Sky-gardens

The other proposals, all of which, I was told by sources in the City, are moving forward, are Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners’ Leadenhall Building (nicknamed the Cheesegrater), Rafael Viñoly Architects’ 20 Fenchurch Street (the Walkie Talkie), and the so-called groundscraper of the 22-storey Walbrook Square by Foster + Partners and French architect Jean Nouvel (Darth Vader’s Helmet, according to some).

The City has been having these debates for years, and every building there is subjected to close scrutiny by English Heritage and other bodies. But perhaps the most noticeable of the forthcoming proposals for towers are those beyond the Square Mile. Building on the various ‘clusters’ of towers in Vauxhall, Blackfriars and Croydon seems to be progressing, and the skylines of these areas will be transformed.