Another 'hot' topic!

A London skyscraper that made headlines for reflecting sunlight at an intensity that melted parts of a Jaguar car in the street below has been awarded the annual Carbuncle Cup that highlights perceived architectural horrors.

AN ICONIC building that has melted the metal on cars is now being blamed for producing ferocious wind gusts that have knocked people off their feet.

Now locals and workers have complained about huge draughts created by the 34-storey building that have bowled over pedestrians and blown trolleys out of the way.

City of London Corporation head of design Gwyn Richards has called for independent studies to be commissioned to ensure new developments don’t have an impact on ground level.

“The wind outcome at street level experienced post-construction on a number of projects differs somewhat to the conditions we were expecting from the one outlined in the planning application wind assessments,” Mr Richards said this week.

Architect Rafael Vinoly has admitted his design, which contains a rooftop garden and city views, has “a lot of mistakes” as they were unable to accurately analyse the problem before it was built.

“When it was spotted on a second design iteration, we judged the temperature was going to be about 36 degrees,” he told The Guardian after it was found the building had blistered paintwork and singed carpets.

“But it’s turned out to be more like 72 degrees. They are calling it the ‘death ray’, because if you go there you might die. It is phenomenal, this thing.”

Another of his designs in Las Vegas, the Vdara hotel, featured a similarly concave shape and had to be covered in reflective coating after singeing guests hair with it’s glare.