London's Gherkin: a building that doesn't go unnoticed

Also known as 30 St Mary Axe, the Gherkin is a modern skyscraper in central London.

Officially opened to the public in 2004, construction was completed in December 2013.

Today, I'd like to tell you more about this iconic London landmark.

London Gherkin: article summary

London's Gherkin: a building constructed after a bombing raid

The birth of the Gherkin in London followed the bombing of the Baltic Exchange in 1992, during which the Chamber of Shipping and the former Baltic Exchange buildings were destroyed. were severely damaged.

This led to a controversial decision to construct a new building on the site, hence the birth of the Gherkin.

A building sold individually

The Gherkin in London was a lucrative building and was sold at least twice in its lifetime. In 2006, it was back on the real estate market. for £600 million.

It was sold for £630 million to "IVG Immobilien AG" and the British investment company "Evans Randall".

The new owners put it up for sale again in 2014, selling it for £700 million to the "Safra Group", owned by Brazilian billionaire Joseph Safra.

The London Gherkin: a commemorative souvenir of the Baltic Exchange

The top of the Gherkin's panoramic dome is a curved piece of glass, the only curved piece in the dome. The piece is a nod to the iconic stained glass windows of the former Baltic Exchange. whose destruction led to the construction of the Gherkin.

The Gherkin was built using an incredible amount of glass. It is said that the amount of glass used on the exterior of the Gherkin is enough to cover three soccer pitches! More than 35 kilometers of steel are used in the building's structure.

Numerous players and professions in a single building

The Gherkin in London is a huge 41-storey building. 33 floors are exclusively office space.

The other floors offer leisure facilities such as a bar and restaurant.

The Gherkin in London: passive solar heating

For a building of its size, London's Gherkin consumes very little energy. In fact, it does, it consumes half the energy required by a building of the same size.

The Gherkin was built with shafts between the floors, creating the same effect as the double-glazing used in houses. The result is energy-saving insulation on every floor.

Automated building windows

As you'd expect from a modern building of Gherkins proportions, this building is equipped with some of the most advanced technologies, such as an automated window opening and closing system.

Opening the Gherkin's 745 windows could otherwise have been a daunting task, especially on floors not occupied by humans.

The Gherkins' windows are designed to open automatically by a computer system that responds to signals from a mini weather station that transmits information on wind speed, sunlight and temperature.

The Gherkin in London: an ideal venue for events

Hosting an event at the Gherkin in London guarantees guests a magnificent view of the city. It's no wonder the building organizes numerous events in the bar and restaurant.

Events at the Gherkin include:

• Business conferences
• Parties
• Weddings
• Receptions

When it was built, it posed a problem for aircraft

The Gherkin should have been called the Millennium Tower, measuring 386 metres and 92 storeys, but he settled for 180 meters.

L'Heathrow airport was opposed to a 386-meter Gherkin, as it would have posed a problem for the airport's flight plans.

Since the Gherkin is shorter in height and number of storeys, it still has nine aircraft warning lights that glow red at dusk.

The Gherkin in London is a building that doesn't go unnoticed. During your stay, you can visit the building and, why not? take a few photos of the facility.

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