skyscrapers

[@MosheFeder]

Gosh, the London skyline has certainly changed since I was last there. The only one of the new buildings I’ve seen in person is the Gherkin. I wish my hometown, New York, had more such “interesting” buildings. The rank of super-tall slivers on “Billionaire's Row” overlooking Central Park is an aesthetic disaster.

[@deechr1602]

Amazing video-thanks-I'm embarrassed to say I never realized London had this modern skyline.

[@gavinathling]

You can view London quite nicely from the top of the Shard. Well worth adding to a visiting itinerary.

[@deechr1602]

@@gavinathling I was in London in 1987, before the Ferris wheel addition, and want to go back as soon as possible to see this architectural marvel.

[@dalecn2417]

@@deechr1602 yeah in that time London has changed massively in the Western World its got one of the highest amount of skyscraper activity currently with loads planned and under construction or just completed

[@JackMitchell404]

@@gavinathling Can I just say the the Monument to the Great Fire is a hell of a lot cheaper than the Shard, is actually in the city and climbing its 311 steps is a lot more fun than standing in a lift. The Monument (yes, hence the station name) is a 202ft tall zenith telescope designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke with an outdoor balcony at the top. It's a little taller than Nelson's column and is shockingly little known. Screw the Shard, climb the Monument.

[@sihollett]

@Fabian Deasy If avoiding monstrosities is the aim, then the Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie is the way to go.

[@user-bl1ve4ej8u]

honestly, aside from the gerkins.. the others look weird and dont fit in with london's historic architectural designs.. i think tall buildings should be designed aesthetically and similar so they give a view like the housing buildings of london with similar architectures yet beautiful seen from above or afar

[@ruk2227]

They look nice in person though. They don't seem at all out of place

[@apangel100]

You obviously haven’t been to the city of London where the skyscrapers are ... there aren’t that many historic buildings left considering they were all bombed in the war. Most of the architecture in the financial district is 1960’s / 1970’s office blocks

[@NewPaulActs17]

i'd say a replica of the empire state building would blend quite nicely, scaled down perhaps? yet cozy with london?

[@digitalSixer]

I find the Gherkin to be architecturally buffoonish and repulsive. I don't understand it's appeal to many. It baffles me.

[@danskkr]

i loved the gherkin when it was clearly visible, it added real character to the skyline. But now it's surrounded by ego sized glass box skyscrapers so you can barely see it anymore - and render that cool idea about letting the wind flow around it, little chance of that helping now.

[@Rickuo]

>architect doesn't want to see the same type of buildings all the time >builds skyscrapers that look exactlyy the same except their general form

[@mj_supreme3539]

Today on “Where has quarantine taken me ...”

[@amstreater]

I love the Gherkin. It gives me a sense of orientation and as someone who's mostly lived in East or North East London it helps me know when I'm near home.

[@daxrico266]

"....informally known as the 'gherkin' due it's 'cucumber' like shape"

[@ravin12380]

@3:48 Somebody **PLEASE** teach this lady how to pronounce "subsequently."

[@ForestFire369]

Also "important"

[@Calidore1]

And controversial......

[@djayembe]

Subsweequently.

[@MrConna6]

The grandfather skyscraper is in the uk from the 1790s, we have a lot of industrial stuff that got knocked down and technology had a long way to go before you could build high buildings in affordable materials, but the uk did not start in the 80s thats wild

[@schubertuk]

As a Londoner - (i) I like the fact I can see St Pauls from so many places (including King Henry's mound - 10 miles away); (ii) I love the eclectic set of sky scrapers (mini - by New York standards - but big for us!) we have created - they all have individual character. I think we are at our best when we combine the old and embrace the new together; so I would rather see the protected views of St Paul's continue - and use that to force us to innovate new and exciting designs to provide the spaces we need. Finally - after COVID - the fact is the pressure on office space seems to be considerably less - a much higher proportion of office workers are working from home at least 2 days a week, so there is a lot of potential "use of space" requirements that could be reassigned to help create many new and spacious living places.

