National Geographic USA – August 2019

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2

8

10

6

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9

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1

Tall building status*

Completed in 2017

Under construction

Permission granted

Submitted

London’s Tallest Buildings

The Shard—310 meters

One Canada Square—235 m

Heron Tower—230 m

122 Leadenhall Street—225 m

8 Canada Square—200 m

25 Canada Square—200 m

The Scalpel—190 m

Tower 42—183 m

St. George Wharf Tower—181 m

30 St. Mary Axe—180 m

Residents in Richmond claim

construction in Stratford

sullies the view of St. Paul’s

4

2

8 10

6

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1

Alexandra

Palace

(Protected vista)

Kenwood

House

King Henry’s

Mound

Serpentine

Bridge

City

Hall

Westminster

Pier

Blackheath Point

Greenwich Park

Parliament Hill

Primrose Hill

Lin

e (^) o
f (^) S
ig
ht
Palace of Westminster
St. Paul’s
Cathedral
Tower of London
Thames
Vauxhall, Nine Elms,
and Battersea
Isle of
Dogs
Paddington
Olympic
Legacy
Upper
Lee Valley
Greenwich
Peninsula
City
Fringe
King’s Cross-
St. Pancras
RICHMOND
PARK
RICHMONDRICHMONDRICHMOND
STRATFORDSTRATFORD
Areas with disused
industrial land targeted
for redevelopment
Residents in RichmResidents in Richmond claimond claim
construction in Stratford construction in Stratford construction in Stratford
sullies the view of St. Paul’s sullies the view of St. Paul’s sullies the view of St. Paul’s
fromfromfrom King Henry’s M King Henry’s M King Henry’s Mound.ound.ound.
0 km 20
Green Belt
Parks
Thames
GREATER
LONDON
GREEN BELT
1,572 sq km
nearly 5,180 sq km
AREA ENLARGED
BELOW
1939
8.6 million
1801
1 million
1991
6.4 million
2016
8.7 million
WORLD
WAR II
EUROPEAN UNION
EXPANSION
IRISH
FAMINE
WORLD
WAR I
1801 1851 1901 1951 2001
2
4
6
8 million residents 8
London
KINGDOMUNITED
London
KINGDOMUNITED
BALANCING LONDON’S GROWTH
Population Rising
After World War II, thousands fled the capital
for homes in the suburbs. In 2015 London’s
population finally surpassed its prewar peak;
it adds an estimated 70,000 residents each year.
Limiting London
Designed to prevent sprawl, a ring of open space
around the city was designated in 1935 and
has grown since. Now the city debates whether
portions should be developed for housing.
History vs. Growth
More than 500 tall buildings of 20 or
more stories are in progress—and at
least 70 are skyscrapers. City planners
have honored historic landmarks and
their sight lines in 13 “protected vistas”
that new buildings cannot obstruct.
Despite upheaval from Brexit, the bustling capital continues its upward
trend, with rising numbers of residents and towering construction.
As planners fashion new neighborhoods from defunct industrial sites,
they balance the city’s historic character with its future needs.
JAMES CHESHIRE AND OLIVER UBERTI
*DATA CURRENT TO 2017. SOURCES: U.K. MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT; OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS;
LONDON VIEW MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK; GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY; NEW LONDON ARCHITECTURE; EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY