Work is finally underway to transform the empty London City Hall building into a leaf-lined shops and restaurants.

The former Mayor’s office, dubbed by ex-mayor Ken Livingstone as the ‘glass testicle’ will also have it’s lift shaft renovated.

The deconstruction work on the building on the banks of the River Thames is expected to run until early 2026. So far, the glass panes and 500 meter staircase have been removed.

The building must grow to fit retail at the base level and the straightening of the exterior is necessary to create terraces for greenery.

The material treatment of the lift shaft has been revised by extending blue-green enamelled finishes over its full height.

Designers say this allows it to ‘integrate more harmoniously with the overall architecture of the scheme’.

They

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