What is the odd shaped building in London?

The Gherkin facts Despite its shape, the lens at the very top of the tower is the only piece of curved glass used in The Gherkin. There are 18 passenger lifts which travel at speeds of up to six metres (20ft) per second. There are 1,037 steps in each of The Gherkin building's stairwells.

What is the weird shaped building in London?

The Gherkin, skyscraper in London that was designed by the architecture firm Foster and Partners and completed in 2004. Formally known as 30 St Mary Axe, the building has become better known by its colloquial name “The Gherkin,” which comes from its shape being similar to a gherkin fruit.

What is The Gherkin building in London used for?

It didn't open for the public until almost half of a year later. 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.

Why is The Gherkin closing?

Fluctuating exchange rates are largely to blame, and they have caused the original size of the loan to swell out of all proportion, leading to several failed debt payments from the owners.

What other buildings in London have got funny shapes?

Picture this: a cluster of oddly shaped titans—the Shard (that glassy pyramid piercing 310 meters), the Walkie Talkie (with its melting-car controversy turned Sky Garden triumph), the Cheesegrater (Leadenhall Building's slanted wedge), and the Gherkin (Norman Foster's bullet-like icon)—all crammed together, proudly ...

The Real Reason London's Skyscrapers Are Oddly Shaped - Cheddar Explains

What other buildings in London have got funny nicknames?

What is the big curved building in London?

20 Fenchurch Street is a commercial skyscraper in London that takes its name from its address on Fenchurch Street, in the historic City of London financial district. It has been nicknamed "The Walkie-Talkie" because of its distinctive shape, said to resemble a walkie-talkie handset.

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.

What is the shard used for?

The Shard was conceived as a building with multiple uses: a vertical city where people could live, work and relax. It comprises world-class offices, award-winning restaurants, the 5-star Shangri-La Hotel, exclusive residences and the UK's highest viewing gallery, The View from The Shard, offering 360-degree views.

Who owns The Gherkin building in London?

In November 2014, the Gherkin was purchased for £700 million by the Safra Group, controlled by the Lebanese - Brazilian billionaire Joseph Safra.

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.

What is the point of gherkin?

Gherkin is a plain-text, simply-structured language that is easy for nonprogrammers to learn and understand. It's also sophisticated enough to give investors to-the-point descriptions of test scenarios without confusing them.

How much is The Gherkin worth?

Gherkin sale: London's iconic skyline 'worth £7.2bn' London's Gherkin skyscraper has been sold to investment giant the Safra Group in a deal reportedly worth £726m.

What is the strange building in London?

The Gherkin, St Mary Axe

The Gherkin is eye-catching and unusual due to its sleek facade with intricate design and smooth point. The building has 41 floors and measures 180 m (591 ft) tall. The building is home to offices, shops and restaurants along with incredible views across London.

What is the difference between gherkin and cucumber?

A gherkin is a pickled baby cucumber. The name “gherkin” comes from the Dutch word “gurken,” which means small pickled cucumber. Gherkins, also known as baby pickles or miniature cucumbers, are usually one to two inches long.

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.

Can you go inside The Shard for free?

Ticket information

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.

Who owns The Shard in London?

The Shard was developed by Sellar Property on behalf of LBQ Ltd and is jointly owned by Sellar Property and the State of Qatar. The Shard describes itself as a vertical city and is the vision of joint owner, Irvine Sellar.

Is The Shard taller than the Eiffel Tower?

The tallest building in the UK that is open for guests to use as a viewing platform is The Shard in London which Stands at 310 metres, which is just 20 metres shorter than the Eiffel Tower's pinnacle.

Is there a dress code for The Gherkin?

What is the dress code? Casual elegance. We welcome and encourage style, however, we kindly ask that guests refrain from wearing shorts, flip flops and sportswear.

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.

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.

What is the big building next to London Eye?

Today, County Hall is the site of a number of leisure attractions including a hub for Merlin Entertainments whose Sea Life London Aquarium, London Dungeon, Shrek's Adventure! and The London Eye are all based in and around the building. In 2007, County Hall hosted Star Wars: The Exhibition.

Why does London have so little skyscrapers?

London was built on clay so it was harder to build high than in New York, which stands on rock. For many years the tallest architects could construct a skyscraper was 5 – 600 feet.

What is the Sky Garden in London?

Sky Garden is London's highest public garden – a vibrant social space with 360-degree views of the city's iconic skyline. Here, you can experience London from a spectacular viewpoint. Enjoy lush greenery, exquisitely landscaped gardens, observation decks, and an open-air terrace.