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The Tulip by Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners reveals updated visuals of The Tulip viewing platform as planning inquiry begins

Architecture studio Foster + Partners has revealed updated visuals of The Tulip tourist attraction in the City of London showing its interiors and base.

Foster + Partners created the updated visuals ahead of the public inquiry into the planning application for The Tulip viewing platform, which began today.

A review is taking place as London mayor Sadiq Kahn rejected the proposal after the City of London had approved the attraction's construction.

The atrium in The Tulip by Foster + Partners
Top: The Tulip will have views across London. Above: the atrium will include a glass-floored bridge

The visuals show several of the spaces that would be created within the planned 305.3-metre-high tourist attraction.

These include The Tulip's Sky Bar, which would be built within a glass dome at the tip of the structure.

The Tulip's Sky Bar
The Tulip will be topped with a bar

The visuals show the glass-fronted atrium space, which will include the Skybridge with a glass floor.

There are also images of several of The Tulip's viewing galleries as well as visuals of the Aspire London Space education and community facilities.

The Tulip viewing deck
There will be several viewing galleries

Foster + Partners has also revealed several visuals showing the areas surrounding the base of the tower, which would be built directly alongside Foster + Partners' Stirling Prize-winning 30 St Mary Axe skyscraper.

Billionaire Jacob J Safra, who owns the skyscraper that is better known as the Gherkin, would fund the construction of The Tulip.

Aspire London Space education facility
The Aspire London Space education facility will have views of London

At the base of the tower, Foster + Partners plans to create a small park.

The studio has also designed a two-storey, glass-walled pavilion, which would be topped with a rooftop garden.

The Tulip park
A park will be created at the base of the tower

The concrete viewing tower, which will be wrapped with a series of gondola ride attractions, has proved controversial since it was first revealed in 2018.

Initially, London City Airport said the structure could impact its radar system, while the London mayor said the structure breached planning guidelines.

The Tulip pavilion
A glass-walled pavilion would be built alongside the Gherkin

Although the structure was approved by the City of London planners, London mayor Kahn rejected the towers planning application.

This lead to Foster + Partners launching an appeal in January 2020. The government will now make a final decision on whether the attraction will be built.

The Tulip pavilion roof
The pavilion would be toped with a park

The controversy surrounding the project did not surprise Foster + Partners founder Norman Foster, who described the tower as  "inevitably controversial" last year.

However, the British architect believes that like the Gherkin, the structure has the chance to become "a world symbol of London".

Visuals by DBOX for Foster + Partners.

More images

The Tulip within the City of London
The Tulip within the City of London
Tulip’s Aspire London Space education facility
Tulip’s Aspire London Space education facility
Tulip’s Aspire London Space community facility
Tulip’s Aspire London Space community facility
The Tulip’s atrium and Skybridge
The Tulip’s gondola rides
The Tulip’s gondola rides