The Gherkin
to be honest, after the Walkie Talkie, nobody is looking at the Gherkin any more. The WT really is an icon of the London skyline and sits apart from the others as you walk across Waterloo Bridge.
The interesting thing about matt_outandabouts post is that it's all happening again with pumped storage, with 'many' in planning or commenced close to my house - Coire Glas, Fearna, Earba, Red John PSH. I've worked in hydro in the past and I may get involved......The ultimate book on the subject of the post second world war Scottish Hydro Schemes is "The Hydro" by Peter Payne, unfortunately it is rather expensive.
The Gherkin
to be honest, after the Walkie Talkie, nobody is looking at the Gherkin any more. The WT really is an icon of the London skyline and sits apart from the others as you walk across Waterloo Bridge.
Both naff corporate shite in Foster partners mould. Big no from me. But I suppose that sums up London perfectly 😉.
Impressive as opposed to attractive (largely because it is mostly below the sea) is the Ninian Central Platform. A big deal when it was constructed in the mid 70s and a project I fancied getting to work on but didn't.
https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/5973
From an architectural viewpoint I've always admired the Lloyds building and I agree the Falkirk Wheel is an excellent piece of engineering.
I'm with robola above. Some of the built environment is just crass, especially high rise buildings, and I lean towards Victorian era civils structures with a function. Maybe the best UK structure is the Forth Rail bridge. It's so unrepeatably overengineered, as it followed the Tay Bridge disaster, and full knowledge of wind loading had not yet been developed.
The stuff I like has form that follows function or sits within its site rather than dominates it.
Form following function; lighthouses and harbour structures for the amazing interlocking masonry that resists the power of the sea. Also why I like the Thames flood barrier.
Complementing the site; British museum courtyard roof is amazing. There was a proposal to do that to the piece hall in Halifax but, you know, not London so that expense can't be justified. It would have been a spectacular reimagining of a special space. Also like the Eden project domes sitting in that quarry. The new one in Dundee reusing the massive gas storage tank as a glass house will be great I think.
But I suppose that sums up London perfectly 😉.
. Also why I like the Thames flood barrier
You know that's in that there London? 😉
Years ago I got to spend quite a bit of a summer out on the roof of the Thames barrier and the staff gave us a tour of the control room and workings (I don't think they got many visitors). Very cool place and beautiful views on a summer evening.
About the same time I was also spending time on the roof of the Barking Creek sluice gate - it doesn't sound very glam but is quite an interesting piece of engineering. The roof was also scary as fuch as felt like being ten stroreys up with only a one foot parapet around the edge,so not for those who don't like heights, which I don't.
https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/barking-creek-barrier-londons-lesser-known-flood-barrier-35930/
Complementing the site; British museum courtyard roof is amazing.
It is. Sunset in there is amazing.
There was a proposal to do that to the piece hall in Halifax but, you know, not London so that expense can't be justified.
WHAT! I wish I didn’t know that… it could have been… well, you’ve said it already. A missed opportunity to create a classic space.
Anyway, agree with a few comments made here about recent additions to the city centre London skyline. They’ve ****ed up, in my opinion, looks like a load of toys waiting to be put away… none of the new buildings work with each other, or with what came before them. And I like big buildings (and I can not lie).
I hate the tall buildings in cities, imposed (usually) by men to compensate for their inadequacy. Or they could be seen as a symbol of fascist oppression on the little people below!
As the Falkirk wheel has been mentioned a few times, I'm going to add to my choices above by nominating the original Cathedral of the Canals which is only a couple of miles from my house. The Anderson Boat Lift. Sadly out of commission at the moment because there's a problem with the dock gates.
Leavng comments about big/tall buildings to one side for the moment, none of them (few, anyway) would exist without the forerunner of them all, the first iron-framed, multi-storey Flaxmill and Maltings in Shrewsbury Ditherington's 5-storey 'skyscraper'
And not to forget Abraham Darby's iron bridge in the town of the same name, not a million miles south.
Gothic perpendicular for the win!
Introducing Britain’s tallest building (in 1515) and painted 312 years later by Mr JMW Turner himself:
(Image won’t post)
And yes, if you wee in the gutters at the top it does come out of a gargoyle’s mouth!
And London Underground stations too.
London Underground has some spectacular architecture, some of it almost hidden in plain view. The beauty is that the whole network is so different - from Victorian to the Charles Holden modernism of the mid 1920's to the concrete and glass of the newer Jubilee Line
to be honest, after the Walkie Talkie, nobody is looking at the Gherkin any more. The WT really is an icon of the London skyline and sits apart from the others as you walk across Waterloo Bridge.
The only good thing about the WT is the Sky Garden in the top 2-3 floors which is amazing. Partly because you can't see how stunningly ugly the building is from inside it!
I would say Durham cathedral and also the whole of Palace Green; I'm biased because I lived in the castle for 3 years and saw it close up every day, but still takes my breath away when I see it.