[@brandonp3354]

The Shard isnt a nickname, its literally the name of the building. I like the protected view of St Pauls from Richmond Park, so I hope that view is kept.

[@JCElzinga]

Answer: It all has to do with protecting the city’s most important sightline-that of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. Protected views, or sightlines.

[@BLWard-ht3qw]

Interesting info and though I love London and the term is technically correct, "unique" is not what I'd use to describe its skyline...at least not in a positive way. The Gherkin is unique in the positive way, some of the others are questionable at best, but the 'Walkie Talkie' looking one is just horrid. The concentrated combination just makes it all rather unsightly and makes no historical connection to its surrounding. Just my thought observation though. Thanks for posting.

[@someoneorsomething7591]

The "walkie talkie" building also dose this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/np21f4Jurcilnbc

[@Gladiamdammit]

@@someoneorsomething7591 No it doesn't. They fixed that problem a long time ago.

[@TheFreshSpam]

The walkie talkie building has a huge garden at the top. It's not a bad building but is quite and isolated design. I think it fits the various shapes popping up

[@someoneorsomething7591]

@@Gladiamdammit I know they attached sun shades to the side of the building that shined light sun into the streets.

[@prappsy3028]

I hated the walkie talkie initially, but after seeing it in person it's really grown on me. In fact It's actually quite an impressive looking building when you see the scale of it.

[@matthewhoffman6868]

My thoughts? Continue to protect sight limes to St Paul’s, but not to the Tower which is a relatively low structure that’s best seen up close anyway.

[@christianfadoju]

I am born and raised Londoner and never knew any of this information. So thank you

[@mckungsmakong]

What a shame that one building is limiting others great design.

[@lestranged]

Tapered buildings like this also do not block as much sun (they cast narrower shadows on the streets and parks below) and they create less of a wind tunnel effect. Some New York streets with boxy high rises on both sides have a terrible wind tunnel effect.

[@0h0h0h0]

The Dutch ambassy in Berlin (designed by OMA/Rem Koolhaas) has a very specific point in the inside, where you stand at the bottom of a stairs and look up (looking over the stairs), there's a window that perfectly frames the Berliner Fernsehturm. Koolhaas managed to get the municipality to rule that nothing would be built that would obstruct that view, for the next 100 years or something.

[@juliegale3863]

Well that explains a lot. When I was a child we were taught that no tall buildings like New York could be built as they would sink in London Clay. I like the tall buildings although I no longer live in London.

[@alisonrandall3039]

BT tower was built in 1964 191 metres. Way before the NatWest tower.

[@theoutlings7603]

Although it's oddly shape, it's unique in it's own way.

[@savagex466-qt1io]

The Tulop looks awsome ! Outside elavators like that would be scary and fun !

[@DrVictorVasconcelos]

The designs are much better than the rectangles. NY rectangle sky scrapers are fugly.

[@WHR0306]

I'm glad that they did that, because St. Paul's is so iconic. I mean, I think they should protect it.

[@DavidAWA]

New York needs to do corridors. The new residential buildings on Central Park South are ruining the views of the Empire State building, the skyline in general (they are tall and really thin) and the sunlight hitting the park.

[@Bobrogers99]

There are reasons here that justify the oddly-shaped skyscrapers, but the principal one is really just to be different. Some of the more weird ones might have some inconveniently weird interior spaces, some added maintenance costs, and a higher per-square-foot price, but the architect gets to be called "creative" and "innovative" along with the sponsoring corporation. The public will learn to love some of them but, I suspect, not all.

[@georgeh6856]

Don't ever block out views of gorgeous buildings like St. Paul's. NYC tore down the gorgeous old Penn Station and put the ugly drum stadium Madison Square Garden in its place. Honolulu used to have amazing natural views of Diamond Head. Now hotels blot out the view. Once these views are gone, it is almost impossible to get them back.

