So, it turns out that St Florian is the patron saint of chimney-sweeps and firefighters.Florian refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan Roman gods and cheerfully accepted the beatings of the soldiers, who used clubs, spikes and fire to torture him. He was executed by drowning in the Enns River with a stone tied around his neck.
Will Native Land be given such a hard time over their plans for Florian Place, a mixed-use development based on the glorious 1937 former London Fire Brigade headquarters?
Well, in my humble opinion it's not the most beautiful development in the world but the landmark building remains relatively unscathed apart from a hideous, hideous extra glass floor on the top which completely destroys the integrity of the building. It's not as high as the hideous, hideous extra glass floor in the previous plan but it's still hideous. Hideous.
As ever, the SE11 lurker has diligently photographed and published the information boards for you whereas I just snapped one or two.
Some historical photos (note the rather beautiful building which preceded the ghastly current International Maritime Organisation building):
Two of the friezes inside the building:
Update: The GLA has advised Lambeth's planning department that the proposals as they stand do not comply with the "London Plan" See document here.
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