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From: "Architexturez." <interface.services@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:40:47 +0530
...as Viñoly defends his ‘walkie talkie’
09 March 2007
Rafael Viñoly was quizzed over the sustainability of his proposed
“walkie talkie” tower this week as a landmark public inquiry on the
scheme got under way.
Robert McCracken QC, acting for English Heritage, which is fighting the
Land Securities’ tower in the City of London, also called on Viñoly to
defend the building’s effect on key London views.
As revealed by BD, the heritage body has condemned the tower, at 20
Fenchurch Street, as “oppressive and overwhelming”, despite support from
Cabe and the City (News February 23).
But Viñoly defended his building and the City’s planning policies
robustly. He has won backing from a coalition of other world-famous
architects including
Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Cesar Pelli, Eugene Kohn and Frank Gehry,
who have all written letters of support for the tower.
McCracken questioned the schemes’ green credentials and asked Viñoly to
defend its impact on the “critical” view of the City from Waterloo Bridge.
cont'd....
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3082738&c=2&encCode=00000000012ae13c