The 0.5 hectare site between Oxford Street and Covent Garden was until recently occupied by a 1960s office complex owned by the British Department of Defense. Now an ensemble of three buildings with facades of glass and ceramic tiles will appear there. They will reach a height of 12 floors, which will house offices, housing (including social), shops, restaurants, cafes, as well as public spaces. In the center of the complex, a new piazza will appear, and gardens will be laid out on the roofs of the buildings.
Despite its central location in London, St. Giles was not one of the most developed and attractive parts of the city. Now, according to Renzo Piano, the new development will revive it and make it more pleasant for pedestrians.
Construction of the Central Saint Giles complex has already begun, with completion scheduled for late 2009.
