Most impressive construction developments in London 2017

2017 was a troubled year for construction, with Brexit looming large and the industry struggling for growth. But even through the tough conditions, projects of all sizes came to completion, and now the dust has settled we’re going to take a look at some of the most impressive construction developments from across London.

The Loom

Originally used as a building in which to store wool, The Loom is situated in Whitechapel and required some updating. It has been beautifully updated, retaining the heritage of the building while connecting it to the modern city with a public cafe and an atrium.

The contractor was Paragon and structural engineers, Heyne Tillet Steel, were brought in to assist. The building now serves as attractive office spaces while celebrating the history of the building through simple touches like the metal screen frontage and the mural in the atrium.

40 Chancery Lane

This award winning project replaced dilapidated structures with a fantastic office block, connected in a ‘U’-shape design and featuring a courtyard to the rear. The look and feel of the building has been delivered to meet the styles in the surrounding areas and features wall carvings by Susanna Heron.

The courtyard itself is accessible to the public, providing relief in what is a dense urban area.

Park Heights

Constructed in SW9, Park Heights offers affordable housing in a stunning new building. The building features a lobby entrance with concierge as well as a bike store.

The building was designed for greater efficiency and cost savings were made on construction due to the excellent relationship between contractor and architect. An elegant solution to the need for more housing in London, Park Heights offers the best of both worlds.

The Scalpel

If you’ve been in the City Of London recently, you might have spotted a gleaming, angular new skyscraper. Known as The Scalpel because of the sharp, pointed nature of this construction, it is situated amidst a number of other impressive structures – including the “cheesegrater” building.

The real reason for the slightly slim and slanted design of this building is due to the views of St Paul’s Cathedral, which are worth preserving. The design came courtesy of Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) and has 35 floors for offices and a public square. Based on Lime Street, you certainly won’t need to get that close to appreciate this fantastic design.

There are plenty more examples where the design and construction of buildings in London is worth stepping back from to take a good look. Techniques are always improving and changing design tastes mean progress for the industry. We look forward to seeing what 2018 will bring, with exciting projects under way and some close to completion already.

You can find more award-winning structures on the RIBA site, but if you’re looking for high quality building materials in St Albans and Hertfordshire, or advice on which materials best suit your grand project, look no further than Elsons – we’re always on hand to help.