City Hall, London (Southwark): Difference between revisions

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'''City Hall''' is a building in [[Southwark]], [[London]], which previously served as the headquarters of the [[Greater London Authority]] (GLA) between July 2002 and December 2021. It is located in the [[London Borough of Southwark]], on the south bank of the [[River Thames]] near [[Tower Bridge]]. In June 2020, the Greater London AuthorityGLA started a consultation on proposals to vacate City Hall and move to [[The Crystal]], a GLA-owned property in [[London Borough of Newham|Newham]], at the end of 2021.<ref name="auto">{{Citecite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-53164416|title=Khan proposes moving City Hall to cut costs|work=BBC News |date=24 June 2020}}</ref> The decision was confirmed on 3 November 2020 and the GLA vacated City Hall on 2 December 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54783565|title=City Hall to relocate from central London to the East End|publisher=BBC|date=3 November 2020}}</ref> The Southwark location is ultimately owned by the government of [[Kuwait]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gulfbusiness.com/kuwait-buys-london-mayors-headquarters-for-2-8bn/|title=Kuwait Buys London Mayor's Headquarters For $2.8bn|date=9 December 2013|newspaper = Gulf Business|access-date=11 November 2022}}</ref>

The City Hall building was designed by [[Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank|Norman Foster]] and was constructed at a cost of £43 million<ref>[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Ijw0_MjOtlMJ:www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-04/sb04-60.pdf+construction+cost+of+GLA+city+hall&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi4vu_Sk2l-MlW8fgbTuCZEj "SPICe Briefing" Retrieved 1 March 2010-03-01]</ref> on a site formerly occupied by [[Wharf|wharves]] serving the [[Pool of London]]. It opened in July 2002, two years after the Greater London AuthorityGLA was created, and was leased rather than owned by the Greater London AuthorityGLA.<ref>[http://www.london.gov.uk/learning/docs/inside_city_hall.pdf "Inside City Hall" Retrieved 1 March 2010-03-01] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604132134/http://www.london.gov.uk/learning/docs/inside_city_hall.pdf |date=4 June 2011 }}</ref> Despite its name, City Hall is not in and doesdid not serve a city ([[City status in the United Kingdom#Greater London|according to UK law]]),. oftenIt addinghad toresponsibilities the confusion ofover Greater London, which should not be confused with the [[City of London]], which has its headquarters at the [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]]. In June 2011, Mayor [[Boris Johnson]] announced that for the duration of the London [[2012 Olympic Games]], the building would be called ''London House''.<ref>{{cite webNHLE|authornum=London SE1 website team London SE1 community website 1476841|urldesc=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5238West |title=City Hall to be renamed 'London House' during 2012 Olympics [15 April 2011&#93;Wing, Guildhall|publishergrade=London-se1.co.uk II|access-date=2012-08-1522 August 2023}}</ref>

In June 2011, Mayor [[Boris Johnson]] announced that for the duration of the London [[2012 Olympic Games]], the building would be called ''London House''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5238 |title=City Hall to be renamed 'London House' during 2012 Olympics |date=15 April 2011 |publisher=London SE1 |access-date=15 August 2012}}</ref>

