Wonders & blunders

My favourite building has to be the Natural History Museum, where I learned about botany and natural history when I was younger. It is the most beautiful building I have seen.

It was built in the Victorian era, so it is obviously not environment-friendly and probably has some creaking Victorian boiler underneath it. But it is a cathedral to natural history and there are wonderful statues of famous animals all around it.

Animal magic

Opened in 1881 the Natural History Museum in London’s South Kensington hosts one of the most impressive botanical and zoological collections in the world, as well as an animatronic tyrannosaurus rex. For those too afraid of that, there is architect Alfred Waterhouse’s German romanesque style and ornate terracotta facade to admire.

My blunder is Ken Livingstone’s City Hall building in London, with which I have a love–hate relationship. I like the fact that it is very environment-friendly and, from the top of the stairs, there is an amazing panoramic view of London. I can even see my childhood home.

However, there are other things I hate about it, like the fact that there are too many security guards. I find that very off-putting.

I would also question the decision to build it on the South Bank of the Thames, near Tower Bridge. With many environmental groups talking of how the Thames barrier will not be sufficient to hold back rising sea levels, why choose to develop another building on a possible flood plain?

Overprotected

Opened in 2002, City Hall, on the South Bank, is home to the Greater London Authority. The geometric shape by Foster and Partners has caused as much debate as its resident, Ken Livingstone.