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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@OnlySlightyRadioactive]

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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@GamingMuchTerry]

As an atheist, I have no need for religious buildings, but as a Londoner and a lover of architecture, I believe the view of St. Paul's is an important one. You can see it all over the city and it's a quirky rule that makes for interesting, new buildings.

[@gumbyshrimp2606]

It’s easy to tell when someone is atheist because it’s always the first thing they’ll tell you

[@GamingMuchTerry]

@@gumbyshrimp2606 Great story. Perhaps one day you'll be able to work it into an anecdote

[@GamingMuchTerry]

@Steven Moore It's the first time I've ever mentioned it publicly and only to demonstrate how important St. Paul's is to London's landscape. I find that most atheists don't talk about atheism as we're not devoted to a cult - it's simply a release from that. Saying something is true doesn't make it so - that's the problem with religion!

[@Great.Milenko]

@@GamingMuchTerry another point is that mostly in media, movies, tv shows , ect. you never see the effect of the strict rules on skylines and sight lines. but at ground level its pretty noticeable from a lot of places.

[@natatatt]

@Steven Moore I know you're referring to a part of the bible but it's amusing that KZbin interpreted that to mean 18:20 in the video.

[@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".

[@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.

[@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*

[@rjp666]

One iconic building you left out was The Post Office Tower completed in 1964 and is approx 190m tall and was the most visible building in London for many years

[@toni4729]

Yes, you can't miss that one.

[@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

[@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.

[@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’

[@justcomments]

One of the benefits of uninterrupted view corridors and uniquely shaped buildings, is that you can navigate the streets more easily without technology. Sometimes walking in busy city streets with your head in your phone is pretty bloody dangerous. Whereas if you know you’re aiming for “roughly near the spire” you can use the landmarks to make most of your way there.

[@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.

[@shanefarrell5759]

It's a shame that londons already nice skyline from 3/4 years ago is unrecognizable today - the rate at which these scrapers are being built (north of the thames) doesn't allow for them to become iconic anymore

[@henreereemanmini3973]

waffle

[@crr434]

waffle

[@Dave5843-d9m]

London has far too much 60s crap that’s damp and cold. 50s brick build slabs are not much better. I would say bulldoze the lot but would the replacement be any better? Certainly not with the authoritarian nutter we have running the city.

[@CallieRoses]

waffle

[@DeadLifeBoat100]

waffle

[@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.

[@anthonymathias4043]

As a Londoner myself I really like the protected views because it in many ways has led to more innovative building designs

[@natatatt]

Agreed, same thing happens with Vancouver and its view corridor restrictions. Ex: Vancouver House, looks like a shark took a bite out of the bottom.

[@campkira]

trust me anything is better than build that just maximum the build area.. since it would be endless square... if you try to build in countryside.. you had to deal with old desgin and you can not do the differnt color let ago... differnt design...

[@jimbo573]

Agreed. London's architecture has lately become really distinctive and fun, while preserving the status of our older buildings like St Paul's.

[@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

[@jesse2114]

I love London. I feel like it sets itself apart from all other major cities that just give way to skyscrapers. Tall buildings really just swallow up everything around them and take away from that "home" feeling you get from smaller structures. I love the views of St. Paul's and I think it should be preserved.

[@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..

[@lompstem]

Yes, Tom Scott made a video on it 5 years ago: "The Sightlines of London"

[@JCWelsh]

Saw the title and instantly thought "its because of the cathedral", Thank You Tom from 5 years ago.

[@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!

[@jamesmiddleton8335]

Once a year, pretty much every year of my life, i have stood where this camera is roughly 9:00 and looked at the city skyline, first of all this park (greenwich park) is one of my favorite places in the world so going there is no chore for me, but every couple of years the view changed, and I love watching it develop.

[@steveipsen6293]

Love the aerial views. Really puts the layout of London into perspective.

[@hogatiwash7750]

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

[@OnlySlightyRadioactive]

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.

[@iot1452]

We Londoners love our city as it is. Skyscrapers and residential blocks can come up in still untapped parts of London. Leave the historic parts aloneness

[@diametheuslambda]

The Green Belt?

[@NewPaulActs17]

heathrows 3rd runway?

[@campkira]

skyscraper also part of tourist plan since you go somewhere it a landmark... so a unique desgn would get appved more than just build that just max the area...

