London Skyline 2012 (and beyond)

[Agnetha]

Hang on... BETWEEN the WALL?

[JET BOY]

New Cross really annoys me because the Amersham Arms is there which has great bands and club nights on quite regularly

Getting there now is virtually impossible. Getting back is just completely UNTHINKABLE

UGH

[Christian]

Hang on... BETWEEN the WALL?

Yeah, the Eastern lot had a big strip of land in front of their side of wall which had no roads, buildings, etc. but just lots of watchtowers, searchlights, etc. It was weird, cos on the Western side, you could go right up to it and stand by it. If you tried that on the other side, you'd have been shot before you got anywhere NEAR it.

[Sebastian Flyte]

The "glass" building is actually a roof made up of sails over a central plaza on Potzdamer Platz - it's miles from the TV tower which was slap bang in the middle of East Berlin. Potzdamer Platz was litterally IN the no man's land between the Wall for DECADES. The pictures of it 30 years ago and now are incredible...

PRE WAR:



COLD WAR:



NOW:

OH. Last time I was in Berlin in the 90s Potsdamerplatz was just a huge building site. Will look forward to seeing it complete.

[Agnetha]

Well I never knew that. I feel learned

[lolly]

It's like those funny religious sects who have to build false walls inside their own homes if they live in a terrace or a semi, so they don't share a wall with dirty folk

[Donna Winter]

I was there in 1995 when there was nothing there. You could go up some stairs in a temporary building and look out over the nothing.

[Donna Winter]

It's like those funny religious sects who have to build false walls inside their own homes if they live in a terrace or a semi, so they don't share a wall with dirty folk

I can't say I've not been TEMPTED

[lolly]

I went to Berlin first in 1990, but don't remember going to Potsdamer Platz at all. But then we were only there for the day. I remember there being a lot more wall around then though, obviously. And buying a bit (which was probably a bit of cement hacked off someone's back garden wall I KNOW )

[Sebastian Flyte]

I'm off to Berlin again in autumn so will catch up on all this. Last time the area around the Reichstag wasn't even finished.

[funky]

But having friends that live in Deptford/New Cross/Hackney and Peckham and there being no tube, or a really crap service is REALLY ANNOYING

Selfish bastards living in shitty areas then inviting you to visit

Tell them to come see YOU

[Agnetha]

As any everpres obsessives will know, he's NOT ALLOWED HOUSE GUESTS

[Donna Winter]

I'd imagine it's just NOT THE SAME in Berlin now

I lived in some FAR-FLUNG ex-communist bit for a bit and had to change trains at Bornholmer Strasse...get off the train on the rundown East-side platforms, walk up the stairs onto the bridge, cross the bridge where the checkpoint used to be, go down the other side into the modern West-side platforms and carry on. I bet there's none of that carry on any more

[funky]

Do you have ANY light in your life, Don?

[Kate]

The "glass" building is actually a roof made up of sails over a central plaza on Potzdamer Platz - it's miles from the TV tower which was slap bang in the middle of East Berlin.

PHEW

I only went to Potsdamer Platz very briefly last time, it's on my list of places to do properly this time

[Christian]

PHEW

I only went to Potsdamer Platz very briefly last time, it's on my list of places to do properly this time

I'm not a big fan of that area, fantastic architecture aside. It's a bit naff and touristy - kind of a Leicester Sq feel to it. However, going up to the viewing area in the Chrysler building is well worth - the view over the area is fantastic. Plus the rather grim but essential Topografie des Terrors (the remains of the Gestapo HQ) is just round the corner.

[Donna Winter]

Do you have ANY light in your life, Don?

ON THE WHOLE, I SHOULD SAY NO

[Kate]

Oh we did go to that. Well, we started looking but then it started pissing with rain

[Christian]

Oh we did go to that. Well, we started looking but then it started pissing with rain

Welcome to Berlin

[Kate]

it snowed as well though, and this was in December with all the Christmas markets and stuff, so I was very happy

[Christian]

it snowed as well though, and this was in December with all the Christmas markets and stuff, so I was very happy

Oh cool - I've never had snow in Berlin.

I've had a couple of really hot trips in September. We're going in March this year which is going to be BITTERLY cold.