[@Then.72]

Apart from the isle of dogs the Natwest tower/tower 42 was the only skyscraper that stood alone for over twenty years which looked unusual until more where built.

[@rafaelpezvela]

a glitch in the simulation

[@senanur1983]

Good. I am a londoner and I love these unique designs and the agreement must stay in place. Dont give in to the developers, they make billions anyways.

[@carlacolumna4809]

But doesn't that make the buildings really inefficient? I thought skyscrapers should maximize space but with these weird angles I can't imagine that there's so much space that's actually useful.

[@Tropicalblueful]

London skyline is very creative in the shapes of the buildings the "Wakie Talkie" building one of my favourite in London along with the Gherkin so yes it is very good nothing wrong with it.

[@KeithofPlanetEarth]

Yes keept the restrictions on london skyline. it gives the iconic skyline that can still change with time but keeps the timeless elements. - Also housinf prices would alter massivly if you took the views away!

[@markw-s5734]

I’m not buying that one of the reasons for the odd shapes has to do with the odd shaped properties. It’s purely an aesthetic decision. Mary Axe is still my favorite London skyscraper and in my mind’s eye it’s most iconic.

[@richmck007]

Well, if we all looked the same, no one would have anything negative to say about how different were all are. My fav is the walkie talkie. And it has to be seen from the top! Not quite the same up top in the Shard. Mind you, the Post Office tower for lunch used to be interesting revolving around. And Centre point never let us get up there, I’ll never know. Long live skyscrapers.

[@slobodanreka1088]

A Ford Capri doesn't look like a Vauxhall Vectra, which doesn't look like a Tesla. Big wow.

[@sammavacaist]

It's too bad London built skyscrapers. You need to build them in NY, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai because there's no land mass to grow outward. They ruin cities like London and Paris.

[@Levi1cor16V14]

"The Twin Cheese graters" has a nice ring too it😂 In other news here in Belfast (Northern Irland) they plan to block the views of the Titanic museum with an apartment block! And for a city that only recently gained a personality though its sky line, I think this is absolutely absurd! Especially since there's a big push for tourism!

[@BrunoDeMarques]

IMO the Toulip would be a refreshing addition to the London Skyline

[@toddhunter3137]

I absolutely love the walkie-talkie building, it's so bizarre looking! 😁

[@Adam_Wagner]

they all look fine except the walkie talkie. that thing is hideous

[@teeborg1519]

Ah yeah 30 St Mary Axe (Gherkin) has really good wind tunnels not creating wind at ground level but try passing 20 Fenchurch street or as I call it the mushroom on fenchurch street on a windy day without getting into what feels like a Tsunami. This windy ground trend got so much more common, most of the newly built skyacrapers on city road also drive all the wind down to ground in very windy days I decide not to even go close to it woth a cycle as gusts could easily push you pff the bike.

[@TenshiR]

I love the London skyline. My wife an I got married in the top floor of the Gherkin. And her office is at the top of Canada One.

[@garyvincent7397]

Best part is I had an ad about cheese before the video

[@trint3089]

The gherkin sounds so cool.

[@ghanshyamsinhzala7575]

Whatever it is , but London is best for me Btw , I don't live in London ...😀

[@user-propositionjoe]

London has one of the ugliest skylines I've ever seen. Canary wharf is cool, but the rest yuck.

[@Boblik]

Glad I’m not the only one who thinks it’s a mess

[@arandombard1197]

Considering tourism is (or was, pre-pandemic era) a huge source of revenue, putting some conscious effort into maintaining the skyline and viewing angles instead of letting people put massive skyscrapers wherever they want seems pretty logical. St. Paul's is STILL a culturally important building and landmark of London, even if it has lost some of it's political/religious significance.

[@R.U.1.2.]

