DadAgain

...Not exactly - nobody was hurt (it was just past 11pm when it caught fire) and the damage was purely to a large corporate insurer (somewhat ironic) and when I said "awesome" I mean it in the traditional literal sense of the word not the modern impactless version of the word. The speed with which the fire spread from a small glow in one tiny window to completely engulfing three floors with flames licking up the side of the building like it was a log on a bonfire was quite breathtaking - and certainly food for thought for those of us who worked in similar structures every day.

It was terrifying, compelling, dramatic and by far the most exciting thing to happen in Basingstoke in many many years. Basingstoke was never known for its high quality entertainment with a night drinking at The White Hart and a possible trip to the seedy teen mecca nightclub of "Martines" being the only offerings to keep us happy. (Although I'm led to believe it has improved dramatically in the years since I left)

To a drunken young bloke stumbling out of the pub and queuing up for a suspect kebab from the mobile van that parked every night in the multistory car park, it was an extremely noteworthy evening.

Kim67

The world's tallest building and it's surrounds are quite impressive up close.

Beoz

.... and it's a piece of shite. Have a close look at the detailing, cheap, nasty, typically Sydney.

Best building in Sydney is the Aurora Place by Renzo Piano. He's the same guy who designed The Shard in London. Everything else is crap, cheap, nasty rubbish except the Opera House.

I still am a big fan of the Gherkin in London

http://www.london-attractions.info/the-gherkin.htm

commonwealth

pfft have you been inside?

Beoz

Yep ... went on an architectural tour before the tenants moved in.

The problem is, Ingenhoven designed the concept, which is great, but local mob did the detailing, which is not great.

commonwealth

as in have you occupied a space in one of the rooms while working?

best use of natural light imo.

Beoz

Have you worked next to one of the 6 atria spaces in the Gherkin? - http://www.london-attractions.info/the-gherkin.htm

Also a great use of natural light. Meeting rooms are all on the atria balcony edges.

BadgeIsBack

Beat me to it - and for some crazy reason, even though I have gone to meetings there, the architecture didn't sink in.

On the other hand, the new building, a sort of scraper on it's side is like IKEA.
Bits of it inside are really cool.

Scubaemma

We have our own Batman building in Brisbane. Where the DPP are based. When we have to drop briefs of evidence off there, we refer to it as going to the Batman building. It's very Gotham City.

Sorry don't know how to do photos on this thing!

fish.01

Here you go Emma:



And during it's renovation to become the batman building (far right of pic):

Scubaemma

That's the one! Thanks Fishy

commonwealth

"The Vibrator" is good too.

fish.01

You can imagine how popular a makeover it was for us Brisbane kids at the time...from boring white building to gotham city

Scubaemma

GarryP

I kind of remember it from coming into Basingstoke. Considering it as the most memorable thing rather points up what a hole Basingstoke is.