Greg, fresh from a trip to London, shares with Dan updates and reminiscences of the hale old town in the throes of ever-later capitalism, doffing hats to its raconteur-in-chief, Peter Wynne Rees.

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Intro: “Hairdresser on Fire,” by Morrissey

Discussed:

Peter Wynne Rees

The Square Mile (City of London)

Skygarden shitshow at the Walkie Talkie – 20 Fenchurch

Cities as information (gossip) machines

Jamaica Wine House

The George and Vulture

Bank of England – John Soane

The Royal Exchange – William Tite

The Cheesegrater (The Leadenhall Building) – Rogers, Stirk Harbour & Partners

The Lloyd’s Building – Richard Rogers

NewCities Podcast interview with Peter Rees

Heron (now Salesforce) Tower - KPF

The Standard London

St. Pancras Station

King’s Cross Station

The Blackfriar

Sir John Betjeman

Selhurst Park – Crystal Palace Club

Canary Wharf

22 Bishopsgate (“The Wedge”) – PLP Architecture; née the Pinnacle (“The Helter Skelter”) - KPF

Everything’s Iconic!

Coal Drops Yard

The Google “Landscraper” – Thomas Heatherwick and Bjarke Ingels Group

When is the Urban Redevelopment Vibe Shift coming?

Everyone wants a High Line

The Compression to Now vs Decades of Urban Accretion

Travel Challenge: the Stratford Olympic Site

Assemble – acupuncture revitalization – Granby Four Streets, Liverpool

Ricky Burdett, Professor of Urban Studies at the London School of Economics

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Outro: “In the City,” by the Jam