Eric Parry, Principal at Eric Parry Architects, discusses that while tall buildings take us skywards, as designers, our journey should start at the pavement

Tall buildings should never be contradictory to our shared need for an inspiring and liveable city. The context into which a tall building is conceived, whether in isolation or dialogue, is extremely important as a contributor to both the horizon and the streetscape of a city. Tall buildings take us skywards, but as designers, our journey should start at the pavement.

 

I have always placed a high value on walking. By being on foot, we become better attached to the infinite differences of familiar settings, seasons, climate and materiality. We are aware of our vulnerability and that of the people around us. Through a situational understanding of citymaking, we can encourage, both informally and formally, an engagement with shared spaces and events. 

 

As a parent, one of my daily pleasures was walking my young daughter to and from our home north of the Barbican to her primary school at Aldgate. Walking and talking - walking while thinking, our conversations as we moved through the City of London were invariably shaped by the moments we encountered. 

 

This daily commute strengthened two of my core convictions: that cities must be as generous between buildings as they are within buildings, and that an inclusive city makes the best spaces open for everybody.

 

I have since become involved with the design of a number of projects unrelated by ownership but close to that school run, which help to reinvigorate the public realm - sometimes where there was previously no public access. 

 

At 120 Fenchurch Street, this has resulted in a now well-established public garden, free of commercial use, on the 15th floor level. At ground level, we widened and enhanced a city alley with artworks displayed on a screen in the soffit of a banking hall-scaled central court to create activity and interest in a space that feels hospitable. At our forthcoming project over the way at 50 Fenchurch Street, this alley will meet another that will lead into a generous new public realm centred around the historic church tower of All Hallows Staining, maintaining and enhancing the historic weave of passages through the city. 

 

Although we await a decision on the revised planning application for One Undershaft, a consistent element of our proposals is the partnership with the Museum of London involving proposals for the highest public spaces in London, including a viewing gallery, educational spaces with classrooms, supporting facilities and other elevated public spaces. Importantly, our design at ground level will support the continuation of a high-quality pedestrianised route that will run from Fenchurch Street Station through to the north of the City. 

 

Tall buildings have huge potential to create value, between pragmatics and metaphysical presence, they also have the capacity to become cultural landmarks. By walking the land, by becoming part of the places we build, we become aware of new opportunities to capture that value for the greater good.