Thank you for adding the little metric conversion tags.

[@donaldhobson8873]

We have a long list of reasons why buildings can't be built. From protecting views, listed building status, "look and feel", noise concerns, privacy concerns, managing traffic, air quality, wastewater capacity, zoning rules, fire safety ect ect. Individually these feel like good reasons. However somehow the combined result is that its very hard to build stuff. Funny that isn't it. Its like the people evaluating each concern are the people who are most concerned with it. The people managing listed building status feel that every listed building is a priceless treasure. The people considering light pollution are astronomers and dark sky enthusiasts. In general the people judging whether building a building will cause problem X are the people most concerned about X. The incentive to regulators is generally to ban more, they get personally blamed if they allow a bad thing, but not if they ban something that would have been good. (This is the same problem drugs regulators have. ) The building that is built and causes a problem is the building you do see. The building that doesn't get built and would have been useful is the building you don't see.

[@diskgrinder]

There’s a story that a Parisian hated the Eiffel Tower, yet he had his lunch in the restaurant everyday. A friend asked him why, to which he said, ‘it’s the only place in Paris I can have my lunch and not see it’

[@marcrtaylor]

It's the same reason I always recommend people go to the top of Rockefellers tower in New York instead of the Empire State. The Empire State is so iconic its actually a bit dissapointing when you get to the top, look out and realise you can't see the most famous skyscraper. It's better to go up rockefellers and get a great view of Central Park and the Empire State itself. Plus, from the street, Rockefellers is boring :)

[@FlorentPlacide]

There's a similar saying abut the Montparnasse tower : the best view of the tower is from atop, as you don't see it.

[@thebenedit]

@@FlorentPlacide That tower is horrendously ugly though! Ruins Paris' skyline!

[@FlorentPlacide]

@@thebenedit I totally agree :)

[@B-A-L]

I take it you are talking about the world renowned author Guy de Maupassant and not just some random anonymous Parisian.

[@360PictureUK]

Personally I like the unusual designs, the policy to protect St. Paul’s actually encourages designers to think outside the box.

[@gasolinewhat]

Me to

[@JorgesStuffs]

It look like someone accidentally messed up the design and looks like some sort of frick you too you got some sort of different fetish man

[@paxundpeace9970]

I agree

[@TheKaimanguy]

I have to agree. I usually dont like restrictive policies, but so far this policy seems to be producing positive results: interesting building design, nice vistas and a respect for historical buildings.

[@mr.froschi6526]

thats the beauty of restrictions. It forces people to find another way.

[@creatureofleisure4319]

Also, a majority of central London is built on soft clay and it’s been the advancement in building techniques over the last 20 years that has allowed skyscrapers to be built

[@Mr.E-gi5rq]

Yes but you don't have to build skyscrapers that look like Darth Vader's dk.

[@adamosipov-yv4qu]

⁠lol

[@steveupson7183]

Surprised that you didn’t mention the car-melting ‘Walkie-Talkie’.

[@hareecionelson5875]

Indeed, some poor person's lemons were scorched on a hot day, and a door mat was burned

[@GoinManta]

Same here

[@pippylunalove]

The worse thing about the walkie talkie is it is the 2nd building designed by Rafael Viñoly that sets things on fire and melts cars twice a year.

[@HamedAdefuwa]

iv always called it the popcorn building

[@mandowarrior123]

@@pippylunalove actually, it wasn't his fault with the walkie talkie. He stipulated in his plans to angle the glass to avoid it. The engineers saw needless complexity and expense and so simplified it, putting back the error, as far as i understand it.

[@christycullen2355]

The chief planning officer looks like one of the chuckle brothers 😂

[@suzesweetness]

Surely we can't be the only people who think this?!

[@yozza4978]

@@suzesweetness me too.

[@NGdriven]

I’ve been looking for this comment

[@westside786asy]

First thing that came to my mind lol

[@danielupcott5439]

I thought I was the only one who thought that! 😂😂

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

I like the Gherkin. At least it looks like something nature would produce.

