The Gherkin

About The Gherkin

Skyscraper in London, England

30 St Mary Axe, formerly the Swiss Re Building and universally nicknamed The Gherkin for its tapering shape, is an office skyscraper in the heart of the City of London, the capital's main financial district. Designed by Foster + Partners with engineers Arup and built by Skanska between 2001 and 2003, it opened in April 2004. It rises 180 metres over 41 floors on the site of the old Baltic Exchange, which was destroyed in a bombing in 1992. The tower is one of London's most recognised pieces of contemporary architecture. Its curved glass form reduces wind turbulence in the streets below, and dark spiralling bands of windows mark open light-wells on every floor that act as natural ventilation, while a double-glazed skin insulates the offices. It won the Stirling Prize for Britain's best building in 2004 and the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2003. It is private offices and not open to the public, but it is visible across the City; the best angles are from Leadenhall Street and between the neighbouring glass towers. By black stone benches on the Bury Street side is a memorial to a Roman girl buried here some 1,600 years ago, whose grave was discovered during construction.

Where:

London, United Kingdom