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London skyscraper to get permanent sunshade

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Press Trust of India London
A gleaming London skyscraper, blamed for sparking small fires and melted cars, will be given a sunshade to act as a permanent sun block.

Last September, the glare from the 37-floor "Walkie- Talkie" skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street melted parked vehicles and damaged shops here.

Developer Land Securities said it has received planning permission to install a "brise soleil" sunshade.

It will replace the temporary system put up last year after complaints.

The work is expected to begin later this month, the BBC reported.

In its financial results for 2013, the developer said: "A solar glare issue drew attention to the building for the wrong reasons. Our brise soleil solution has gained planning approval and installation will start shortly.
 

"It will not interfere with the customer fit-out or occupation. The cost involved has not altered our original estimated total cost of the building," the company said.

In September, while the 200-million-pound building was still under construction, business owners in Eastcheap said the Rafael Vinoly designed skyscraper had blistered paintwork, caused tiles to smash and singed fabric and doormats.

The scorching glare and heat also damaged parked vehicles, including a Jaguar, melting its wing mirror, panels and Jaguar badge.

Land Securities and Canary Wharf paid out about 1,000 pounds in compensation to the car's owner and installed a temporary screen on the building.

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First Published: May 15 2014 | 8:40 PM IST

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