Destination in the Sky: The Story of 1 Undershaft

20 June 2025

In collaboration with The City Architecture Forum we hosted a talk about the proposals for 1 Undershaft, which is set to become the crown of the City’s tall buildings cluster. This truly remarkable building aims to fulfil the City Plan 2040’s requirements for high-quality office space while also enhancing the City’s cultural and leisure offer.

A strong and compelling civic quality is woven throughout the design. Workers and visitors will benefit from an extraordinary elevated and free-to-access public garden on the 11th floor, an improved public realm, and Europe’s highest publicly accessible viewing gallery at the top of the building. At level 72, an education space for the London Museum will allow students to learn about London’s unique geography and history, all while enjoying stunning views of the capital.

Prioritising decarbonisation, the optimised design incorporates renewable energy and the reuse of materials and water. The project also features layered urban greening, resulting in a tenfold increase in biodiversity, and publicly accessible spaces that will establish a new destination in the City.

It was a fantastic opportunity for Eric to tell the story of how the design for 1 Undershaft has evolved over the past decade and share what the consented proposals will offer to those living, working, and visiting the City of London.