01/06/2004 Entry: "St Paul's Cathedral Renovations Underway"

St Paul's Cathedral 'Disappears'
The great West Front of St. Paul's Cathedral has disappeared. Well, not exactly. It has been hidden by one of the largest printed images ever seen in London, while cleaning and repair work goes on behind it. The image - taken from a 1927 architectural drawing of the West Front - is printed on PVC designed to withstand sun, wind and rain, and is 57 metres wide by 30 metres high.

It will remain in place for about a year, while the work continues: it is part of the cathedral's £40 million internal and external restoration scheme, marking the 300th anniversary in 2008 of the laying of the final stone in the presence of the architect Sir Christopher Wren.

St. Paul's has recently opened Domus, a new shop in St. Paul’s Churchyard, next to the rejuvenated Paternoster Square development. Items on sale range in price from 60p to £200, and include pens, toiletries, leather goods and hand-crafted glassware inspired by a hidden geometric staircase in the cathedral.

Website: www.stpauls.co.uk