20 Fenchurch Street

London

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Design Architects:  Rafael Viñoly Architects

Executive Architects: Adamson Associates Architects

Developer and Client: Land Securities PLC and Canary Wharf Group PLC

Project completion: 2014

 

This iconic building known as The Walkie-Talkie Tower was designed by Rafael Vinoly and carried out by Adamson Associates Architects as a joint development venture between Land Securities PLC and Canary Wharf Group. DBA was appointed at post planning stage when the building was re applied for permission in 2011.

 

The building has a three storey sky garden at the top of its 38 floor levels. This contained a complicated arrangement of accessible, landscaped levels with planting and views across the city and to the east and south. Inclusive access for the public to the park levels was crucial as the development permission was largely due to the promise of the sky park. The park also includes a restaurant and cafeteria, as well as viewing platforms.

 

The increasing bulging building shape meant that each level has a different size floor plate but retains a central core. There is a smaller annex building to the south of the site providing retail space at ground and first floor levels and motorcycle and bicycle parking for the building on the second and third floors.

 

Apart from the relatively straightforward commercial spaces within this development DBA were consulted with regard to the challenging features of external spaces both at ground level and for the sky garden levels, interpreting regulatory and code of practice standards to achieve best practice inclusive access.

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