British Land has unveiled plans for a potential new tower in the City cluster.
The multi-million-pound design will rise to 244m, some 20m taller than the neighbouring Leadenhall Building (aka the Cheesegrater), EC3, which BL is developing in joint venture with Oxford Properties and will take a tall, slender form.
With a unique photovoltaic “crust”, the building has already been dubbed “the Slice of Bread” by architectural critic Flora Spoil and adds further substance to mayor of London Boris Johnson’s remark that London is beginning to resemble “The Ploughman’s Lunch”, with a Cheesegrater, Can of Ham and the Gherkin.
BL chief executive Chris Grigg said: “We think this would be an excellent site for the building, sandwiched between our own Cheesegrater and the Gherkin and in very close proximity to the proposed Toast Rack elsewhere in Leadenhall Street.”
M. Brioche & Rye, architectural consultants to the project, said: “This is just what London has been kneading – a beautiful building rising up as a glowing tribute to the City. The design is aspirational, yet recognising its location between the Gherkin and Cheesegrater, carefully develops the interplay between the vegetable and functional”.
