Southwark Council has approved plans to reimagine the old City Hall.
The building formerly known as City Hall has stood on the banks of the Thames near Tower Bridge since the turn of the century. Until recently, it was home to the Mayor, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority (GLA). They upped-sticks to a site in the Royal Docks in late 2021, leaving the globular landmark entirely empty. Finally, its future has been confirmed.
Southwark Council has unanimously approved plans for a radical overhaul. Each level will be remodelled to provide wraparound balconies, while the front face would be partially hollowed out into a more open structure. Meanwhile, the dirty old cladding will be removed or replaced. The scheme comes from architects Gensler and landscape architects LDA Design.
The effect is undeniably eye-catching, though we can't help seeing a rib-cage, overgrown with plant life.
The plans, from the building's landlords, the Kuwaiti-owned St Martins Property Investments, will see the former municipal building transformed into a hub of shops, restaurants and offices.
It's a particularly tough building to rejuvenate. City Hall was designed in the late 1990s by Foster + Partners for a very specific purpose: to house the Mayor and machinery of local government. Its sweeping spiral plan and large debating chamber don't lend themselves to obvious reuse (though, Londonist readers had a few ideas, including an indoor skate park, a cat cafe and, um, a Museum of Helmets).
