Throughout history the area has absorbed waves of immigrants.

IV. Questions:

1. What did the East End roughly correspond to by the late 19th century?

2. Why was it a final incentive to the poorest to get out of the East End at all costs?

3. Why has the East End always contained the poorest areas of London?

4. What are the main reasons for the East End containing some of the poorest areas of London?

5. In what wayhas the East End changed recently?

6. Whathave community tensions been raised by?

V. Do you remember?

1. What became a concentrated reminder to the public conscience?

2. Where have the majority of the old style cockneys moved?

The British Museum, one of London's top tourist attractions

London is not characterised by any particular architectural style, having accumulated its buildings over a long period of time. Few structures predate the Great Fire of 1666, except for the Tower of London and a few scattered Tudor survivors in the City.

In itself, the City contains a wide variety of styles, progressing through Wren's late 17th century churches and the financial institutions of the 18th and 19th century such as the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England, to the early 20th century Old Bailey (England and Wales' central criminal court) and the 1960s Barbican Estate. Notable recent buildings are the 1980s skyscraper Tower 42, the Lloyd's building with services running along the outside of the structure, and the 2004 Swiss Re building, known as the "Gherkin".

London's generally low-rise nature makes these skyscrapers and others such as One Canada Square and its neighbours at Canary Wharf and the BT Tower in Fitzrovia very noticeable from a distance. High-rise development is banned at certain sites if it would obstruct protected views of St. Paul's Cathedral. Nevertheless, there are plans for more skyscrapers in central London, including the 72-story "Shard of Glass", which will be one of the tallest buildings in Europe.

Other notable modern buildings include City Hall in Southwark with its distinctive ovular shape, the British Library in Somers Town, the Great Court of the British Museum, and the striking Millennium Dome next to the Thames east of Canary Wharf. The disused (but soon to be rejuvenated) 1907 Battersea Power Station by the river in the southwest is a local landmark, whilst some railway termini are excellent examples of Victorian architecture, most notably St Pancras and Paddington (at least internally).

Several monuments pay homage to people and events in the city. The Monument in the City of London provides views of the surrounding area whilst commemorating the Great Fire of London which originated nearby. Marble Arch and Wellington Arch, at the north and south ends of Park Lane respectively, have royal connections, as do the Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. Nelson's Column is a nationally-recognised monument in Trafalgar Square, providing a focal point for the whole central area.

Built environment

The density of London varies, with high employment density in the city centre, high residential densities in inner London and lower densities in the suburbs. In the dense areas, most of the concentration is achieved with medium-rise buildings; high-rise buildings are fairly rare, even in employment centres. Thus, skyscrapers such as the City's "Gherkin", Tower 42 and One Canada Square stand out due to both their height and their relative rarity.

However, developments of tall buildings are encouraged in the London Plan, which will lead to the erection of many new skyscrapers over the next few years as London goes through a high-rise boom, particularly in the two financial centres, the City of London and Canary Wharf. The 72-storey, 310 m "Shard London Bridge" by London Bridge station, the 288 m Bishopsgate Tower and around 30 other skyscrapers over 150 m are either proposed or approved and could transform the city's skyline.

The buildings of London are a collection of different styles accumulated mostly over the time since the Great Fire in 1666. Although the City is characterised by 18th and 19th century architecture, there are a number of examples of more modern construction, such as the Lloyd's building. London's focal point is the mid-19th century Trafalgar Square, marked with Nelson's Column and the site of major demonstrations and street events in the capital.

ANNOTATIONS

ban obstruct rejuvenated density

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 850