The Leadenhall Building

Initially, a number of alternative design strategies were explored in order to evaluate the merits of each in terms of the relationship of the new building to the existing cluster of nearby tall buildings, the neighbouring CGNU building, the impact on the view of St Paul’s and the potential public realm benefits. These constraints led to the identification of a tall, tapered development envelope, within which various design options were explored. Potential solutions included a mid-rise rectangular block that filled the site, a stepped profile building and a slender high-rise. The final tapered form emerged following an examination of the relative merits of each. In particular, increasing the height of the building had a number of key benefits. The mass of the building pulls away from the sensitive view of St Paul’s from Fleet Street as its height increases. The tapering form, inclined away from St Paul’s, creates a spire-like western elevation which produces a contrasting form to the soft profile of the cathedral’s dome and complements its setting within the existing spires of the north and south entry towers and Wren’s St Martin-within-Ludgate. This important composition only becomes visible from the northern pavement of Fleet Street.