As building space is at a premium in the capital, many developers are seeking to build upwards rather than outwards, which has led to a proliferation of skyscrapers. However, there are concerns that these kinds of buildings are having a detrimental impact when they are placed in locations where they would be incongruous with the area’s character. These concerns were in the news recently when Renzo Piano’s proposal for a new cylindrical 72-storey skyscraper in Paddington was withdrawn after protests from other architects, heritage campaigners and the public.

Peter Murray, chairman of New London Architecture, has commented on the matter by stating that taller buildings are inevitable if the capital is to meet rising demands for housing and business premises, and that simply designing “shorter and fatter” buildings will not provide the required solution.

However, Duncan Wilson, the head of heritage body Historic England, has responded to Murray’s comments by saying denser and lower developments can provide the required housing without cutting off access to public spaces or having a negative effect on the city’s skyline. He said Historic England recognises that tall buildings are necessary and can be beneficial additions to the city, but that they must be strategically placed and not allowed to dominate.

Architects have a duty to create buildings which do not only provide the spaces people need to live and work in, but which also make positive contributions to their surrounding environment. This is a balance which we work to achieve in all our projects, creating structures which are dynamic and contemporary but also sustainable and sympathetic to their location. This is reflected in projects such as our Court complex in Linyi, China, which consists of seven-storey blocks laid out around a central court area. We made the decision to keep the blocks relatively low to preserve the feeling of light, space and openness and to give the inner area a sense of privacy without the feeling of being enclosed.

It is clear that skyscrapers have an important role to play in modern London, but there are also many creative ways that architects can meet the needs of the public without having a detrimental impact on the area. We’ll continue to come up with solutions which satisfy both of these vitally important considerations.