In November 2020, Mayor of London [[Sadiq Khan]] announced plans to vacate City Hall at the end of 2021 and relocate to [[The Crystal]] in the [[Royal Victoria Dock]]s area of [[East London]].<ref>{{Citecite web|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/sadiq-khan-announces-plan-leave-18479216|title=Sadiq Khan announces plan to leave City Hall and move to East London|first=Qasim|last=Peracha|date=24 June 2020|website=getwestlondonMyLondon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202210159/https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/sadiq-khan-announces-plan-leave-18479216 |archive-date= Dec 2, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Citecite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/london/2020-06-24/londons-iconic-city-hall-set-to-close-in-a-shock-plan-to-save-11m-a-year/|title=London's iconic City Hall set to close in a shock plan to save £11m a year|website=ITV News|date=24 June 2020 }}</ref><ref name="auto"/> Khan cited the high cost of rent as reasoningthe reason for relocating the Greater London AuthorityGLA headquarters, stating that vacating the City Hall in favour of a property owned by the authority would save it £55 million over the course of five years.<ref>{{Citecite web |date=2020-06-24 June 2020 |title=Mayor to consult on relocating City Hall to protect services |url=https://www.london.gov.uk//press-releases/mayoral/mayor-to-consult-on-relocating-city-hall |access-date=3 March 2022-03-03 |website=London City Hall |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The building has an unusual, bulbous shape, purportedly intended to reduce its surface area and thus improve [[Energy conservation|energy efficiency]], although the excess energy consumption caused by the exclusive use of glass (in a double facadefaçade) overwhelms the benefit of shape. Despite claiming the building "demonstrates the potential for a sustainable, virtually non-polluting public building",<ref>{{Citecite web |url=http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/1027/default.aspx |title=Foster + Partners |access-date=15 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902035606/http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1027/Default.aspx |archive-date=2 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> energy use measurements have shown this building to be fairly inefficient in terms of energy use (375 kWh/m²/yr), with a 2012 Display Energy Performance Certificate rating of "E".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2008/oct/02/energyefficiency.carbonemissions?intcmp=239#/?picture=338198107&index=5|title=Public building CO2 footprints revealed|author=Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images|work=The Guardian|date=2 October 2008 |access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref> It has been compared variously to a helmet (either [[Darth Vader]]'s or simply a motorcyclist's), a misshapen egg, and a [[woodlouse]]. Former mayor [[Ken Livingstone]] referred to it as a "glass testicle",<ref name="Deyen Sudjic">{{cite news | url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,518246,00.html | author=Deyan Sudjic | title=A thoroughly modernising mayor | publisher=The Observer | date=8 July 2001 | access-date=23 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="BBC view">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2129199.stm | title=Inside London's new 'glass egg' | work=BBC News | date=16 July 2002 | access-date=23 January 2010}}</ref> while his successor, [[Boris Johnson]], made the same comparison using a different word, "The Glass Gonad"<ref name="The Sunday Times">{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5394230.ece | author= Stephen Robinson | work=The Sunday Times|title=Is Boris on an upward spiral at last? | date=28 December 2008 | access-date=23 January 2010}}</ref> and more politely as "The Onion".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www-theshaftesbury-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/www.theshaftesbury.co.uk/blog/%E2%80%9Cthe-onion%E2%80%9D-or-london-city-hall/?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&amp&usqp=mq331AQA#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theshaftesbury.co.uk%2Fblog%2F%25E2%2580%259Cthe-onion%25E2%2580%259D-or-london-city-hall%2F|title=The Onion|publisher=Shaftsbury|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref>

A {{convert|500-metre (1,640&nbsp;ft)|m|adj=on}} [[Helix|helical]] [[walkway]] ascends the full ten storeys. At the top is an exhibition and meeting space with an open viewing deck that was occasionally open to the public. The ramp could not be used as intended for security reasons.<ref name=moore>{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Rowan |title=Testicle reprieved? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/02/ridley-scott-napoleon-is-no-macbeth-history-architecture-film |access-date=2 December 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=2 DecDecember 2023}}</ref> The walkway provides views of the interior of the building, and is intended to symbolise transparency; a similar device was used by Foster in his design for the rebuilt [[Reichstag (building)|Reichstag]] (parliament), when Germany's capital was moved back to Berlin. In 2006 it was announced that [[photovoltaic cell]]s would be fitted to the building by the [[London Climate Change Agency]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www-edie-net.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.edie.net/amp-news/2/Solar-panels-to-power-Londons-City-Hall/11996/?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQA#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.edie.net%2Fnews%2F2%2FSolar-panels-to-power-Londons-City-Hall%2F11996%2F|title=Solar panels to power London's City Hall|publisher=Edie|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref>