[Donna Winter]

It was SO CO-OO-OO-OO-OO-OO-OO-LD when I was there in Oct-Dec

I dread to think what it's like at this time of year

[funky]

MORE tower green lights

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?...de=3106965&c=3



I can't quite place where it is though...

In other news, construction on THE SHARD (yes the big one, set to be the tallest building in Europe) has BEGUN!

[Eileen]

New Cross really annoys me because the Amersham Arms is there which has great bands and club nights on quite regularly

Getting there now is virtually impossible. Getting back is just completely UNTHINKABLE

UGH

53 bus. Where do you live?

I live at the END of the bus route. Try THAT for size.

[Rachey]

After my weekend trip to london, ive decided i rather like The Gherkin building.

[funky]

oh the Gherkin is beyond fabulous.

the shots they do of it during the Apprentice are breathtaking. I wonder if all those people who thought it would be a stain on the landscape are still saying that now

Probably the same people who think the Shard, the Cheese Grater and the Pinnacle will be a stain on the landscape too

[lolly]

When is the estimated completion for the Shard?

I'm yet to see the Gherkin up close. There isn't any public access unless you've got business there though, is there?

[Rachey]

I really like the look of the Shard and the Pinnacle, but the Cheese Grater is quite ugly.

[lolly]

I think they all offer something of interest to the skyline. It's very exciting indeed to think of them all after construction.

[funky]

When is the estimated completion for the Shard?

I'm yet to see the Gherkin up close. There isn't any public access unless you've got business there though, is there?

only that day they have every year when they open them to the public. I wanna go this year, I always hear about it the day after...

Shard is due to complete 2011, but there have been the typical delays with investors, so it'll probably be 2012. Hopefully in time for the Olympics.

[lolly]

Doors Open day? I know here it always seems to be the second Saturday in September, but I've no idea if it's the same day nationally.

[jonhawk]

MORE tower green lights

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?...de=3106965&c=3



I can't quite place where it is though...

I guess from the name (Hampton Towers) it looks as though it's replacing Hampton House on the Albert Enbankment opposite Millbank Millenium Pier.

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?hloc=G...07TJ|SE1%207TJ

[Agnetha]

Why would you EVER get rid of THIS beauty?

[Emma]

Oh cool - I've never had snow in Berlin.

I've had a couple of really hot trips in September. We're going in March this year which is going to be BITTERLY cold.

it's ALWAYS cold in berlin.

it was even freezing when i was there last july!

[Kitty Kat]

I'm yet to see the Gherkin up close. There isn't any public access unless you've got business there though, is there?

Ooh my sister went to a drinks reception up the Gherkin a couple of years back. Said it was brilliant.

[funky]

ooh Broadgate is well underway, although I can't say I noticed it when I walked to Chancery Lane (up the road) the other day

165m, third tallest in the city (when finished)

In other news, the tallest building in the city (and the tallest in the UK until the Shard goes up) - The Pinnacle - has been delayed AGAIN because of an injunction by local business workers complaining of ill health during the demolition of the old building

• 288 metres (945 ft)
• 63 floors
• It will contain more solar panelling than any other building in the UK, with 2,000 square metres (21,500 sq ft) of photovoltaic solar cells, generating up to 200 kilowatts of electricity.
• It will have a double layered skin like 30 St Mary Axe that allows it to respond dynamically to climatic changes and utilise effective climate control with low energy consumption.
• To drive costs down, every single panel on the tower will be of exactly the same size.
• Once completed, it will contain 88,000 square metres (947,200 sq ft) of office space.
• A restaurant will be open to the public on the upper floors.

[Little My]

I have to admit by being very excited by all the new buildings. :geek:

I love the gherkin and at a complete lose when people don't think the same. Move with the bloody times will ya!

[Halli]

I'm So glad the glass shard has started being built - it seems like a forever since it was first announced

So that original view is from Forest Hill where I now live - must investigate

[funky]

low how much the Pinnacle dwarfs the Gherkin in that picture!

[David_5000]

I'm So glad the glass shard has started being built - it seems like a forever since it was first announced

Well they've barely started taking the previous building down, so it'll be a while yet. can't wait though.