Now read this article. We need attitudes like this here from our politicians and heritage people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/890000/images/_893161_gherkin2300.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_893000/893161.stm

What a landmark,Fosters answer to Rodgers Lloyd's Bank. That would never get the go ahead here,not even in Dublin's docklands.Too futuristic for backward folk here.

This was obviously the subject of a serious planning battle if it went all the way to the environment minister. Interesting the debate over the conservation of the Baltic Exchange building - debating the preservation of sixties (?) office buildings here is a long way off.

Amazing isn't it that in the UK, there can be an informed debate aboiut listing 1960s buildings. In Ireland, 20th century buildings are difficult enough even if they were built in 1901.

We may not have better architecture but we've got better nicknames for our landmarks!!