Re: superstars; Darth Foster in London

Architexturez wrote:
> he proposed Ras al Khaimah Convention and Exhibition Centre in the UAE 
> bears a striking resemblance to the Death Star. Designed by Rem Koolhaas 
> and Reinier de Graaf as part of their collaboration with OMA, the sphere 
> holds a convention centre, hotel rooms, apartments, offices and retail 
> space.
>
> cont'd....
> http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2007/05/rem_koolhaas_de.html


LORD FOSTER, the architect, is to build a futuristic twin for St Paul’s 
Cathedral, just 600 yards from Sir Christopher Wren’s baroque masterpiece.

The 72-year-old designer of the “gherkin” tower and the new Wembley 
stadium has won planning permission for an office complex built into a 
giant dome just 10ft shorter than St Paul’s.

Council documents show the original design for Foster’s glass and steel 
“cyborg cathedral” was opposed by St Paul’s, whose dean said it was too 
similar to its baroque neighbour and would detract from views of its 
300-year-old dome.
.....
Others are less impressed with a building that has also been dubbed 
“Darth Vader’s helmet” for mimicking the flared shape of the mask of the 
Star Wars villain. The revised design has been accepted by Martin 
Stancliffe, surveyor to the cathedral, as a “less uncomfortable contrast 
between the building and the form of the cathedral” than earlier designs.

The massive scale of the development, so close to the cathedral, was 
possible only after the mayor’s office issued revised planning guidance, 
narrowing protected viewing corridors.

cont'd....
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2159392.ece