LONDON | Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle" | 944 FT / 288 M | 63 FLOORS

wjfox2004 · #1 Posted **Feb 6, 2008, 8:29 PM**

Bishopsgate Tower - "The Pinnacle"

City of London, England

Height: 288m
Floors: 63
Architect: Kohn Pederson Fox
Developer: Arab Investments

Links:
Promotional video (YouTube)
SkyscraperNews page

Notes:
At 288m, the Bishopsgate Tower will form the dramatic centrepiece and soaring pinnacle of London’s financial district.
It will be over 100 metres taller than the City's current tallest building, Tower 42.

Plans for a tower on this site have been around since 2002. A previous design by Helmut Jahn was rejected after concerns
about the base and top, and its bulky appearance on the skyline. This new design, however, is more sleek and elegantly
proportioned. The architects of this new version, Kohn Pederson Fox, have created a tower which is more sensitive to the
City skyline, especially from Fleet Street, and complements the neighbouring proposals.

A planning application for a 307m tower was submitted in June 2005. Following concerns about flight paths from the Civil Aviation Authority,
a revised planning application with a 19m height reduction was submitted and given final approval in April 2006. In November 2006, the
developers secured funding for the project.

Current Status:
Demolition has now begun, and with funding and contracts secured, it has been confirmed that the tower will be
built speculatively. Actual construction is expected to begin in Easter 2008, with completion in 2011.
The full planning report for the tower can be accessed by clicking here.

Down_Under_the_El · #2 Posted **Feb 6, 2008, 8:34 PM**

I really like how the glass is used at the base.

Chelsea Spy · #3 Posted **Feb 6, 2008, 10:49 PM**

very exciting design in many ways... wonder if it will actually be built? I can't help but be doubtful.

wjfox2004 · #4 Posted **Feb 6, 2008, 11:29 PM**

This has funding from some very rich Arab investors, and we've known for a while it's being built speculatively. The demolition is now entering the final stages, and construction itself will follow immediately... I'd say it's pretty certain to go ahead.

Couple of recent pics, courtesy of GazKinz from SkyscraperCity:

Cypherus · #5 Posted **Feb 7, 2008, 7:32 AM**

I love the tower design. It also serves as a central signature tower positioned centrally in downtown.

Chelsea Spy · #6 Posted **Feb 7, 2008, 8:23 AM**

Ok, that's interesting wjfox.

Cypherus - London doesn't have a 'downtown' in the NAmerican sense... but the tower will give a focal point to the City.

SkyscraperMan · #7 Posted **Feb 7, 2008, 5:30 PM**

Wow. Very nice design.

wjfox2004 · #8 Posted **Feb 18, 2008, 8:04 PM**

Here are some overhead views of the site, courtesy of cstubbies from SkyscraperCity. They were taken from neighbouring Tower 42 (the City's current tallest).

Fabb · #9 Posted **Feb 19, 2008, 8:24 PM**

^It looks like a quality project.
Organic, futuristic, perfectly integrated... I love it !

Ducov · #10 Posted **Feb 20, 2008, 12:46 AM**

This tower will certainly be a great addition to the city. These high quality renders demonstrate that well. I am especially impressed to see that the base allows for easy pedestrian movement around and through the base.

This will be very unlike Swiss Re, which apart from it's many qualities did have a very minimal entrance, lobby and forecourt. At the base it is practically detached from it's surroundings. For this reason, I have at least, always preferred to see it from a distance. This won't be the case with this one.

jc5680 · #11 Posted **Feb 20, 2008, 1:41 AM**

The base is incredible on this building. Its like a the bottom of a dress in motion. Incredibly dynamic in its form but still very subtle in a way. Very nice!

GreatTallNorth2 · #12 Posted **Feb 20, 2008, 1:25 PM**

London doesn't have a downtown? The entire city is a downtown!! I love this tower and I love London. London might not have the most towers for its size, but what it is lacking it makes up for in great design.

Chelsea Spy · #13 Posted **Feb 20, 2008, 1:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

London doesn't have a downtown? The entire city is a downtown!! .

Exactly - the concept is meaningless when applied to London.

Complex01 · #14 Posted **Feb 20, 2008, 3:16 PM**

What a great looking tower. The base looks so kewl. Very Kewl...

wjfox2004 · #15 Posted **Feb 21, 2008, 1:46 PM**

A model which includes 2 of the other planned towers nearby (122 Leadenhall and the Heron Tower) -

Thefigman · #16 Posted **Feb 21, 2008, 1:58 PM**

^^ What a beautiful cluster!

MolsonExport · #17 Posted **Feb 21, 2008, 2:05 PM**

Nice tower, and fits very well into the cluster.

Fabb · #18 Posted **Feb 21, 2008, 6:44 PM**

I wouldn't say that.
I'd say that the cluster would be boring without the Pinnacle.

Shep · #19 Posted **Feb 21, 2008, 7:23 PM**

2011 is looking good for a completion date on a lot of really beautiful buildings in London!

I do feel sorry though for the workers in what I think is a good looking stubby building at the base of 'The Pinnacle' in the picture above, will it see much daylight???

PeterG · #20 Posted **Feb 21, 2008, 8:07 PM**

It looks like the London skyline could be much different come the Olympics.
Bishopsgate could become a real icon. A first class design.