Putting London to the public vote

The Evening Standard had an article today about a Conservative think tank called Policy Exchange which is recommending that the public be given a vote on which buildings get demolished in the capital. The Standard got its architecture critic to pick his ten choices to get flattened and he chose these;

The Millennium Dome Can’t argue with this one, New Labour disaster built to celebrate the year 2000, which they filled with nonsense and closed after a year. Still sitting unused on a prime site on the Thames at Greenwich.

Trocadero Not a bad looking building in my opinion but I think it got the Standard’s vote for all the ordinary high street shops it has inside when its at the heart of Piccadilly Circus.

Imax cinema Waterloo Probably does look a little odd at the end of Waterloo Bridge and certainly isn’t built to fit in with what’s there already, but lit up at night and showing good films I’d keep this one.

City Hall I’d like to bury some of the clowns that work there but the actual building can stay for the time being, it’s in a fairly open location and doesn’t really impact on what’s around it .

Old Street roundabout Two steel arches at an angle supporting some square advertising boards, adds nothing to a fairly grim place, one to dig up.

Oxford Street between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road. It wouldn’t hurt to start again with this stretch of London’s main shopping street, then again there are plenty of shops selling jeans for a fiver.

Heygate Estate, Elephant and Castle Don’t know this place but from their photo it looks like the typical 60’s and 70’s concrete mess.

Heathrow Airport Absolutely, the RAF should use Terminals 1,2 and 3 for target practice.

Banks of the Thames between Lambeth and Battersea I’m sure the developer’s are already getting ready to do some re-jigging here, they’ve converted every riverside property from Tower Bridge to Greenwich already now its time to go the other way.

Juxon House It’s right next to St Paul’s Cathedral and is all square arches and straight lines but I have to say I was down there a couple of weeks ago and wasn’t particularly offended by it, your attention will all be on St Paul’s though.