A ‘Tulip’ splits London: Britain’s tallest skyscraper will not be built

This is the British… Arta Bridge, an ambitious architectural project that has been under construction for a decade without having yet managed to build. And in the end, as it seems, it will never be built – although with the English you never know what to expect and more and more surprise lurks.

A skyscraper in the center London which would take the form of a tulip, the so-called «Tulip Tower» [καθώς το σχέδιό του θυμίζει ένα λεπτό μίσχο με ένα γυάλινο μπουμπούκι], which will rise 305 meters high in the sky, aiming to become the new landmark of the British metropolis. On its 12 floors there will be bars, restaurants and galleries and therefore is expected to be the new London attraction as it will be the tallest construction in the City of London.

Her official plans “Tulip” were presented in 2018, but then the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, blocked its construction skyscraper, because of a glass platform that would be built on top to admire the view, with the logic that “It would have a limited public benefit and that it would destroy the city skyline.”

The plans were then “frozen” at the initiative of the skyscraper builder, architect Norman Foster, came to the fore again, until we reached today and the “Tulip” was again at the center of the war, dividing the millions of inhabitants of the British capital, who believe, like Kahn, that such a skyscraper, as impressive as it is, does not cease to refers to other places, such as Dubai, and not a European metropolis.

Finally, UK Housing Secretary Michael Gove prepares to approve Tulip construction, annulling the previous decision of the mayor of London to refuse the town planning permit.

The government supports City of London Corporation, which initially approved the structure and supports every effort towards the success of its construction, “Tulip would send a strong message that London remains open to all as a vibrant world-class destination.” a spokesman for the City of London Corporation told the Telegraph.

The plans of the City of London Corporation “stumble” on Sadiq Khan who does everything effort to save the architectural heritage of the British capital. Foster, for his part, said his work “was” inevitably controversial but has the potential to be a symbol in the city of London. “

THE former Minister of Housing Robert Genrik He was due to take the decision in September, but stepped down from his post in the cabinet reshuffle and Gove took the baton, who was a proponent of skyscraper construction from the beginning.

“The whole of London needs a strong center if we want to remain a competitive global city. “If it is to do so, it needs investments like ‘The Tulip’, more than ever,” he stressed the other day. President of New London Architecture, Peter Murray.

Finally, Gove’s decision on “Tulip” was announced a few days ago and under the pressure of public opinion, the minister withdrew and “Tulipa” will remain in the works until further notice.

“Phallus Freudian slip”

The “Tulip” tower was designed by Foster + Partners on a site next to the award-winning Stirling “30 St Mary Ax”, known as «The Gherkin», which also created the same architecture studio.

However, Kahn from the first moment refused to give the planning permission.

“THE The mayor has a number of serious concerns about its implementation and, after scrutinizing it, refused to grant permission for a project which he believed would have very limited public benefit, “said a spokesman for Kahn. and that the tower would have the effect of hitting the London skyline and affecting the view of the nearby World Heritage Site of the Tower of London. “

Also, the futuristic skyscraper, which has been characterized by a portion of architects as “An architectural Freudian slip” due to its phallic shape, considered likely to create problems with London Airport air traffic systems.

Airport technicians estimate that the “gondolas”, designed to pick up and drop off visitors, may confuse the systems. In fact, they believe that the construction of the tower should not proceed until the possible impact is assessed on the radar systems of the airport, which is located six miles east.

Of course, the strong reaction of the Londoners themselves remains more important as they speak of a “attraction with low aesthetic value, which will turn the neighborhood into a construction site for several years, affecting property prices and disrupting the daily lives of residents “.