The Walkie Talkie

The City of London is to get a new skyscraper called the Walkie Talkie by the architect Rafael Vinoly. The 160 metre tall building on Fenchurch Street will be replacing a 100 metre 1960s tower currently on the site. Skyscraper News reveals that it has some eco-consideration: The south facade is externally ventilated to improve the efficiency of the building and reduce solar gain whilst the east and west sides have extensive solar shading within their cladding.

And it’s not as tall as it should be: following criticism about the height and impact on the views of St Pauls Cathedral the design has been reduced by 9 floors from 45 to 36.

Building starts 2008.

[via Londonist: Walkie Talkie Wins Approval]