The Evolution of Tall

Building Design

Kent Jackson
Design Director

SOM
New London Architecture
May 2014
SOM has designed 6 of the
World’s 15 tallest towers
A number of London’s tallest towers
are also designed by the practice
Canary Wharf
1986
Canary Wharf
2013
Broadgate
1988
Broadgate
2008
Manhattan Loft New Providence Baltimore Tower N8 261 City
Gardens Tower Tower New Covent Road
Stratford Docklands Crossharbour Garden Market City Basin

SOM London Towers

2014
236 towers planned for London
But how many will actually get built?
How do we meet
the challenges
of building
tall in London?
1
Creating
London’s
Skyline
Tall buildings in London’s are dictated
by the London Plan’s view corridors
Emerging Clusters
Appropriateness of Residential Density
Skyline
London’s Historic Skyline
Defining a skyline?
Defining a skyline
2 Designers’
Responsibility
Is glass dead?
Driving the industry to
creative solutions
Reduction in total 21st June Reduction in total 21st June Reduction in total 21st June
incident solar incident incident
Shadow Range Shadow Range Shadow Range
radiation:
solar radiation: solar radiation:
12:30-18:00 8:30-16:30 8:00-12:30
13%
9% 14%

Minergie codes have driven SOM to find

innovative solutions!
Minergie codes have driven SOM to find
innovative solutions!
In London, we are developing facades which
shade without compromising views
3
Complexity
vs.
Simplicity
In a strong market, efficiency and rationalism
are often sacrificed!
Typical High
Rise Floor
 With increasing height,
structural solutions evolve!
Complex constraints can lead
to simple solutions!
4 Desirability
The NLA’s study reveals that only 27%
of Londoners would be happy to live in
a tall building, while 60% would be
happy to work in a tall building!
Don't know Don't know
1% 2%

Strongly Stongly
agree disagree Strongly
10% 11% agree
Strongly Tend to
17%
disagree Tend to disagree
29% agree 11%
17%
Neither
agree nor
Neither disagree
agree nor 16% Tend to
Tend to
disagree agree
disagree
16% 43%
27%

I would be happy I would be happy

living in a tall working in a tall
building! building!
London Office Towers

Post war 1970’s Today 2030

London Residential Towers

Post war 1970’s Today 2030

Popularity

Post war 1970’s Today 2030

Why aren’t tall residential buildings popular?!

What do people want from their home
which high rise doesn’t currently
deliver?!
Outdoor Space!
Character!
Character

Volume!
A Sense of Community!
We need to start designing high rise
residential for end users!
Create opportunities for community!
 Loft Apartments Single Level
Apartments

Public Restaurant & Amenity Floor

Open Space

Hotel Lobby Piazza

Creating an integrated vertical community!

Maximum Zoning
Envelope
Maximum Zoning Sculpting an
Envelope Entrance
Maximum Zoning Sculpting an Creating a
Envelope Entrance community
Maximum Zoning Sculpting an Creating a Creating a sky
Envelope Entrance community garden
Maximum Zoning Sculpting an Creating a Creating a sky Revealing a roof
Envelope Entrance community garden terrace
Maximum Zoning Sculpting an Creating a Creating a sky Revealing a roof Resultant massing
Envelope Entrance community garden terrace
1 !
Creating London’s Skyline
2 !
Designers’ Responsibility
3 !
Complexity vs. Simplicity

Lo$s!
30(38!

28!

Lo$s!
25(27!

10!
4 !
Desirability
The Evolution of Tall
Building Design

Kent Jackson
Design Director

New London Architecture

May 2014