[@campkira]

@The Anonymous Sir Backspace who care.. the london fire destory most old build away and ww2 do the other so the rest is less than 100 years old..any older would not be effect like some area in countryside that you can not build anything new ...

[@Novarcharesk]

You might want to just speak for yourself. You don't carry the entire opinion of all London natives.

[@jubmelahtes]

I personally like that the London skyline is distinct

[@jonathonshirley4169]

As somebody who is majoring in architectural design, this video was incredibly well put together. It’s interesting to see how people outside of the profession report/create educational content on it.

[@eljefesmotherislgbt3728]

Client and Planners dictates what you design. You people are just AutoCAD junkies.

[@jonathonshirley4169]

@@eljefesmotherislgbt3728 ha! Not at all.

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

A really strange thing with architects are how they only see one single building, while I, as a non-architect see all the buildings in my vicinity at the same time, and I see either, a mess, or something nice, usually I see the opposite of what an architect see I think

[@bloatedblitz]

"The Jerkin' Gherkin" -Rimmy Downunder

[@guymandude9054]

No, it’s not ISP, Its Jimmy Downunder

[@bloatedblitz]

@@guymandude9054 my mistake, i have fixed it

[@miguelhastings911]

Those skyscrapers are pretty interesting individually but together they make a mishmash of the skyline.

[@M1CAE1.]

Better than having our skyline look like a bloody Tetris level!

[@BeKindToBirds]

@@M1CAE1. not likely, more like a discordant mess that is the only thing that can look worse than some dull blocks. Absolutely the worst for sure

[@shadowxxe]

@@BeKindToBirds I disagree to me new york and most other metropolitan American cities look bland and uninteresting all the same tower copy and pasted block by block whereas London looks interesting and different y'know it looks like the architects actually did something instead of just copying the building next door

[@MoonChild-is3pl]

M1CAE1, lol are you British or something? Cause you said bloody which no others say lol 😂 anyways I have to agree, it looks really weird when their put together

[@BeKindToBirds]

@@shadowxxe sounds to me like you haven't examined the skyline in detail, just in basic shapes. In detail and style New York has hundreds of champions while London has ruined their stylish buildings with too tall and odd shapes that don't suit the old ornate kind of buildings. I guess in the end it is a matter of opinion of course so I don't begrudge you liking the skyline I just think it was handled and done in a way that makes the new and old buildings both look like garbage instead of part of the same culture

[@succotash6732]

I love how americans say "Vancouver, Canada" like we don't have provinces and territories, but yet americans can say "San Francisco" and we have to know what state it's in

[@al-du6lb]

I don't know why they don't say "British Columbia", but a reason they might not just say Vancouver is because there is another Vancouver in Washington state.

[@caesar7734]

There is also a Vancouver in Washington

[@succotash6732]

Yea I know that, but it's the same for "Toronto" or even "Edmonton"

[@swededude1992]

And Sweden is mostly only Stockholm to tourists and or others from outside Sweden. The rest of Sweden, outside Stockholm, what's that? A nickname for Switzerland? Is outside Stockholm Switzerland?

[@chaole1000]

@@succotash6732 This video is produced primarily for a domestic audience. It's normal to refer to foreign cities with the city name first followed by the country.

[@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.

[@jackjones3703]

The way American’s pronounce Buckingham makes me laugh every time - without fail

[@jdsrne22]

Makes me throw up 😂

[@therealchayd]

Whatever you do, don't get them to say Leicester or Worcester ;)

[@julianwilton6997]

It just sounds weird.

[@BerryStraw15]

At least they know how to talk, unlike British people

[@therealchayd]

@@BerryStraw15 Wotchoo talkin' abaht? I speak da Queens English dahnt I?

[@beholdmatsikure2222]

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

[@MineRickStar]

In Munich within our Middle Ring (its really called that in german), no Building must be taller than our Frauenkirchen, in the middle of the City. And when you look from far enough it really looks great that we dont have many skyscrapers.

[@lex_9940]

I would prefer Munich to have any sort of a skyline regardless of the Frauenkirche tbh... I get that it's iconic but it looks kinda ugly in my humble opinion

[@sniper0073088]

@@lex_9940 splish splash your opinion is trash

[@fmartinave]

@@lex_9940 Ugly?! So, do you think that a lifeless glass cube is prettier?

