S omewhere between art deco and Blade Runner, the Lloyd’s of London Headquarters is a surprisingly risky design for an insurance company. Many marvel at its shimmering steel and glittering glass. Others consider it a monstrosity imposing itself on the heart of London’s financial district. It has been successfully compared to a building turned inside out with ductwork and services on the outside instead of neatly concealed behind a uniform structure. Industrial dreck, or post-modern masterpiece, it is at least a building that gets noticed. While the six towers are most noticed by tourists, the main focus of the building is part that few actually see -- the internal atrium. This is the hub around which all activity turns on a series of galleries. Building facilities like rest rooms, kitchens, elevators, etc… are placed on the outside of the building where they won’t get in the way of the work of business. More importantly, being easily accessible from the outside means they can be upgraded or replaced with a minimum of hassle and without impacting usable office space.
There is a bell from the ship La Lutine in the Underwriting Rooms. It is rung to announce general news; once for bad news, twice for good news.
The "inside out" design seemed like a good idea at first, but within 18 months, the building was suffering from corosion and £12,000,000.00 was spent to make repairs.
Felicia Allen
Monday, May 18th, 2009 @ 6:02pm
Rating: Five stars. Very unique and artistic.
sherry
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 @ 2:45pm
Rating: Five stars. Richard Rogers gives so much to our world... and this is one of his most beautyful presents!
Manash Rajbaruah
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 @ 3:11am
Rating: Five stars. One of the most beautiful building in the world. Would love to visit one day.
fernando
Saturday, December 8th, 2007 @ 1:06am
Rating: One star. A petrol facility emerging just in the middle of a reasonably beautiful old european city town centre. Could be understood as putting Chernobyl in downtown Prague. Intelectually snobbish, too.
Nick
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 @ 10:52am
Rating: Three stars. Actually, Jamie, the Centre Pompidou came before the lloyds building. And is a more fitting example of Richard Rogers style of work. And as of high tech, there are more impressive high tech achievements in architecture history than this building...
Andreas
Thursday, July 5th, 2007 @ 4:58am
Rating: Five stars. A fine example of modern architecture
Adam Crawley
Monday, February 19th, 2007 @ 5:01pm
Rating: Five stars. Amazing architecture and is differnet so great!!!
Mike
Monday, April 24th, 2006 @ 10:20pm
Rating: Five stars. This is a great building. That's it.
Jamie
Thursday, June 9th, 2005 @ 11:36am
Rating: Five stars. The finest example of high tec architecture in the world to date. You have to see it in the flesh to understand it's beauty. It works due to the fact it contrasts with everything.
ashley
Monday, February 21st, 2005 @ 9:42pm
Rating: Five stars. Awesome! I have been to Lloyd's of London and this building is amazing. Much like its workers who treated me like family!
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Felicia Allen
Five stars.
sherry
Manash Rajbaruah
fernando
One star.
Three stars.
Andreas
Adam Crawley
Mike