Revised plans for a skyscraper in the City of London will not just make it as tall as the Shard across the river, but continue to promote the popular modern innovation of embedding elevated gardens in such buildings.
Plans for the 1 Undershaft Building by architects Edward Parry will not just raise its height from the originally envisioned 305 m, but to 310 m (1,017 ft), matching the Shard across the Thames as the tallest building in London, but will be significantly redesigned.
Instead of a single tapering structure, it will be a stepped building made up of four interconnected blocks, each of which will have a rooftop garden that is open to the public.
Such gardens are the ideal place for a glass balustrade arrangement, as this provides a clearer view from the top, helping visitors enjoy both the foliage around them and the spectacular view below.
Of course, such vistas may not be for those who are scared of heights, but acrophobia sufferers may equally think twice about visiting some of London’s existing vantage points, such as the observation deck of the Shard, which currently boasts a view of London twice as high as anywhere else in the metropolis.
However, there are some other tall buildings already in place across London that feature elevated or rooftop gardens. A prime example is at 20 Fenchurch Street (the so-called ‘Walkie Talkie’), where the Sky Garden hosts the most notable combination of greenery, glass and altitude in the capital so far. While the revised plans for 1 Undershaft do not envisage copying this indoor feature, the idea of rooftop gardens is popular across London, with a number of examples emerging in recent years. However, none of those in existence now will have quite the panorama on display of the new skyscraper, should it be granted planning permission.