[@sebastianelytron8450]

Get your mind out of the gutter.

[@hisdivinegraceimperialmaje4178]

its one of my favorite buildings to

[@magnusuhlinlynne3659]

It looks like a suppository pill

[@nemanjaras]

A turd?

[@Totalinternalreflection]

All buildings look like something nature would produce in case you forgot that humans (that evolved here) build them out of materials mined from the earth itself.

[@Rgsetters]

Not one mention of the walkie talkie

[@kaiimms5357]

The walkie talkie is the best out there

[@mstevens832]

Was eagerly waiting

[@ala08sam]

@Cringeyness Expressway learn how to spell

[@ala08sam]

@Cringeyness Expressway well I never tried to be the real one

[@chrisyorke6175]

The challenge to justify it defeated the producer.

[@markgrehan3726]

Love how these big building companies say they need laws relaxed due to the housing crisis but oddly enough at the end of the project the extra affordable homes seem to almost disappear.

[@SecretOfMonkeyIsland784]

If people want affordable housing they shouldn't be moving to London, its the polar opposite of that.

[@SecretOfMonkeyIsland784]

@@grievuspwn4g3 So no cities and no country, so where are the UK residents supposed to live then?.

[@vittortoise]

@@SecretOfMonkeyIsland784 with their parents. /j

[@markhorton8578]

@@SecretOfMonkeyIsland784 Once the developers have most of the land around you, they can often get councils to issue compulsory purchase against you so they can "benefit the area". I was nearly forced out of my home a few years ago. Many of us would not have been able to afford continuing to live in the place where we had grow up. The compensation would not have bought anything in the area at all. If you are poor, they will throw you out of your own property and move you out of the area without any problem. It is often the case that poor people moved on in this way, have to then commute to work, which is expensive and time consuming (when they used to walk) or rent, which is a rip off.

[@stanleywiselin3479]

Very true.They use housing as an excuse. As if they’ll provide affordable housing. The housing they provide is for the affluent and not for the masses.

[@humphreychannel582]

London skyline is so unique compared to the majority of big cities. I hope that the unique designs continue whether or not all the corridors remain.

[@Randombrudddaaa]

"price out locals" mate they already have lmao, the gentrification of east London is real and it's sickening

[@xander1052]

Hitting outer london as well, houses here have quintupled in price over 20 years.

[@ijazahamed1749]

Locals should be given the utmost importance. Gentrification should be discouraged

[@lateoclock4281]

narrator: "something more concrete influenced their design" * Cheddar logo pops onscreen* me: cheese influenced the London skyline?

[@liliannicholson6247]

The Cheese grater.

[@SiliconBong]

0:50 I get the immediate impression she has recently shaved her monobrow.

[@smallstudiodesign]

It’s always the cheesiest things that influence everything.

[@va3084]

I found the gherkin thing in my moms nightstand

[@WZRDr]

Me moms also a skyscraper enthuasiast

[@UnwrittenSpade]

Hahaha this made me laugh

[@paulashe7460]

Isn’t that rabbit rampant flag?

[@bentonrp]

LOL! Don't worry. You're mom got rid of it, since she met me.

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

Lol

[@juliusbernotas]

The shard is one good looking skyscraper. I was totally in awe when i first saw it

[@FloridaMan69.]

that's what people say about my profile picture

[@claygamer3657]

@@FloridaMan69. shut up

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

I like how each one of them is unique. No copypasted blocks, but actual creative design.

[@firstnamelastname7003]

I feel like "creative" is giving them a bit too much credit. Basic geometric shapes are hardly all that new...

