three months after plans were approved for ‘the tulip’, the controversial 305-meter-tall (1,000 ft) visitor attraction, the project has been thrown out by london’s mayor. designed by foster + partners, the scheme was conceived as a new public cultural and tourist destination that would enhance its surroundings. according to the team behind the project, the tulip sought to bring ‘wide cultural and economic benefits with a diverse program of events’.

foster partners tulip tower
all images © DBOX for foster + partners

 

 

however — according to the evening standard — mayor sadiq khan was not convinced, with his spokesman quoted as saying: ‘the mayor has a number of serious concerns with this application and having studied it in detail has refused permission for a scheme that he believes would result in very limited public benefit. in particular, he believes that the design is of insufficient quality for such a prominent location, and that the tower would result in harm to london’s skyline and impact views of the nearby tower of london world heritage site. the proposals would also result in an unwelcoming, poorly-designed public space at street level.’

foster partners tulip tower
gondola pod rides were planned for the building’s façade

 

 

the tulip was proposed by j. safra group and foster + partners, owners and architects respectively of ’30 st mary axe’, popularly known as the gherkin. the city of london corporation originally approved the building, which would’ve had a total height of 305.3 meters (1002 ft) making it the second tallest building in western europe after the shard. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

foster partners tulip tower
a restaurant and bar would have offered sweeping views across the city

foster partners tulip tower
the project projected height was 305 meters (1,000 feet)

foster partners tulip tower
the tulip shown as part of london’s skyline