[@lex_9940]

@@fmartinave Well to me it would definitely look more aesthetic and modern. But than again I'm not German so maybe i don't appreciate the culture as much as i should.

[@fmartinave]

@@lex_9940 I'm not a German too, but every city there (expect a dozen thankfully) is full of those annoying Modernist and Post War buildings...

[@mariabarnet9011]

Thank you for a very informative video. I am all for preservation. You can build new cities from scratch but you should respect and maintain old cities’ architecture. The new towers seem to be of phallic proportions and I don’t think they gel well together.

[@castelodeossos3947]

Very sorry, if one's mindset is so strongly sexualised as to perceive the Gherkin, Shard, and Cheesegrater as of phallic proportions, then any skyscraper will appear phallic, as will anything that is long and thin, including corn cobs, cucumbers, even fingers, fence posts and candles.

[@ribenasquash]

I said the exact same thing but with 10 times more words.

[@ribenasquash]

@@castelodeossos3947 I’m reading comments saying skyscrapers are completely unnecessary. Even tower blocks. Because they are.

[@H.R.King.]

3:32 ,the way she says Buckingham Palace kills me

[@pluspiping]

Bucking-heeyam?

[@nic9511]

This makes me love my city so much more, everything is designed to not obstruct our oldest landmarks 😍

[@RuboStars]

Nonsense. One day the Gherkin will be an old landmark, and people will cry and ask why it has been obstructed by so many skyscrapers around it

[@arryn786]

@@RuboStars I mean most skyscrapers look like shit so I would rather be able to see a nice looking old landmark than shit...

[@thetimelapseguy8]

​@@RuboStars I think skyscrapers are complemented by other skyscrapers around them. However old landmarks dont fit in with skyscrapers so they shouldnt be obstructed.

[@heyhey8626]

@@thetimelapseguy8 I agree. With some cities which became industrialised and important a bit later (e.g: Hong Kong, Taibei) Have skyscrapers that look pretty good because they work with the rest of the environment because it was all designed at a similar time. My opinion at least.

[@chrisbrace2204]

"London didn't start building skyscrapers till the 80's" well apart from the ones in the 60's and 70's (Center point? Euston Tower?)

[@Fullvinyl]

BT Tower as well.

[@LittleMissSmallPaw]

skyscraper > 150m ...

[@LittleMissSmallPaw]

@@Fullvinyl BT Tower isn't defined as a skyscraper or building at all. It's a structure.

[@robertgarrett5009]

You forgot the 30's with senate house.

[@benwherlock9869]

and the Nat West tower was started in he 1970s.

[@tobeytransport2802]

1:12 I love Canary Wharf tower (one Canada square), in fact I love the whole area... it has this clean city feel about it, almost like no where else in London but at the same time it’s so Londoney with its tube station and DLR and red busses... btw I live in the UK outside of London and in most places outside London busses aren’t red.

[@dgm66]

The HSBC building is a very nice looking skyscraper.

[@nicolatoomey4882]

I agree, and the view from Greenwich hill with the palace inbetween is amazing.

[@kristofkozari9040]

It's a soulless place with boring grey buildings. Wouldn't live there, wouldn't work there.

[@tobeytransport2802]

@@kristofkozari9040 wouldn’t live anywhere in London... no headspace but I love to visit, get a buzz from it, then return home to my peaceful town of 30k people

[@kenster8270]

I love this kind of educational mini-docu content! I also find these single-person home-studio productions much more personal, intimate and authentic somehow. Thanks COVID, I guess? :)

[@ohiomaimoukhuede6640]

I live by the Thames and I personally love having that view of St Pauls. London has for me one of the best skylines in the world.

[@RedRocketthefirst]

No,its gay

[@Drobium77]

@@RedRocketthefirst it's happy?

[@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.”

[@Grace-mb8tb]

Australia’s the opera house was considered ugly when it was finished and was hated by a lot of people. Now it’s an iconic symbol to reflect boats sails at sea, and when you see it in person it’s a stunning bit of architecture that will forever by iconic to Sydney

[@awesomedawsonmg1940]

An incorrection at the beginning. It's laterally called The Shard, that's its official name

[@kerboy5397]

They are talking about a different building.

[@RuboStars]

Agree. The Shard is the official name so wrong example

[@noahdillon9908]

They may look weird but there still pretty awesome

[@TheGlobetrotter7811]

This has been more interesting than expected!