[@carlosimotti3933]

Turds are not creative dude, just a byproduct of metabolism

[@Peter-mj6lz]

The empire state building looks special though @mcdonaldspaperbag

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

2:17 - Oh hey, it's the "walkie-talkie", aka, the "death-ray building". The worst part about it is that its architect Rafael Viñoly made the exact same sun-focusing-magnifying-glass-like-death-ray mistake when he designed the Vdara in Las Vegas three years earlier but learned nothing. 🤦

[@rey4874]

U watched that video?

[@return4570]

The walkie talkie is an absolute mess of a building that has totally negated all efforts to protect London's skyline

[@terrycoleman8559]

I worked on the walkie talkie . It was designed to have non reflective glass . The builder tried to save money and changed the glass which resulted in melted cars/pavements

[@jonomoth2581]

If you're going to call the walkie-talkie by a more descriptive name, it's obvious the scorchy-talky

[@MrDenislynch]

But the garden is nice

[@audiotron1003]

Being British and having been in the shard I think we can have both modern and old architecture. It's not albout the past otherwise we'd be protecting medieval cottages and nothing else. It's about balance and moving with the times.

[@carlosimotti3933]

London sucks dude

[@clarkpatient7950]

I agree however countries like France have done much better at protecting their skyline and heritage.

[@kunimitsune177]

Or we could reject the highly modern hyper-capitalist ugliness

[@simonestreeter1518]

What 'times'? It's about human-scaled architecture, and fine craftsmanship. Neither are taught in architecture schools anymore, and haven't been for a long time.

[@brian9731]

I love the mix of old and new in London. I drive around The City and Westminster a lot in the course of my work and it's a whole lot nicer than Canary Wharf (the former Docklands area redeveloped in the 80s and 90s) which is horrible and inorganic. However, to keep the mix of old and new from becoming a total junble, there has to be management and I genuinely think that by and large, they get it right most of the time.

[@alexia3552]

I agree

[@EASYTIGER10]

I agree too. I admit I don't know it that well, but Canary Wharf to me is a strange place lacking clear "streets". I prefer the City. A gothic or Victorian church or a Georgian Square can sit next to a 700ft skyscraper, all on proper streets.

[@Jim-hw6rv]

Also agree... I just hope the never build that 'tulip' it looks hideous! Resembles something you'd see in a x rated video.

[@issadiawara38]

Lucky you 🙏🏾🙏🏾🤗🤗🤗🤣

[@carlosimotti3933]

Nah, the "new" just sucks. And it's not new at all

[@rosied3717]

Lmao the great fire of london brings back so many primary school history memories

[@exiled_londoner]

It was actually the third 'Great Fire' of London, or possibly the fourth if you include Boudicca burning down Roman Londinium in 60 AD. There was one in 1135 and another in 1212. What does LMAO mean?

[@tomk6292]

I remember learning all about Samuel Peeps’ diary

[@exiled_londoner]

@@tomk6292 _ Pronounced 'Peeps' but spelt 'Pepys'.

[@esotericgrl]

same 🥺

[@sevenaati]

@@exiled_londoner LMAO means ‘laughing my ass off’

[@rowanhoneysett7315]

lol - the 'tulip'. Just when you thought London's skyline couldn't get anymore phallic

[@campkira]

that just a alien dick... the reason why they denide it later since they add that moving thing for tourist...

[@waltersobchak7275]

Planting tulips

[@radiocephalus7604]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKW8Zmt9ptGod9U

[@waltersobchak7275]

@@radiocephalus7604 now there is no way in hell that's a coincidence.

[@IronShocker77]

It's slowly becoming Dalaran

[@chloesmith4491]

Really surprised that BT Tower wasn't mentioned, went up in 1964 and is 620ft so pretty sure it qualifies (also it's pretty iconic.)

[@Sup3rStud]

Definitely a number of other building they could have mentioned but assume they were mainly focusing on the City of London rather than Greater London (apart from the Shard of course)

[@firstnamelastname7003]

It's also effing ugly. Plus we recently had to watch Prince Philip's face paraded around it like some sort of dance macabre.

