Alsop’s Hotel Vision Unveiled

Ambitious plans for a new riverside hotel at Blackfriars have been unveiled by architects Alsops, and put in for planning.

The 28,000sqm redevelopment of the Number 2 Puddledock and the Mermaid Conference and Event centre would see the creation of an iconic new hotel overlooking the Thames.

The design features a distinctive “triangluated cladding” and its diamond shaped windows permit exceptional views of St Paul’s Cathedral. Included in the plans are provisions for improvements to the public realm surrounding the development, such as enhanced walkways.

The designs have been undertaken by Alsops on behalf of Heatherfield and have now been submitted for planning consent.

What do you think of the designs? Leave your comments below…

8-10 Moorgate Development Approved

Property Week reports that a planned development at 8-10 Moorgate has been approved by the City of London Corporation.

The development by Stanhope would see the demolition of three buildings and the creation of a single building “with 164,442 sq ft of office space, one retail unit and nine flats”. If it goes ahead, the development would retain the 1920s facade currentlty in place.

More information is available at the Stanhope website.

‘Can Of Ham’ Given Approval

A new 18 storey office and retail development in St Mary Axe, nicknamed the ‘Can Of Ham’, has been given approval by the City of London Corporation, according to Building Design.  The new building will replace two existing buildings and be 90m tall.

The semi-elliptical building was designed by architects Foggio for the Norwich based developers, TargetFollow.

The Can of Ham had been opposed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) who described it as creating an “uncomfortable and unattractive form both at street level and on the city skyline”. They were also concerned that the new building was too similar to the nearby “Gherkin”, adding “the echo of the elliptical section of 30 St Mary Axe is unfortunate; the parallel will be immediately apparent”.

What do you think of the Can of Ham? Will it make a welcome addition to the City skyline?