i thought the first building i ever described as looking like cgi superimposed on the skyline was the swiss re building/gherkin. but now im confused because wikipedia is telling me city hall opened in '02, the gherkin in '03, and city hall and the landscaping around it gave me that feeling very strongly and still does.
city hall and the space around it i think of being the blueprint for new space and new london. the model for developments like bloomberg building on cannon street for instance. (both are also 'smart buildings' although that's not apparent by looking at them)
pedestrianised and privatised space. what are the pavements there made out of? granite? that expensive corporate grey colour. that's a hallmark of new space. the shops under the office blocks. the private security.
it's reproducing itself all over the city. it's formed a strategic alliance with the new breed of hipster corporations. franco manca, crosstown doughnuts, notes coffee, homeslice pizza, bleeker burger, byron etc etc.
these brands which emerged from that hipster/foodie convergence. street food. 3rd wave coffee. craft beer. borough market. maltby street. broadway market. the willingness to pay £7 for a pint. $5 for a coffe. £10 for a burger. etc etc