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The YouTube video (see link above )is very good and it's interesting to see how Stockholm's planners are just as malleable as they are in the UK. And Jesus Christ, what a horrible building! And it's YELLOW! Or even GOLD!

As the video says, there's a big commercial developer behind this. It seems to be yet another iteration of their old trick:

STEP 1.

Greedy developers and easy-to-manipulate politicians, keen to start building big and high on the Stockholm waterfront, agree that to open up this process a "prestige" building is needed that goes as high as possible and is so internationally "classy" that few will dare to challenge their decisions.

STEP 2. Bring in a supposedly prestigious international architect, whose reputation is so great that the local architects won't be able to protest and who is outside local politics (and knows nothing about them). Pay him lots of money.

STEP 3.

Get the archistar to design as big a building as possible. Then silence the protesters by offering a modified version. Buy some of them off by offering them sweeteners.

STEP 4.

Build the building and make a great fuss about how wonderful it is. Then over the next few years, start giving planning permission for the flood of other developments that will follow.

END (or beginning) OF STORY