Buildings that will last 200 years

[JRM]

I was looking around London the other night and just love the architecture and some of the incredible buildings that have been built over the past couple of hundred years that we still have today.

However, I couldn't help but wonder which buildings of the last 50 years will still be around in 200 years time. Everything seems so temporary these days.

In The City, will the Gherkin really last, or the Shard of Glass - certainly the NatWest tower hasn't lasted long and already looks likely to be knocked down.
Maybe Canary Wharf tower, the Mayor's office or the new(ish) government buildings - but do any really stand out as having longevity?

[V8mate]

Longevity costs.

[Kiltie]

My house was built in 1694.

It had a small extension (sun room) added at some point in the last decade.

The fabric of the original building is sound as a pound.

Guess what … the new bit leaks when it rains.

For me, that says it all.

Cheers,

Eric

[Landlord]

As V8Mate alluded, why build for longevity? Those 200 year old buildings now cost a, comparative, fortunte to heat/cool/light/inhabit compared to the newer ones. In 50 years time it'd be fair to assume that more progress will have been made in both building materials/techniques that would mean it'd be cheaper to knock-down and rebuild than to preserve.

Not necessarily my opinion on whether it's right or wrong. But that'd be my take on the situation.

[SystemParanoia]

houses of parliment should last a while longer

[dunclane]

Got to say I agree. I love old architecture but unfortunately if new buildings last 50 years they are doing well!

The more we can utilise old buildings for modern requirements the better I think.

[JRM]

It just seems such a shame not to leave some sort of legacy from this generation

[SystemParanoia]

JRM said:

It just seems such a shame not to leave some sort of legacy from this generation

not to worry

[DrTre]

All the more of a shame when places like Battersea Power Station are still rotting away.

[V8mate]

JRM said:

It just seems such a shame not to leave some sort of legacy from this generation

Why? We're all just going to die

[Neil H]

Longevity isn't always a good thing, look at a lot of 60s and 70s architecture for examples of why.

The buildings you mention are merely office blocks and no one really cares if they're around in 200 years. If you look at buildings such as Portcullis House, quite impressive architecturally and will probably last a while (and very expensive).

[WorAl]

This one should be there in 200 years easily, unless someone decides to pull it down.

The house that WorAl Built

[cottonfoo]

Anyone know when Bucklersbury House is going to be knocked down? Seems to have been boarded up for years now.

[petrolsniffer]

The dome maybe?? although it already looks dated!!

[james_tigerwoods]

petrolsniffer said:

The dome maybe?? although it already looks dated!!

I thought that was supposed to be a temporary structure anyway?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

I was in Istanbul at the weekend. The Hagia Sophia was built almost 1500 years ago and is still mouth-open awe inspiring to this day. It is a shame that we won't leave that sort of legacy for our ancestors.

[V8mate]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I was in Istanbul at the weekend. The Hagia Sophia was built almost 1500 years ago and is still mouth-open awe inspiring to this day. It is a shame that we won't leave that sort of legacy for our ancestors.

Bet it has a lousy BREEAM rating though.

[cottonfoo]

V8mate said:

Bet it has a lousy BREEAM rating though.

Haven't heard BREEAM for a long time, I used to work at BRE

[CedGTV]

WorAl said:

This one should be there in 200 years easily, unless someone decides to pull it down.

The house that WorAl Built

Nice, but shame about the two houses to the right of of you.

[aeropilot]

JRM said:

However, I couldn't help but wonder which buildings of the last 50 years will still be around in 200 years time.

In this country, the entombed decommissoned Nuclear Power stations.....

Otherwise, not many, as they are now considered as an almost disposable commodity like any other of items of modern society