[@LiThePear]

7:56 oh no wonder I’m always able to see the mountains when walking down the road.

[@Omglod2486]

As a Londoner I love learning where the shapes of these building came from! Also I’d love to find out what the proposal is for these skyscrapers post pandemic, when working from home will be a new preference for many people, and coming into the City to work in one fo these building may not be needed as much.

[@RedRocketthefirst]

Ok. But make better infrastructure

[@stefan_popp]

Channel recommendation if you like this kind of stuff: The B1M

[@sbjctvdesign8419]

my channel too btw 😛

[@dannyputra1908]

Yess. From UK

[@patsprankcalls]

They have a good channel but it seems like every other video of theirs is a paid sponsorship now...

[@stefan_popp]

@@patsprankcalls Agreed! Their old videos were much more in this documentary style.

[@timschulz9563]

I still believe in the concept that limits boost creativity.

[@ligametis]

Pretty much always. Without limits we would just get literally tall boxes.

[@markcastro78]

Good video - only error is at around 3:39 - it's not that it blocked her view of Buckingham Palace - it blocked her view from there of St Paul's Cathedral - that's the protected sightline, not of Buckingham Palace

[@lildoc]

When I first moved to London ages ago, I felt like I was ripped off! I was expecting to see a downtown with tall skyscrapers similar to the template adopted by many US cities but I couldn't find many. Canada Square was an embarrassment in front of the Empire State, WTC or the Sears Tower. However, I realised pretty quick that every great city has its own character and a historical city like London was better off without those tall buildings and concrete jungles.

[@lzh4950]

Reminds me of how the 1st time I visited _Beijing_ & found it to be more different from _Shanghai_ than I thought, with more low-rise & spaced-out buildings

[@tonyclifton265]

our skyscrapers may suck but we gots good 18th century pubs, bucky

[@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.

[@AliDawn]

Definitely think the sightlines for St Paul's should continue. I think they should add new protected sightlines for The Gherkin. There are so many other developments in the area that The Gherkin is disappearing from the skyline in some places due to taller buildings over shadowing it.

[@wallachia4797]

The Gherking is hideous, it would be far from a bad thing if it got replaced by other buildings in the skyline

[@blazingfire_0712]

In Manila, a controversy of the view of the Rizal Statue, an important landmark of the city. There’s a Tower called Torre de Manila built behind Rizal Park, and it obstructed the view of the statue because you can see the tower at the back while looking at the statue, which is an eyesore. But the city government just went through the construction of the tower because there was no view protection placed in Rizal Statue.

[@bongothepsycho7280]

too bad people in charge don't care on the important landmarks

[@mountainous_port]

I personaly love to see the blending of old and modern. I dont see anything eyesoring if Rizal statue be sorrounded by buildings. The contrast would make it more historic looking.

[@eddhardy1054]

0:53...the 1980s? What about the Shell Centre completed in 1962 (351 ft) or the Millbank Tower completed in 1963 (387 ft) or the BT Tower completed in 1964 (620 ft) or the Euston Tower completed in 1970 (407 ft) or the Cromwell Tower completed in 1973 (404 ft) or the Lauderdale Tower completed in 1974 (404 ft) or the Shakespear Tower completed in 1976 (404 ft). There are probably more. 😊

[@ok_schlatter]

Personally, the Tulip seems more exciting than Cheese Grater 2

[@rajastylez]

I'm glad that in London it encourages interesting skyscrapers unlike the glass box forest in Toronto.

[@drawde_064]

John Peric rectangular boxes are not aesthetically pleasing. And they are also not more efficient.

[@Nik-ny9ue]

You just haven't been in like a residential tower that over looks shorter office towers. You feel on top of the world

[@renege.e1202]

To be fair london also do have ‘glass box forests’ : www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Fsundaytimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F102dbdf2-d3f7-11ea-867d-b1ae14c05a8c.jpg?crop=2250%2C1500%2C0%2C0

[@jenniferlawrence2701]

There's no such thing as an interesting skyscraper.

[@Nik-ny9ue]

@@jenniferlawrence2701 I beg to differ

[@kixlepixel]

londoner; i love that a lot of our tall buildings look weird and aren't just big rectangles. i think the st pauls laws can be a bit over the top sometimes but i do support protecting some views, especially from king henry viii's mound. i also wish there would be some effort from modern designers to kind of blend the aesthetics of modern glass structures and old stone buildings as a lot of the city is very much one extreme or the other

[@77smp]

I haven't watched the video but I'm guessing it's to do with sight lines to st Paul's?.

