- The critic began the spat by claiming that the capital was an “incoherent riot”
London’s skyline is a jumble of buildings with “odd names”, according to an American critic.
Peter Coy claims the capital is an “incoherent riot” as famous architects were used as cover to gain planning approval for large, lucrative buildings, leading to controversy across the Atlantic. I turned off the lid.
Coy is an opinion writer for the New York Times. The senior London designer, who said the Big Apple, famous for its skyscrapers, “has a lot of incredibly boring buildings”, characterized his critics as “some rich guy from New York”.
Referring to much-loved London landmarks such as the Shard, the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater and the Walkie Talkie, Coy described the city as “a disgusting place full of weird skyscrapers with funny names”.
He said: “The world’s most famous architects have used London as a playground, with dissonant results.” Coy admits that Shard and Scalpel are “fairly elegant” and Gherkin is “(mostly) well-liked,” but says Walkie Talkie is “widely hated.”
He blamed Britain’s planning process for London’s skyline, saying land-use decisions were often influenced when famous architects were hired by developers.
Although the Mayor of London rejected such claims, Coy argued that buildings by famous architects are on average 17 storeys taller than their lesser-known peers.
Professor Peter Rees, from the Bartlett School of Planning, defended the capital, saying Britain should not be ashamed of London’s unusual skyline and that nicknames like the Shard were a sign of national affection.
“Coming from New York, you’re a little rich,” he told the Times.
He said there are few buildings in New York that enjoy the same level of recognition as those in London, including the British architect’s “Vessel,” which has been compared to a trash can. Professor Rees blames New York’s complicated planning approval process as “one of the reasons New York has so many incredibly boring buildings” despite the iconic Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. did.
Coy had previously thought of an expensive new addition to New York’s skyline called Pencil Towers as a safe deposit box for billionaire investors.
He even suggested that it was only built when the developer bought the “air rights” of the local neighborhood, and that no one lived there after construction. About 25 percent of London’s buildings are designed by famous architects, compared to just 3 percent in Chicago, according to a 2020 study by economists.
The skyscraper in London, known as the Walkie Talkie, was also nicknamed the city’s “Flyscaper” because its curved shape reflected light rays onto the streets below, causing heat damage.
In 2013, some panels on a Jaguar XJ car buckled and melted from the heat from the building.