Walkie Talkie Defence

Following on form our article last week, looking at the start of the Public Enquiry of the proposed 'Walkie Talkie' building at 20 Fenchurch Street.

In defence of the building, the architect, Rafael Vinoly, has suggested that “Buildings occur in this city in a self-assured way and this is one of them"

According to the BD Website, further support for the scheme was found from familiar sources. Richard Rogers and Norman Foster penned a letter criticising the Environment Secretary, Ruth Kelly for calling the project in.

"By calling in this project you risk undermining the very legitimacy of the planning process itself,” they wrote. “This sets a damaging precedent which will weaken the resolve of imaginative clients to commission architects of the highest quality to build in the UK.”

English Heritage have been leading the offence against the proposal, suggesting that Londoners need to have their opinion. Comments posted on This is London reveal the divide.

The Enquiry continues. Over & (not) Out