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LSBU hosts tall buildings debate with industry leaders

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "TALL BUILDINGS IN LONDON: A GIANT-SIZED MISTAKE?"

The LSBU Alumni Association and the School of the Built Environment & Architecture hosted a lively and provocative debate examining whether plans for tall buildings in the capital have gone too far. The panel featured industry-leading speakers offering their unique perspectives on the proposed 230 tall buildings over the next decade, and if this represents progress or a giant-sized mistake for Londoners.

Over 200 built environment alumni, students, staff and professionals packed the Events Theatre to hear from Peter Rees CBE, former City of London Chief Planning Officer, Paul Finch OBE, World Architecture Festival Programme Director, and Mary Jane Rooney, Director of Architecture at LSBU. The evening began as Architecture students Monika Jociute (PGDip Architecture) and Aaron McDonald (BA Architecture) offered contrasting perspectives as future practitioners.

The Chair of the debate, Dr Matthew Barac (Senior Lecturer, Architecture History and Theory at LSBU), handed the floor to each of the esteemed panel as LSBU alumnus Peter Rees argued in favour of tall buildings in acceptable locations such as the Square Mile. Mary Jane Rooney offered a contrarian view by warning against the culture of “pepper potting” and repeating the same mistakes of the capital’s last towers boom during the 1960s. Paul Finch added fuel to the debate by urging the naysayers “if you don’t like tall buildings, then you can look at something else!” and defended the role of high rise in consolidating London’s position as a global and economic powerhouse.

The occasionally provocative words of the panel elicited a rousing reaction from the audience, many of whom will go on to become the next generation of architects and planners tasked with solving London’s soaring population and housing crises. The debate continued throughout the evening as guests networked at the buffet reception. On reflection, the evening revealed how tall buildings can be part of a solution towards affordable housing, social inclusion and a London skyline we can all be proud of. Though a clear policy backed by the Mayor and the Greater London Authority will be needed if London is to avoid becoming merely cluster of “vertical villages.”

Reaction from guests:

“A very insightful evening, which pushed me to look at this topic from different angles.”
Daniela Nofal, LSBU alumna, class of 2014

“Well done! I am looking forward to attending more events on built environment issues.”
Carlton Austrie, LSBU alumus, class of 2001

“A fantastic evening with a very high-calibre of experts. More events like this please!”
Mike Goodier, LSBU alumus, class of 2014

LSBU's School of The Built Environment and Architecture offers some of London's best courses in engineering for cities, surveying, construction, architecture and design.

Are you a graduate of LSBU currently working within the built environment? Then you may be interested in joining LSBU Built Environment Professionals Chapter, an active network designed to build industry links and share knowledge.