The issue of building high is one that, more than any other, divides public opinion. The need has been for a credible strategy in zoning tall buildings and modelling a skyline that is varied, enjoyable and anything but oppressive. Controversy over projects such as the Heron Tower has produced positive results in terms of redefining strategic views and drawing the boundaries of a cluster of City towers to rival the heights of Canary Wharf to the east. The approvals given to the Pinnacle, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, and Rafael Vinoly’s 20 Fenchurch Street, which has become known as the Walkie Talkie, reflect a growing understanding of the benefits of tall buildings, appropriately sited and providing amenities for the public as well as their occupants – in the case of Vinoly’s building, these include a spectacular rooftop garden open to all.
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