60 Threadneedle Street

The London Stock Exchange functioned on this site until 2004, when it moved to another location and developer Hammerson bought the site. The original building consisted of a tower and a large, three-storey podium block. Hammerson gained planning permission to refurbish the tower and demolish the podium, which was replaced with this new speculative development by Eric Parry. In the immediate area one can find many examples of stone-clad commercial buildings of all ages - including the Bank of England. After making something of a name for himself with an earlier stone façade at 30 Finsbury Square, Parry resisted the urge to also use stone and, with the encouragement of the city planners, produced a steel façade. The corners of the dark coloured building are curved and exaggerated by sweeping shelves that project out at each slab level, giving the elevation depth and flowing lines, somewhat reminiscent of Art Deco.