1 - The Gherkin, London, UK

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The 6th tallest skyscraper of London, 30th St Mary Axe, better known as the Gherkin (due to its phallic shape), was completed in 2004 following the destruction of the Baltic Exchange Building on the City of London site after an IRA bombing in 1992. During the construction of the building, the grave of a teenage Roman girl was uncovered on the historically charged site. The grave was reinserted in its original place at the base on completion of the tower. Most of its floor space is rented by various companies; including the Swiss Re company (Swiss Reinsurance) whom instigated the idea. A symbol of the new high-rise boom in London, the Gherkin is without a doubt one the most innovative and aesthetically-pleasing architectural gems of the planet, making Foster+Partners a household name. Voted most admired building of the year 2005, the Guerkin is at the height of ecological design "rooted in a radical approach - technically, architecturally, socially and spatially" (Foster + Partners), making it architecturally significant among London's skyscrapers. The building was designed in such a way as to consume half the energy a building of its size usually would mainly due to natural ventilation and heating convection systems between each floor and passive solar energy. Also, the amount of natural light the glass panes let in cuts down the need for lighting thus reducing energy by half. The 40 storey tower clad in titanium and 35 km of steel, a surface made up of 24,000 sq. miles glass (or 5 football pitches worth), is nothing short of stunning; its unusual curves make it instantly recognisable among the London skyline and is a typical example of Norman Foster's more curvaceous designs. Although the building looks curved, the only part of the glass that is actually curved is right at the top. The Arcadia Gardens are open to the public to enjoy and there is a restaurant and bar open to the residents of the building as well as for private exterior functions, on the 39th floor which boasts some of the most stupefying views of London, so keep your eyes peeled for events happening in the tower! If however you have missed your invitation, you can still admire the giant gherkin-shaped building from almost anywhere in the capital right up to the M11!

For details of 30 St Mary click here

Text: Rooksana Hossenally. Photo: Nigel Young for Foster+Partners.

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