Also a nod to my now local cathedral, Guildford. Not quite the same although an equally imposing position overlooking the town...but go inside and it's another beautiful building. Very simple but imposing proportions, great for music and light show events.
London underground - yes as an engineering feature but also some of the Lizzie line stations are fabulous, they could have been left very functional but the high, curved ceilings and the way they are designed to make the traffic flow are both functional and aesthetic. Not totally dissimilar to Guildford cathedral in a way
Emley Moor mast
Some 35 years ago I had, err, "liaisons" in a Mini Metro one stormy night at the base of that mast. Every time I drive past it I still smile to myself.
A couple of local ones, The Willis Building and Orwell Bridge.
I had, err, "liaisons" in a Mini Metro one stormy night at the base of that mast
'In' a Mini Metro?
There's 2 parts of that story that stretch credibility. One if it was her Mini Metro.
Lovell telescope at Jodrell bank, it even tips to let rainwater out. Good landmark when driving north from Dorset to lakes / Highlands as a kid.
The Forton services building is actually called Pennine Tower.
Nice to see Preston bus station mentioned - much improved now it has been restored and the town side is a bus-free plaza for direct pedestrian access.
A friend was a model maker at BDP in Preston (who designed the bus station). Quite sad to see a career / craft that has died with the advent of 3d printing.
Love the old Victorian civic buildings such as Leeds Town Hall in my home town - it exudes power, confidence and authority unlike many of the bland 20th century brick civic buildings that blight our country.
Humber Bridge
Ribblehead Viaduct
Studley Pike Monument
Emley Moor mast
Friends of mine had a converted chapel over the road from the mast. Lying in bed under the Velux windows you could see the red lights at the top.
Lovell telescope at Jodrell bank,
My first job after graduating was with Husband and Co. in Sheffield. Sir Charles Husband designed the Lovell and we used to give it a survey once a year. Sadly I never got to visit.
The Shard. The tapering needle shape stops it looming over its surroundings, unlike most tall buildings, even standing right below it, it soars above without dominating everything. And the views from the top are extraordinary, especially on a perfectly clear day - having aircraft flying past below you is quite impressive.
Salisbury Cathedral, an amazing piece of architecture, it took 38 years to build, has the tallest spire in England and has virtually no foundations.
Wells Cathedral, one of my favourite buildings, the scissor buttresses are an extraordinary answer to what could have been a disaster - the weight of the tower structure was causing the walls to bow outwards so a radical solution was found, which is unique, and the staircase which takes you up to the Chapter Room is just stunning!
Also, the first Severn Bridge - at the time, the structure was completely new technology, which cut the building time down significantly, as well as the time it took to cross over to Wales, which was either by a small passenger ferry, or equally small trains through the Severn Tunnel, or a very long drive up into Gloucestershire then back down into Monmouthshire. The deck is prefabricated sections built off site, then floated down and hoisted into place, a process that was so radical there were doubts it could ever work.
Any big old railway station. York, Newcastle, KX (after the concourse was re-worked), Paddington, Waterloo, Waverley...
the weight of the tower structure was causing the walls to bow outwards so a radical solution was found
That's doing my head in. I'm not an engineer but wouldn't those buttresses prevent the walls from bowing inwards?
white horse of uffington
Bennerley Viaduct
Local to me are the Tyne Bridge and of course Grainger Street.
rail viaducts are a good call too, Victorian rail structures are always impressive show how much there was invested to get rail links across the UK.
Some great suggestions here.
Scar House reservoir up past Pateley Bridge has an impressive dam wall, great to look over when the water is overtopping. It fascinates me how they them back in the day. The story behind Scar House is also interesting, it was essentially a small village during construction and the remains can still be seen today.
York Minster. London sewers and my mate Jim's shed.
Some great suggestions here.
Scar House reservoir up past Pateley Bridge has an impressive dam wall, great to look over when the water is overtopping. It fascinates me how they them back in the day. The story behind Scar House is also interesting, it was essentially a small village during construction and the remains can still be seen today.
One of our teams is currently working out how to remove and replace the valves in the bottom of the 50m deep valve towers. Proper engineering.
Double post. This bloody site
Bishop Rock lighthouse has always captivated me.
Not as grand as some structures being shared, but still an impressive sight a feat of engineering and building.
Portchester castle in Hampshire
Started out as a Roman fort in the 3rd century and has been in use and added to through the Saxon, Norman and Tudor times
Its the most complete Roman fort north of the Alps
The entire Elan Valley aqueduct. The dams themselves and the entire 73mile scheme to carry water to Birmingham. Colossal in its stature , brilliant in concept.
That's doing my head in. I'm not an engineer but wouldn't those buttresses prevent the walls from bowing inwards?
There are two more on the left and right of what you can see - a bit tricky to photograph, so the tower is supported on three sides. It may have started to bow inwards, I honestly can’t remember.