The [[debating chamber]] was located at the bottom of the helical stairway. The seats and desks for Assemblyassembly Membersmembers were arranged in a circular form.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/theconversation.com/amp/is-the-architecture-of-westminster-bad-for-politics-55427?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQA#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fis-the-architecture-of-westminster-bad-for-politics-55427|title=Is the architecture of Westminster bad for politics?|publisher=The Conversation|date=29 February 2016|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref>

In 2023, St Martins Property announced that the architectural firmfirms of [[Gensler]] and LDA Design had completed a plan to redesign the unused structure as a mxedmixed-use office and retail building. It was intended to replace the iconic spiral with leafy terraces<ref name=moore/> and replace the glazing with different materials.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Highfield |first1=Anna |title=Gensler unveils design to remake Foster’s City Hall building |journal=Architects Journal |date=28 November 2023 |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/gensler-unveils-design-to-retrofit-fosters-former-city-hall-building |access-date=2 December 2, 2023}}</ref>

The building is located on The Queen's Walk, a part of the extended pedestrianised south-side embankment of the [[River Thames]] in the [[London Borough of Southwark]]. It forms part of a larger development called [[More London]], including offices and shops. The nearest [[List of London Underground stations|London Underground]] and [[National Rail]] station is [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londontown.com/TransportInformation/Sights_and_Attractions/City_Hall_Real/37bd/|title=Nearest station to City Hall|publisher=London Town|access-date=14 August 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190814185821/http://www.londontown.com/TransportInformation/Sights_and_Attractions/City_Hall_Real/37bd/ |archive-date=14 August 2019 }}</ref>

In 2015, City Hall acted as location for the fictional HQ of the Joint Intelligence Service in the [[James Bond]] film ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]''. The building appeared taller, and in a different Thames-side location in the movie through the use of [[Computer-generated imagery]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=11734|title=SPECTRESpectre shoots at London City Hall|work=mi6-hq.comMI6 |date=18 April 2015|access-date=24 July 2023}}</ref> In 2016 the walkways were filled with musicians during [[Open House London]] in a site-specific work by British composer Samuel Bordoli, which explored the unique acoustic of the structure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open House: Live Music Sculpture concert held at the GLA, City Hall |date=September 16, 2016 |url=https://www.jesticowhiles.com/news/open-house-live-music-sculpture-concert-held-at-the-gla-city-hall/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Jestico + Whiles |language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110163745/https://www.jesticowhiles.com/news/open-house-live-music-sculpture-concert-held-at-the-gla-city-hall/ |archive-date=2024-01-10 }}</ref> In 2018, the final selection for the television show [[The Apprentice (British TV series)|''The Apprentice'']] was filmed in City Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/dec/16/the-apprentice-finale-review-surely-time-to-dismantle-this-panto |first1=Tim |last1=Dowling |title=The Apprentice: Finale review – surely time to dismantle this panto?|work=The Guardian|date=16 December 2018|access-date=30 September 2019}}</ref>

It is featured in the ''[[Mario Kart]]'' games ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8|Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' as part of the London Loop racecourse.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mariowiki.com/Tour_London_Loop#London_Loop|title=Tour London Loop - Super Mario Wiki|work=NintendoSuper IndependentMario Wiki Alliance|date=6 December 2019|access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref>

File:Ayuntamiento y Shard, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-11, DD 076.JPG|Southwark bank of the [[River Thames]], near [[Tower Bridge]]

File:Tower Bridge from London City Hall 2015.jpg|[[Tower Bridge]] and [[Canary Wharf]] viewed from the balcony around the top of the building.

File:City Hall, London.jpg|A view of City Hall in London from the [[River Thames]]

File:City.hall.london.arp.jpg|A view from the high walkway of [[Tower Bridge]]

File:City Hall -Side View- in Miniland, Legoland Windsor.JPG|Model of London City Hall in [[Legoland Windsor]]