In the heart of London glittering buildings medieval wonders such as the Tower of London.
Today, let's discover them.
Building in London: article summary
Building in London: the Shard
Bold, impressive and memorable, Renzo Piano's spire-shaped building dominates the capital. It rises to a height of 309.6 meters, containing its own vertical city within.
Inaugurated in 2012, the Shard is a newcomer to London's urban landscape. It has already become a symbol of the city, thanks to its accessibility and transparency.
As the tallest building, it also offers the best views. You can see in all directions, from the Thames, which winds its way up to the hills at the edge of London.
British Museum, London
The world's first national public museum, which has always been free of charge, opened its doors in 1753.
The impressive Greek Revival building, with its imposing colonnades, is a foretaste of the 8 million wonderful objects it contains.
Visitors can discover the ancient wonders of the world, from the Elgin Marbles, extracted from the Parthenon in Athens, to the Egyptian Rosetta Stone and Assyrian treasures, including the colossal winged lions that once guarded the royal palace of King Ashurnasirpal II.
It's also worth visiting Pete Marsh, also known as the Lindow Man, whose preserved body was discovered in a Cheshire peat bog and is still alive today. estimated to date back to two years BC.
And don't forget to look up when you're in the Grande Cour, Europe's largest covered public square, where a spectacular glass roof envelops the famous reading room at its center.
Building in London: the Houses of Parliament
Visit Palace of Westminsterbuilt by 19th-century architect Sir Charles Barry, actually belongs to the talented Augustus Pugin.
He was only 23 when Barry hired him to help design the building. Barry was instrumental in its Gothic detailing.
Pugin's ornate gilding, elaborate sculptures and decorative woodwork adorns sumptuous interiors.
Parliament was bombed 12 times in one night during the Second World War, the House of Commons being destroyed in the process.
It was redesigned in 1941 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the man behind Battersea Power Station.
Tate Modern
Another gem from Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Bankside B power station was a beacon of modernity when it was built in the 1940s as Britain's first oil-fired power station.
The imposing chimney, a distinctive feature, was limited to a height of 99 m so as not to outdo its illustrious neighbor across the street, St Paul.
After its closure in the 1980s, the power station was resurrected by the relatively unknown firm Herzog & de Meuron. They won a competition to transform the ruined shell into the new Tate Modernopened in May 2000.
This monumental cultural icon has since become the most visited cultural icon in the world, and has totally revitalized the district of South Bank.
Building in London: Gherkin
Ridiculous when first announced, Norman Foster's famous bullet-shaped building has become one of the first truly great contemporary skyscrapers to sculpt the London skyline.
Standing proudly at 180 m, the glass Gherkin is three times the height of Niagara Falls. It is in fact a scaled-down version of what Foster had originally imagined.
The site itself has an interesting history: it's officially named 30 St Mary Axe, in homage to the vanished church which apparently contained an axe used by Attila the Hun.
Lloyd's
An icon of high-tech architecture, the Lloyd's building was designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, designers of the Cheesegrater and Three World Trade Centre.
Not dissimilar in concept to the famous Centre Pompidou in Paris, the structure is nicknamed "the upside-down building" because of all its services placed on the outside, giving it a futuristic appearance, machine-like.
The 1980s design became the youngest building to be granted historic monument status.
London's buildings are not always of great tourist interest. They do, however, make their mark on the landscape and define the face of London. Some of them also offer incredible views over the city. What you need see London from a different angle.
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