For some reason, I like this building. I like the way it seems to undulate and it has a rhythmic vibration and movement to its geometry. This building is the result of a series of long and bitter struggles. In 1967, Mies van der Rohe, invited by his client (Peter Palumbo) came to London to design a skyscaper for the site. It was granted planning permission in 1969. However, it took Palumbo over another decade to acquire all the land required. By then, in the 1980s, the permission had lapsed and had to be re-applied for.
Palumbo |
This time the application was rejected and Palumbo appealed. Jim Stirling appeared on Palumbo's behalf at the hearing. The eventual outcome was that the site could be developed, but not with the Mies scheme. Stirling, highly regarded as the right man for the job after his acclaimed Neue Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart had opened in 1984, received the new commission.
James Stirling |
Seems like a epic story for a piece of property with such an unattractive sounding address as "Number 1 Poultry". If I were Palumbo, I would have renamed the street as well!