Glare from London skyscraper 'melted a Jaguar'


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A British property developer said Tuesday it was investigating after rays deflected by a skyscraper melted the side of a businessman's luxury Jaguar car.

Londoners have been shielding their eyes from the blinding glare reflected from the glass facade of 20 Fenchurch Street -- nicknamed the Walkie Talkie because of its flared shape -- while several drivers have complained that the beam has melted parts of their vehicles.

Local businessman Martin Lindsay said he was distraught when he returned to his parked Jaguar XJ near the tower in London's financial district to find the car's panels had warped along one side, while the wing mirror and Jaguar emblem on the front of the car had melted.

"On the windscreen, there was a note from the construction company saying 'your car's buckled, could you give us a call?'" Lindsay told the BBC.

He "could not believe" the extent of the damage, he added.

Developers Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group have apologised and paid for the damage, while three car parking spaces near the tower have been taken out of use.

Eddie Cannon, a heating and air conditioning engineer, said the so-called "death ray" had melted parts of his van.

"The van looks a total mess -- every bit of plastic on the left hand side and everything on the dashboard has melted, including a bottle of Lucozade that looks like it has been baked," he told the City A.M. newspaper.

The developers said in a statement: "We are taking the issue of light reflecting from 20 Fenchurch Street seriously, and are looking into the matter as a priority."

The companies are "evaluating longer-term solutions" while consulting with local businesses to address the issue in the meantime, they added.

Physicists have suggested that the concave shape of the "walkie-talkie" is responsible for the problem, focusing sunlight into a concentrated beam.

The Times newspaper said that temperatures near the tower exceeded 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) on Monday.

The developers said the phenomenon was caused by "the current elevation of the sun in the sky", and that as temperatures cool when autumn begins the problem should disappear.

"It currently lasts for approximately two hours per day, with initial modelling suggesting that it will be present for approximately two to three weeks," they said.

The 37-floor office block is due to be completed in March 2014.

The design has met with mixed reactions in London, with some complaining that its squat shape is a blot on the city skyline.

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"It currently lasts for approximately two hours per day, with initial modelling suggesting that it will be present for approximately two to three weeks," they said

.

 

 

Yeah, until next year.

 

That thing is insane. I walked past there the other day - it's like getting off of an airplane in a hot country.

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Someone wasn't thinking too well about this design.

 

I don't see how to fix it, other than give the building 'sunglasses' ... polarized glass.

 

Or maybe vents over the windows, reflecting light, upwards.

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Now I've heard everything....a building melting cars!!  :laugh:  :rofl:

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Someone wasn't thinking too well about this design.

 

I don't see how to fix it, other than give the building 'sunglasses' ... polarized glass.

 

Or maybe vents over the windows, reflecting light, upwards.

28mpmva.jpg

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I read this a few days ago - what a terrible design. Luckily I hear its rarely sunny in England anyways :P Good to hear the building company is paying for repairs.

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I read this a few days ago - what a terrible design. Luckily I hear its rarely sunny in England anyways :p Good to hear the building company is paying for repairs.

 

It's 29C in London today... it's been a damn good Summer overall..

 

Well, except if you're near this building maybe..

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Well i'd think this wouldn't be such an issue since England rarely see's sunlight.  :shifty:

 

I read this a few days ago - what a terrible design. Luckily I hear its rarely sunny in England anyways :p Good to hear the building company is paying for repairs.

 

Hah rarely sunny in England? 

Where do you get your weather reports from the Stereotype Daily? 

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Hah rarely sunny in England? 

Where do you get your weather reports from the Stereotype Daily? 

Nope, Top Gear :D

 

It was a joke in case you didn't get it ;) ~1300 hours of sunshine in a year isn't all that much

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We`re developing a death ray of our own in case you missed the memo,however due to cost cuts rather than aim the device we just have to persuade the enemy to drive past the building

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Nope, Top Gear :D

 

It was a joke in case you didn't get it ;) ~1300 hours of sunshine in a year isn't all that much

That's only 54 days a year, that isn't much at all. 

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That's only 54 days a year, that isn't much at all. 

 

We're a fairly northern country. Did you expect a lot?

 

It's hardly going to be a lot but temps of 25?-30? have become more common this summer. 

 

It's a little more than :

 

Well i'd think this wouldn't be such an issue since England rarely see's sunlight.   :shifty:

 
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We're a fairly northern country. Did you expect a lot?

 

It's hardly going to be a lot but temps of 25?-30? have become more common this summer. 

 

It's a little more than :

 
 

 

Flinty dont get so defensive lol. Maybe its the lack of sunshine that makes you that way. I don't know. 

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We`re developing a death ray of our own in case you missed the memo,however due to cost cuts rather than aim the device we just have to persuade the enemy to drive past the building

How do you intend to do that? May I suggest scantily clad girls. 

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