Cultural watchdog says tulip-shaped tower would harm Tower of London

Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-14 06:58:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Britain's official adviser on heritage has lodged an objection to multi-million dollar plans for a 305-meter tall tower in the shape of a tulip, which would be the tallest structure in the City of London.

Historic England said Thursday that the proposed visitor attraction would have an impact on the Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with concerns about how the tulip tower would dominate the backdrop behind the Tower of London when viewed from London's landmark Tower Bridge.

A spokesperson for Historic England said: "In our view, the proposed building would cause harm to the significance of the Tower of London, one of London's four World Heritage Sites."

Michael Dunn, Historic England's principal inspector, said: "This sharp contrast, combined with the unusual eye-catching form of the proposed building, reduces the visual dominance of the Tower of London and harms an attribute of its outstanding universal value, namely the tower's role as a symbol of royal power set apart from the City of London and dominating its strategic riverside setting."

Building magazine said while Historic England's objection to the Tulip will not be seen as a positive development by London-based Foster and Partners and its client billionaire banker Jacob J Safra, it will be up to City of London planners to present a weighted balance of the degree of harm against the scheme's benefits.

Dunn said the view of the Tower of London from Tower Bridge's north bastion would change the relationship, creating a "vertical cliff edge" to the eastern cluster, while the unusual form of the tulip building, intended to be eye-catching, would draw attention away from the tower.

As well as a main tower, the project includes an entrance pavilion with public roof terrace and a dedicated education center for children from state schools in London.

The Architects' Journal reports that the application has already received numerous objections, including concerns by London City Airport demanding the scheme be checked to see if it would interfere with radar systems.