Feature: Britain's "ugliest" building finds admirer

It's one of the most talked about awards in Britain, but the one no architect wants to win: the infamous Carbuncle Cup.

The so-called 'wooden spoon' trophy is awarded every year for what is judged to be the ugliest new building in the country.

But a former planning officer in the City of London sprung to the defense of this year's recipient of the trophy, a multi-storey office tower in the capital known of its unusual and distinctive shape, as the "walkie talkie" building.

The former head of the planning department at the City of London, Peter Lee, described the 37-storey office tower as a "generous building" which he loves.

The respected journal Building Design received a record level of nominations from readers for the Walkie Talkie building -- or 30 Fenchurch Street, as it is officially known -- earning the building a place on the short list, and the subsequent "winner's prize."

But just days after Building Design's judging panel announced it as the winner, Lee hit back.

The journal said critics of the tower, designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly, which was approved when Lee was in charge of the City of London's planning department, complained it bulged above the skyline "like a Bond villain."

In the latest online edition of BD, Lee commented: "People see a building that's bigger at the top and say it's greedy. But it's actually a generous building tapered to create more space around it at ground level."

Rees, who is now professor at Bartlett, University College London's school of architecture, also attacked BD's Carbuncle Cup, saying its "whole premise is deeply flawed".

"Never judge a building by its appearance. Architectural critics look at what something looks like instead of how it works inside; whether it's fully occupied; or that, along with the Cheesegrater (another distinctive building in London), it's sustaining the insurance industry in the city," BD quoted Rees as saying.

However, BD editor and organizer of the Carbuncle Cup awards, Thomas Lane, said this year's prize "crashes into London's skyline like an unwelcome party guest".

Lane said it was a challenge to find anyone with something positive to say about the Walkie Talkie, which was completed in April 2014.

He commented: "It bulges out towards the top in a cynical move to maximize the amount of high-value space at the upper levels, in defiance of the principle tall buildings should taper elegantly inwards or at least feature parallel sides. The result is Londoners now have to suffer views of this bloated carbuncle.

Stories appeared during the construction of the tower. One reported sunlight reflecting off the glass exterior melted parts of a Jaguar car. Another said the building created a wind tunnel effect at its base.

The name of the prize is said to be inspired by a comment made 30 years ago by the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, a known critic of architecture. The prince described a proposed extension of London's National Gallery as "a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend." Endit