For those of you who have not visited London for a while you will notice a big difference in the city skyline.
This is the view looking across the River Thames towards the City of London which is the financial centre of London.
This building is known as the Walkie-Talkie. It was this building that created an upset in the Summer as the sun's rays reflected from the curved windows to the street below and set fire to a carpet in a shop doorway and damaged cars as the intense heat mangled the metal. You can now see that the windows have been covered with black sheeting. I'm assuming they will have to replace all the windows with non-reflective glass. Bit of a schoolboy error in the design I think!
This building is called the Cheese Grater. You can see why when you look at it from the side. The building next to it has now become quite a familiar sight on the sky line - the Gherkin.
I like this view of the Shard with the Tower of London in the foreground. Over a 1000 years difference in their construction. I doubt the Shard will still be standing in a 1000 years. What do you think?
This building is known as the Walkie-Talkie. It was this building that created an upset in the Summer as the sun's rays reflected from the curved windows to the street below and set fire to a carpet in a shop doorway and damaged cars as the intense heat mangled the metal. You can now see that the windows have been covered with black sheeting. I'm assuming they will have to replace all the windows with non-reflective glass. Bit of a schoolboy error in the design I think!
This building is called the Cheese Grater. You can see why when you look at it from the side. The building next to it has now become quite a familiar sight on the sky line - the Gherkin.
I like this view of the Shard with the Tower of London in the foreground. Over a 1000 years difference in their construction. I doubt the Shard will still be standing in a 1000 years. What do you think?
The skyline has gotten ugly over the years bit like Oxford
ReplyDeleteI like all the nicknames, dutch people also do so with new buildings.
ReplyDeleteHow can you not mention The Gherkin even though it is the photo? It identifies the City for me whenever I see it. I remember about the lighting of the the carpet in the shop. What a laugh, and what incompetence by the building's architects.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Some very modern buildings there much like Shanghai that we saw in 2010. We look forward to seeing London in June 2014. We are walking the Cotswolds first then spending three days in London. First trip for me across the pond. My husband was in Holland and Germany in 1981. Exciting!
ReplyDeleteThe Walkie-Talkie and the Cheese Grater? Yes, the London skyline has definitely changed. Glad to know they covered up those lethal windows!
ReplyDeleteInteresting buidings. I love the nicknames. We have one building in Portland with a domed top that we've dubbed the "roll-on deodorant building." Ha!
ReplyDeleteOh yes ! The skyline changed enormously especially since the 90th when I came so often to London.
ReplyDeleteI feel updated. Thanks! New buildings galore...and I must say I find it all really interesting :).
ReplyDeleteI wondered what that building looked like when I read about those problems -- now I see and see where it is. Thanks
ReplyDeletehahahaha!!!
ReplyDelete«Louis» was last in London in 2005. He doesn't remember the "Walkie Talkie" or the "Shard", but he most definitely remember the "Pickle" (or the other - ahem - names it is called)!
He agrees - he seriously doubts that the "Shard" will be standing in 1,000 years...
Great skyline, and quite the story. Boom & Gary of the Vermilomn River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and post ~ hmmm does look rather different ~ thanks, carol, xxx
ReplyDeleteAll interesting buildings and they do have fun nicknames. It's the old buildings that I love, however!
ReplyDeleteWow, lovely views of the London skyline. It sure has changed since I have been there. Thanks for sharing your world. Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. It has changed so much over the years. I haven't been in a very long time but it has even changed since my daughter took shots of it and that was more recently than when I spent a summer in England way back when.
ReplyDeleteIt really has changed! Love the modern buildings though.
ReplyDeleteSome very inventive names there. Can't help but laugh at a building's window setting fire to the street below. Only an "expert" could come up with that design.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful captures!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting especially by the extra information you give with the photos. Thank you for your comment. You are right about the accent of Dick Van Dyke. I shall correct that. It must be hard for an American to speak Cockney. Anyway for us it is funny. We, Dutch, have the same feeling when Dutch names are pronounced by foreigners in TV Series or in the news. Well...;)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
I love that one shot of the modern building with the castle in front of it. Such a contrast. What is the bullet shape building? I was thinking the cheese grater was the one with squares next to it. I had heard about the building starting fires but didn't know it looked like a Walkie Talkie!
ReplyDeleteWonderful view of London skyline.
ReplyDeleteWow! Set fire to a carpet. That is crazy. Did you hear about the 47 story building in Dubai where they forgot to include an elevator shaft?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting new buildings in the city skyline. It looks so very different from the picture books i grew up with many years ago!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the changes in the London skyliine. I had heard about the building that melted cars, but I never saw a picture as good as yours to explain why it was called a walkie-talkie building. London has some very unique buildings these days.
ReplyDeleteWow, the story about Walkie-Talkie is scary. I can imagine that this is London based on the sky - cloudy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on my blog and have a wonderful night.
It has been a while since my last visit to London. The skyline certainly looks a lot different now. I have heard about the walkie-talkie builing! Ha! Ha! You right about the school boy design error. I hope they fix it before the next summer. I actually like the uniquness of the the design of this modern buildings and the nicknames you give them:)
ReplyDeleteNice photos - I really need to make it back to the city of my birth at some point. I love the buildings' nicknames.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I seem to think I'm in the Middle East when I look at the Gherkin. Here's wishing the Tower of London stands there forever.
ReplyDeleteHazel
I was there last in 2003 -= looks quite different!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these quirky bits of your world!
ReplyDelete