[@user-ki6id4vt8u]

@@firstnamelastname7003 it really looks fine

[@yungstallion2201]

1:56 The chuckle brothers were London’s best city planners

[@coolthefool1]

Yung Stallion OMG IT DOES LOOK LIKE ONE OF YHE CHUCKLE BROTHERS RIP

[@sparkequinox]

I immediately did a double take on him lol

[@digitig]

Maybe to you...

[@pirateteaparty717]

@@digitig to me

[@digitig]

Pirate Tea Party To you.

[@equaals7552]

The sound quality is killing me

[@KrisHatesWorld]

Quick, somebody get them a pop filter

[@michaelflaherty3202]

I had to turn it super high to hear anything, and then all the sudden that guy’s at normal volume and I have to turn it way down.

[@dinhdatVN]

@@michaelflaherty3202 thank you for the warning. The audio quality is so shitty.

[@equaals7552]

The sound quality is still killing me

[@mfC0RD]

And I have to mention the vocal fry in the end of every sentence. I know I should be used to that by now, but I just can't.

[@astridglogovski1170]

The shard is my personal favorite…. It basically has double skin so it can breathe and white glass so it can project the weather. And the fact that it’s useable 24-7 is amazing. Renzo Piano did an amazing job with that building.

[@leahstone9938]

It has a bit of a tendancy to melt cars but yeah

[@1ilostmymarbles]

Plus the enormously increased wind at the bottom is horrid for commuters at London Bridge Station.

[@AnsityHD]

@@leahstone9938 You're thinking of the walkie-talkie.

[@mreraser2968]

The shard is beautiful

[@skyrockhou6325]

Austin, TX has “capitol view corridors” that dictate that no buildings can be built within the direct line of sight of the capitol building from 26 different vantage points within the city of Austin. Pretty cool and results in some uniquely shaped buildings.

[@Im__A__Fan]

SLC has a road where you can see the capitol building from MILES away. 1 straight road for about 15-20 miles. (Covers 3/4 of the SLC valley.) Road is called N State st.

[@johnfoltz8183]

And DC has a height limit on tall buildings

[@saml6140]

John Foltz same as most European cities like paris

[@rosaamarillo2110]

You use to be able to see the Texas capitol on the I-35 elevated section.. not anymore.. must not be one of those 26 points..

[@skyrockhou6325]

Rosa Amarillo I know, it’s kind of sad, but there are still some spots on 35 where you can see the dome

[@juanlobo4875]

I literally work on this (Creating CGI images for planning purposes in London) And indeed, we always use the corridors as viewpoints to check St. Pauls. The intented design of all buildings in London tends to be "as tall and wide as you possibly can within the normative". So, thanks to the normative, we get these cool shapes!

[@garycard1456]

Here's an idea: The Phallus, with a water fountain at the top. Complete with phallic features such as the Glans.

[@anthonydelfino6171]

Add that fountain to the top of the tulip and you're basically there...

[@bullskitter]

Have 2 sort of biospheres either side at the base of the building with plenty of bushes

[@mittfh]

Basically use a narrower version of the Gherkin design. Bonus points if it's accompanied by two low-rise domed buildings adjacent to it...

[@Dear_Mr._Isaiah_Deringer]

London doesn't have the balls to do it.

[@jacklong1844]

It was already proposed, it was called the tulip

[@gleggett3817]

Two thoughts on tall buildings in London. Prior to the Natwest building, the tallest building in London was the 600-odd feet tall GPO Tower (now BT Tower). And in the Victorian period it was proposed to build a necropolis on Primrose Hill over London which would have been similar height as the Shard but nearly as wide as it was tall. Nicknamed the Pyramid of Death, it could have taken 5 million "burials".

[@reubenz1480]

Unique does not mean beautiful. London without a doubt has the ugliest modern skyline of any major city, period. Such a shame for such a beautiful city.