Londons Glass Towers
London is home to some wonderful architecture from all ages including the 20th and 21st centuries, the current glass monolith outshining its neighbours is 'The Shard'. Completed in July 2012 and opened on February 1st 2013 it towers 309.7m (1016 ft) high over London Bridge railway station. As you might expect with that kind of height it is visible from all over the city making it an ever present in tourist photos.
Whilst The Shard may be the tallest by some measure it isn't the most loved by Londoners, that title goes to the stunning 'Gherkin'. Another neo-futuristic building completed in 2003 and opened on April 28th 2004, from architect Sir Norman Foster who is also responsible for 'The Bow' in Calgary where Sarah currently works. The Gherkin is actually named '30 St Mary Axe' but that was never going to take on was it. It's easy to see why the Gherkin became a favourite so quickly, it's shape adds another dimension to the small 'City of London' and its wonderful historic centre. Standing only 180m (591 ft) high it is hardly a giant but within its setting it fits perfectly and brings kudos to the area.
If the Gherkin is the most loved then the 'Walkie Talkie' is perhaps the most hated, standing at 160m (525 ft) is is smaller than most in London but manages to shove itself to the forefront of many an image due to its position in the city. Completed in April 2014 and open in May of the same year the controversial building is either loved or hated by locals, personally I find it looks dated even though it's newly built.
Almost forgotten in the city now is the beautiful Lloyds building, at 88m (289 ft) it is small but perfectly formed. Completed in 1986 it still looks incredibly modern 31 years later, imagine what it looked like at the time. This incredible structure has all of its services (staircases, lifts, ductwork, electrical power conduits and water pipes) on the outside, leaving a beautifully open and uncluttered space within.
The newest glass monolith currently underway in the city is 'The Scalpel', standing adjacent to both the Gherkin and the Lloyds building it will slice the air with it's 190m (623 ft) top that narrows down to a sliver of glass in reference to the name. The estimated completion date is late 2017 and I for one will be wandering up there to see the finished product next time I'm in the city.
With the Gherkin, Lloyds building and Scalpel in the area it might be easy to forget about the 'Cheese Grater' that also sits on Leadenhall Street, at 225m (738 ft) it is no slouch but it's shape leaves it lost in a small collection of the most imaginative buildings in the city. Still, opened in July 2014 the Cheese Grater deserves its place in the group and brings another 'angle' to an area bristling with glass spires, long may it continue.
Whilst The Shard may be the tallest by some measure it isn't the most loved by Londoners, that title goes to the stunning 'Gherkin'. Another neo-futuristic building completed in 2003 and opened on April 28th 2004, from architect Sir Norman Foster who is also responsible for 'The Bow' in Calgary where Sarah currently works. The Gherkin is actually named '30 St Mary Axe' but that was never going to take on was it. It's easy to see why the Gherkin became a favourite so quickly, it's shape adds another dimension to the small 'City of London' and its wonderful historic centre. Standing only 180m (591 ft) high it is hardly a giant but within its setting it fits perfectly and brings kudos to the area.
If the Gherkin is the most loved then the 'Walkie Talkie' is perhaps the most hated, standing at 160m (525 ft) is is smaller than most in London but manages to shove itself to the forefront of many an image due to its position in the city. Completed in April 2014 and open in May of the same year the controversial building is either loved or hated by locals, personally I find it looks dated even though it's newly built.
Almost forgotten in the city now is the beautiful Lloyds building, at 88m (289 ft) it is small but perfectly formed. Completed in 1986 it still looks incredibly modern 31 years later, imagine what it looked like at the time. This incredible structure has all of its services (staircases, lifts, ductwork, electrical power conduits and water pipes) on the outside, leaving a beautifully open and uncluttered space within.
The newest glass monolith currently underway in the city is 'The Scalpel', standing adjacent to both the Gherkin and the Lloyds building it will slice the air with it's 190m (623 ft) top that narrows down to a sliver of glass in reference to the name. The estimated completion date is late 2017 and I for one will be wandering up there to see the finished product next time I'm in the city.
With the Gherkin, Lloyds building and Scalpel in the area it might be easy to forget about the 'Cheese Grater' that also sits on Leadenhall Street, at 225m (738 ft) it is no slouch but it's shape leaves it lost in a small collection of the most imaginative buildings in the city. Still, opened in July 2014 the Cheese Grater deserves its place in the group and brings another 'angle' to an area bristling with glass spires, long may it continue.