St George Wharf Tower

St George Wharf Tower stands in Vauxhall, London, as part of the St George Wharf development. It is a residential skyscraper, the 20th-tallest building in the city and once the tallest residential building in the United Kingdom. The tower rises 181 metres across 50 storeys, its floor plan shaped like a Catherine wheel. During construction in 2013, a helicopter collided with a crane on the building, killing two people. The tower’s design divides it into three sections: a base with communal facilities, a middle section of apartments, and an upper tier with terraces and a wind turbine. The building is recognised for its energy efficiency, using one third of the energy of similar structures and producing between half and two thirds fewer carbon dioxide emissions. A wind turbine at the top powers the tower’s common lighting with minimal noise or vibration. Heat pump technology draws warmth from the London Aquifer to heat apartments in winter. The tower is triple-glazed to reduce heat loss and gain, with ventilated blinds between the glass layers. The highest swimming pool in the city is located in one of the luxury penthouse apartments, which also offers a 360-degree view across London. Visitors to the tower find a striking circular façade accented by stepped sky gardens that create variety in the cladding. The base houses a lobby, business lounge, gym, spa and swimming pool, while the upper section provides terraces with panoramic views. Special mirrored stairs serve the lower penthouse apartments, adding symmetry to the design. The tower’s construction was controversial, facing opposition from planning advisers and earning a runner-up spot in the 2014 Carbuncle Cup. Many apartments are owned by foreign residents, with some floors purchased entirely by individuals.