One New Change
The site of the One New Change development, immediately to the east of St Paul's Cathedral and adjoining one of the City's Conservation Areas, could hardly be more sensitive. From the 1950s it was occupied by a very large neo-Georgian office building designed by Victor Heal for the Bank of England. Heal's work had its supporters and a Certificate of Immunity from listing had to be obtained before the project could proceed – English Heritage recommended against listing, allowing demolition work to commence in 2007.
The key planning issue was the very
considerable increase of retail provision on
the site: the development contains three
levels of shops and is set to capitalise on the
huge volume of visitors to St Paul's, as well
as attracting thousands of shoppers who
work in the City.
Nouvel's scheme, his first British project,
is really a complex of separate buildings,
penetrated by internal streets – the main
thoroughfare extends east-west, focusing on
Wren's dome, and is open to the sky. Flexible
office floorplates are provided on upper
floors and accessed from the corner of
New Change and Watling Street. An extensive
roof terrace is open to all and will offer fine
views of St Paul's.
