One Blackfriars

One Blackfriars joins a select group of iconic London buildings that each acquired a nickname before their completion. Known to Londoners as ‘The Vase’ due to its unique glass-fronted form, this scheme undertaken on behalf of St George London provides stunning views of the River Thames. Soaring to 170 metres above street level, it is located in a prime position next to the southern pier of Blackfriars Bridge.

Comprising a 50-storey tower and two smaller buildings, the development contributes to the wider regeneration of Blackfriars Road. The three buildings introduce active uses at ground floor, creating animation and interest throughout the year. This mixed use scheme includes residential, alongside leisure facilities, a hotel, viewing lounge, restaurants and shops, centred around the new public plaza and improved public realm. Pedestrian routes lead to a calm central oasis, which incorporates a sculpture by Artist Idris Kahn.

The towering 8-metre high installation is made up of 65,000 photographs from the artist’s personal collection. The photos were cast in aluminium and stacked on top of each other to create blocks that grow in relation to the dimensions of standard photographic prints: 5×7, 10×7,12×6, etc. The piece was Khan’s first permanent installation in the UK and is meant to represent the volume of photography in its printed form, as well as the passage of time.

A lush landscape and six multi-level cascading pools frame the sculpture, offering a tranquil, reflective and soothing space, designed to contrast with the nearby busy Blackfriars Road. The water features are built into raised granite-clad structures that also form planters, providing verdant relief from the hardness of the city. The reflective pools, soothing sound of gently running water and planting combine to form an inviting landscape, where people can sit and relax.