Nature's Pencil: Gallery: Canary Wharf
The original regeneration plan for Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs was for a low-rise, Scandinavian style, ecologically sound development of mixed residential, commercial, and work units. But when an American consortium offered to build instead a huge and prestigious high-rise the Government threw away those plans, and also threw away all its planning controls to make things easier for the new developers. Now we have yet another massive symbol of corporate and monetary might. It looks impressive, but is it wise? Is it just very short-sighted? The area cannot function without a massive input of power and supplies, and the oppressive security (cameras, guards, road-checks) makes the whole area an unfriendly place for anyone except those that work there.
Here, fronted by the logo of the docklands development corporation, we see some remnants of the original idea, overshadowed by their successors.
