How long did it take to build the gherkin?

The glass-fronted tower was designed by legendary British architect Sir Norman Foster. It took two years to construct and features a distinctive spiral design. The Gherkin opened in 2004.

How was The Gherkin built?

The frame of the Gherkin is constructed from a series of diagonally interlocking steel beams that make a series of triangular prisms on the building's facade. This structure makes the building resistant to the wind without the need for added reinforcements like columns.

What are some interesting facts about The Gherkin?

The site was formerly home to the Baltic Exchange (built in 1903) before it was damaged by an Irish Republican Army bomb in 1992. Swiss Re sold the building but continues to occupy several levels. The Gherkin has won many awards, including the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize in 2004.

How much would it cost to buy The Gherkin?

Eventually The Gherkin was sold for £700 million, exceeding almost everyone's expectation. On November 10, 2014, contracts were exchanged on 30 St Mary Axe - The Gherkin.

Can anyone go inside The Gherkin?

The top floors of The Gherkin tower include Helix and Iris, a panoramic restaurant and bar both open to the public. There you can enjoy sophisticated cocktails and contemporary British cuisine, while taking in the uninterrupted views of London.

The Gherkin, The Building London Didn't Want Built | Building The To The Sky | Spark

What is the shard worth?

The Shard - Estimated Value: £2bn

The Shard is owned by Sellar in partnership with the State of Qatar. Standing at 1,017ft (310m), the 87-storey building is the tallest, occupiable skyscraper in Western Europe, say its owners.

Can of Ham skyscraper in the City of London?

70 St Mary Axe. 70 St Mary Axe, informally known as the Can of Ham due to its shape, is an office building in the City of London.

Can you go up The Gherkin for free?

Can the public visit The Gherkin? The Gherkin is primarily a private office building, but the public can visit by booking a table at Searcys restaurant or bar on the top floors. Access to other areas is restricted to tenants and their guests.

Does The Gherkin rotate?

The Gherkin provides 76,400 square metres of office space, including a shopping arcade and a top-floor club with spectacular panoramic views of the city. The spiralling pattern of the windows is a result of the floor layout, which calls for each floor to be rotated five degrees relative to the floor beneath it.

What was the first skyscraper in the UK?

UK Skyscrapers: A Quick History

Some sources list the Ditherington Flax Mill, a flax mill in Shrewsbury, England, which was the first iron-framed building in the country (and in the world). It is five stories tall and was completed in 1797. Others assert that Liverpool's Liver Building is the “true” first skyscraper.

What is inside of The Gherkin?

Today, the Gherkin is primarily an office building. It is the headquarters of many large companies including Swiss Re and some of the offices of Sky News. Some very popular television shows and radio shows are filmed here or near this building today.

Can you see The Gherkin from the London Eye?

East. Reveals the financial heart of the city, with the towering skyscrapers of the City of London and Canary Wharf. The Gherkin, Cheesegrater, and Walkie Talkie buildings are prominent. The winding Thames also leads your eye towards Greenwich and the O2 Arena, giving you incredible views from the London Eye.

Why is it called the gherkin?

Nickname Origin: The nickname "The Gherkin" comes from the building's distinctive, pickle-like shape. Officially known as 30 St Mary Axe, this skyscraper's design resembles a gherkin (pickle), which is a small, typically pickled cucumber.

How many flights of stairs is the Gherkin?

The Gherkin is 38 floors, comprised of 76 flights of stairs totalling 1,037 steps.

What is the tallest building in London?

The Shard topped out in 2012 at London Bridge and at 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) remains London's tallest building.

How much is a shard worth?

Shard (SHARD) is a cryptocurrency and operates on the Ethereum platform. Shard has a current supply of 77,160,176.76 with 17,100,000 in circulation. The last known price of Shard is 0.00209222 USD and is up 0.00 over the last 24 hours.

Who owns the top of The Shard?

In 2009, the State of Qatar consolidated its ownership of London Bridge Quarter (known now as Shard Quarter), including The Shard, through the purchase of the private Qatari investors' stakes. Shard Quarter is today jointly owned by the State of Qatar and Sellar.

Can you go up The Shard without paying?

Yes! Tickets are required for everyone visiting The View from The Shard except for children aged three and under. Walk up tickets can be purchased on the day, subject to availability. Same day bookings can be made on our website, although we recommend you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

How is The Gherkin cleaned?

The Gherkin

Its swirling/striped pattern isn't just a design aesthetic, however, as it forms a part of the Gherkin's energy-saving system, allowing air to flow up in spirals. To clean such an impressive building takes up to 10 professional window cleaners per day and takes around two weeks to complete.

Can you have a drink at The Gherkin?

Searcys Champagne and Cocktail Bar is located on level 40 of The Gherkin, is open to all and offers an extensive cocktail menu as unique as the setting, paying homage to the London sights and neighbourhoods that can all be spied below from the Gherkin's distinctive position.

Why is it called St. Mary's Axe?

(The church that remains in the modern-day St Mary Axe is St Andrew Undershaft.) Its full name was St Mary, St Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins, and it was also sometimes referred to as St Mary Pellipar. Its common name (also St Mary [or Marie] at the Axe) derives from the sign of an axe over the east end of the church.

Can I wear trainers to the Gherkin?

The dress code is Casual Elegance – We welcome and encourage style, however, we kindly ask that guests refrain from wearing shorts, flip flops and sportswear, including athletic trainers. Smart jeans are permitted with a collared shirt or blazer.

What building is next to the Gherkin?

The new 63 St Mary's Axe will be erected short walk from the Gherkin (at 30 St Mary's Axe Street), with 45 storeys and more than 85,000 square metres of floor space.

How many windows are on the Gherkin?

The Gherkin has 792 mechanized windows with 7,429 glass panes covering its exterior. All in all, the glass that surrounds the Gherkin can cover five football pitches. Incredible!