It's been a while since we mentioned the Beetham Tower. The redesign is now finished and has been revealed:
The tower will stand 180 metres high, with the hotel's planned observation deck sitting 45 metres higher than the London Eye. The initial proposals put forward in 2005 were for a 225-metre tower. The new tower, designed by Ian Simpson Architects, will also have public facilities including a new plaza wrapping round the base of the tower with cafes and restaurants and access via an express elevator to a five-storey high public viewing gallery at the top of the tower.
So not quite as big as we expected, but still with a bit of a bend and bulge to it. And up close it looks like the whole thing will be protected by a glass condom. Very posh. Pity the best name we can come up with is the Beat-ham Tower.
Should look nice in contrast with the Gherkin's girth. The next time God looks down and sees all these pointy things jutting towards Him, He'll think all His bukkake have come at once.
