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A new mixed-use skyscraper is now poking above the southern bank of the River Thames in London. The 52-storey building by real estate developer St. George has begun to climb 170 metres above the intersection of Blackfriars Road and Stamford Street.
One Blackfriars will contain 274 private flats, a 152-room hotel, and an array of retail and restaurant space. Residential amenities include a steam room and pool, fitness suite, private screening room, wine cellar, and an exclusive executive lounge. On the 32nd floor, a public viewing lounge will provide users with unparalleled views of London. The development also includes two smaller buildings at six and four storeys where the ancillary uses will be located.
The unique tower bulges outward at its midsection, creating a dynamic silhouette on London's skyline, which has already become famous for its atypically shaped buildings. Designed by SimpsonHaugh and Partners, the tower's double-skinned envelope will help circulate fresh air throughout the building, reducing the burden on cooling systems.
The site was previously home to the headquarters of Sainsbury's supermarket. Beetham Organization, developers of Manchester's tallest building, had initially planned a 225-metre tower of 68 storeys on the property. The height and scale of the proposal were reduced, the ownership of the land changed hands, and the resulting revised version is finally coming to life. Curtain wall glazing has sealed about half of the existing building so far, which is continuing to rise towards its ultimate height. One Blackfriars should be completed in 2018.
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