Above: Cascades Tower with its sloping side.

In the 1980s, when the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) was only just starting it had the task of creating a ‘new world’ in the derelict Docklands area. Londoners became used to tall blocks ‘rising from nowhere’ on land which had traditionally been docks or low-rise warehouses. Some new buildings were ‘pencil box’ in shape, others were the usual large blocks. Some were unusual shapes – known at the time as ’skyline signature buildings’.

It is one of those skyline signature buildings that we shall look at in this article. Some of the large blocks were built for use as offices, others were built for apartments. Although all the land was zoned, to define its use, for the casual observer blocks seems to rise in all sorts of unexpected places. It was not until several years later that the overall layout became apparent.

One of the more unusual blocks was built 1985–88, containing luxury apartments, known as Cascades Tower. It was designed by the architects Campbell, Zogolovitch, Wilkinson and Gough (CZWG) who, since that time have gone on to design many other eye-catching buildings across London. The block of apartments stands on land just south of the old western entrance to South Dock (the most southerly of the three original West India Docks). The total height of the structure is 194 feet (59 m). It was the first private high-rise housing development in Docklands to be built at the time of the LDDC.

When the apartments were first completed, the property market was in what was called ‘negative equity’. The estate agents could not sell them. It was hardly surprising because not only was the market for apartments falling but there were very few offices in the area and the later ‘Canary Wharf dream’ had not even started. To have such impressive accommodation standing empty was a great embarrassment for all concerned. It raised questions at the time as to whether Docklands would become a trendy place to live and whether such high prices for the property would mean that it was pricing itself out of the market. Because housing was in short supply in the area, the apartment block was taken over by Tower Hamlets Council and each unit was let to teachers in the borough for £17.00 per week. It was an incredibly low rent at the time for any property, especially for such prestigious premises and the story became headline news in the local newspapers of the day.

Of course, the building had opened much earlier than the many developments that followed it. Since then there has been a ‘scramble’ by the wealthy for up-market accommodation on the Isle of Dogs ever since. There seems to be an unending queue of people with the means to live in the apartments which are still being built at the time of writing. When completed, Cascades occupied a prestigious position – right beside the Thames and at the western end of South Dock. Since its completion, many other blocks have risen on the land, used for offices, accommodation and hotels. The tower is now ‘just another block’ in the vicinity.

Above: Close-up of the top of Cascades. Notice the air conditioning cowl on top looking rather like the funnel on a large liner. Notice also the long steelwork on the upper balconies.

Because Cascades Tower is still highly visible when viewed from the Thames, the building is usually mentioned by the Watermen who provide commentaries for the many visitors who take a trip from Westminster or Tower piers down to Greenwich. While on a river trip one day, there was a young man offering a light-hearted commentary as he described the places to be seen from the vessel. When the tower came into sight he said ‘Over there is a large building designed to look like a ship. Either the architect had never seen a ship before or he must have been on very severe medication at the time’. It certainly drew a laugh. What the commentator was talking about was the fact that being so close to the Thames and the docks, the architects had chosen to use shapes that would remind the observer of a large ship as part of the overall design. At the top of the block were the usual cooling units, for air conditioning, and the cowls were designed to replicate a ship’s funnel. Instead of having straight metal railings around the balconies of each apartment, the rails were curved – like those often seen on a cruise liner.

It should be added that the low rents for council teachers have long since been withdrawn. The 165 flats on 20 floors are now individually owned and enjoy secure parking, a 24-hour concierge service and leisure facilities including a gym, swimming pool and sauna. The communal gardens contain tennis courts and a barbecue area. Recently, one of the flats changed hands for £429,999. Well, you do get two double bedrooms and two bathrooms in the price. Another flat, with ‘1200 square feet, three bedrooms and three balconies offering spectacular views of Canary Wharf, the river and the city skyline’ went on the market at £620,000. It’s not a bad price but, since being built, they are now just over 30 years old! Some of us remember them being built!

-ENDS-