City green-lights AHMM’s ‘biophilic’ office tower

The City of London Corporation has approved AHMM-designed plans for a 24-storey office-led development on Houndsditch.

Described by AHMM co-founder – and current RIBA president – Simon Allford as“biophilic”，该结构将提供超过56,500平方米的办公空间，灵活的零售/café空间和新的公共领域。

It will replace a series of “harsh” 1980s buildings that AHMM said had created a hostile pedestrian experience with narrow pavements on the site, which is opposite Foggo Associates’ Can of Ham building.

Alastair Moss, who chairs the City of London Corporation’s planning and transportation committee, said 115-123 Houndsditch was the seventh office-led tall building scheme to secure consent in the City since the start of January.

“This is not only an unprecedented number of major developments to come for decision, but it also clearly illustrates the enduring strength of the office market in the City of London and unwavering confidence from developers,” he said.

“雄心勃勃的可持续发展证书，专注于居住者的福祉，并为各种业务提供需求灵活的办公空间，这一在Houndsditch的发展将成为一英里广场未来的典范。”

Richard Berry, development director at developer Brockton Everlast, said the building would help to revitalise a “unique pocket” of the City.

“This scheme has been designed from the start with a relentless focus on carbon reduction,” he said.

“We tasked the architects to create an exceptional and sustainable design – one that delivers a vastly improved operational carbon footprint as part of our goal to future-proof the building for the next generation of net-zero occupiers.”