[@77smp]

😊.Although I was right, it was a very interesting video.👏👏👏

[@stevekeiretsu]

Yes, unfortunately this factoid has outgrown reddit comment cliche to become the basis of entire youtube videos, despite not actually having much real basis in reality. The shape of the cheesegrater and scalpel relate to St Pauls. The shapes of the gherkin, shard, 20 fenchurch, 22 bishopsgate, heron tower, everything in canary wharf, etc.... do not. But hey, it has that perfect "secret hidden reason you won't BELIEVE explains everything" appeal for today's internet, so here we are, with it perpetuated endlessly.

[@OldUKAds]

I said Aerodynamics and St Paul's. Spoiler: the *REALLLLL* reason is both.

[@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.

[@JordiVilanova]

"London didn't start building skyscrapers til the 1980s"? No Cheddar, London saw Centrepoint completed in 1966. It's 'only' 117 m or 385 ft tall, but it is still a skyscraper! Have a look and see for yourself: it's on the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street.

[@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.

[@mj_supreme3539]

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

[@eugheugheugh]

One city incredibly effected by protected views is Paris, where strict height restrictions protect the historic centre of the city from skyscrapers and protect the views of the Eiffel Tower.

[@RedRocketthefirst]

Ok. But fr*nce sucks

[@markzambelli]

Thankyou Cheddar and thankyou Ms Beldon... I'm from near London and I love the new designs. St Pauls is a lovely building but I'm not sure it deserves such protection nowadays... I'm not sure any building does. Bring on the quirky designs I say.

[@franciss2529]

Agree- at what point do we draw the line? Eventually building new, tall and awesome structures in London will be almost impossible. But nice yet quirky designs are a must.

[@marialealealeale]

My favorite thing about London is that mix of history with modern and odd design! It’s so beautiful and a reflection of change 🤩 no other city has the same vibe

[@QueenRoblyn]

Many European cities mix history with innovative/quirky modern architecture, London has an iconic skyline because they're grouped but I don't think it's particularly special. Yes, it has it's own vibe but you could say that of lots of places.

[@bbt305]

Great article about architecture, art, and engineering! She always makes interesting reports I have noticed! Thx Chris!

[@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.

[@prappsy]

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.

[@ravin12380]

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

[@ForestFire369]

Also "important"

[@Calidore1]

And controversial......

[@djayembe]

Subsweequently.

[@dlwatib]

I hope Londoners retain the policy of keeping vistas of the dome open. It just seems like the right thing to do. Plus, it's resulted in some interesting architecture.

[@Sorenzo]

The skyline of London looks like a regular European city, except a giant has dropped some unwanted toys in the middle of it.

[@flavoursofsound]

Soon after completion, 30 St Mary’s Axe also had other nicknames such as Towering Innuendo and Crystal Phallus (a pun on Crystal Palace in South London). Thankfully “The Gherkin” stuck as the nickname. When I was studying for my architecture degree, I heard a rumour from some of the tutors at the uni that one of the original concepts was supposed to have an dome-shaped observation deck at the top with a glass floor, a bit like the CN Tower in Toronto. The observation deck was scrapped mostly because of 9/11 but also really it just looked too much like a penis.

[@리주민]

The problem is, if there's not a lot of activity daily, the gherkin starts to get soft and fall over. 🤪

[@derekwithers2614]

I remember it being known as "The erotic gherkin" early on but it got shortened to what we have now.

[@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.

[@theiceelemental2770]

I've been here once and honestly, the London skyline was mind blowingly cool to me.

[@campkira]

i living in tokyo and i found it a mess...

[@salutic.7544]

@Sainayoro the gherkin and cheese grater are complete shit, I could see the others possibly working but it’s still eh

[@GeniusWaan]

I have one of the best view's in London from my bedroom window. I live in East London in Whitechapel and can see this whole skyline. Looks great especially at night. The new Royal London Hospital building is also visible and I can watch and hear the air ambulance take off and land.

[@Lady_Tee15]

😍😍

[@GeniusWaan]

@@Lady_Tee15 you want to see it? 😉

[@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.