Also known as: The Glass Egg Built: 2000-2002 Cost: £43,000,000 Designed by: Sir Norman Foster Type: Government Building Stories: 10 Maximum Height: 164 feet / 50 meters Location: The Queen's Walk, London, United Kingdom
I n a capital bristling with historic significant stone architecture, the use of this glass and steel orb as the seat of city government may seem strange, but the reason is simple -- London didn't have a mayor from 1988 to 2002. This building was erected specifically for the purpose of housing the central authority, and constructed at a time when London was embracing glass and steel as the hallmark of the new millennium.
The glass is unavoidable, surrounding visitors, politicians, and civic leaders. They are able to look out not just upon the popular London core, but around in all directions over their domain. Perhaps the transparency will worth both ways, reminding the people inside that they serve the people outside. The main feature of the interior is the grand debating chamber, which looks up into a soaring spiral stairwell. At the top of the building is an open-air viewing platform.
The shape of the building is not something simple like a sphere, or an egg. It is something akin to a drop of water being blown over by a puff of air. Each level is offset slightly from the one below, hanging over one side of the building. The result is a slightly curving side, and a rapidly curving side. This is an energy-saving feature, as the building is angled to take advantage of sunlight in the winter, and avoid it in the summer. There is also a below-grade ampitheatrer, which makes the building appear as if it is rising from a hole.
The first mayor to have his offices in this building was Ken Livingstone.
23 July, 2002 - Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh officially open the new city hall. The mayors of Paris and Berlin also attended the ceremony.
santosh
Friday, November 7th, 2008 @ 9:08am
Rating: Four stars. One of the best design, everything is clear in this structure, climatically, structurally, conceptually,& finally designed by SIR NORMAN FOSTER, what else neede
SDK
Thursday, May 29th, 2008 @ 9:43am
Rating: Four stars. This Building is extremely dynanic, amazing architecture- visual fantacy
Hugh
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 @ 12:00am
Rating: Five stars. Absolutely smashing!!! I'm so happy to be alive to witness the beginnings of such architecture in London, Hong Kong, New York and a handful of other cities. The form is very organic looking, in shape and modern enough to be pleasing to the eyes. Perfect for our times.
khaya khumalo
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 @ 9:05am
Rating: Four stars. It absolutely magnificent and it epitomizes the vibe London offers to anyone who visits that spot,and experience a remarkable architecture and it shows again cosmopolitan image of London.
Roecker
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 @ 5:12am
It definately goes miles to show how architects control aesthetic perceptions of everyone else around them. Magnificient!
Sokkky
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 @ 6:01pm
Rating: Five stars. I love this building. This is excellent contrast between new and old London. great!
ida campbell
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008 @ 11:58am
Rating: Five stars. I like the form, design and the idea of really pushing the envelope, I am just amaze at the management, organization and disapline that went into building such an idea.
Raman Batra
Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 @ 6:35am
Rating: Five stars. This building looks like a spaceship on the EARTH n really very beautiful
alex
Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 @ 5:31am
Rating: One star. i dont like this building it looks like a stack of pizza's its horrible
bünyamin kalafat
Monday, June 25th, 2007 @ 7:24am
Rating: Four stars. it seems modern building but i think it is like a tropical fruit.
Ehsan Feiz
Monday, May 28th, 2007 @ 4:41pm
Rating: Four stars. I don`t want to be one of thoes who says "form follows function and nothing else!" but this beauty great building seems a little useless. I just can be sure that this is not my favorite and this is not the best work of Foster THE GREAT !
shannon
Friday, May 18th, 2007 @ 8:34am
Rating: Five stars. i have always wanted to go to london and that would be one place id want to go see its amazingly awesome!
Nuran Keles
Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 @ 4:14pm
Rating: Four stars. I think ıt's a imposing and different face for London
Kabir
Sunday, February 25th, 2007 @ 6:23am
Rating: Four stars. I always lke to put this question to critics "can u do better?". If u are a designer you will understand that bringing to life such a design let alone making it work, especially in terms of materials used,is not for all. You should give him {the architect} the best of awards. I think it's a master piece from a mastermind.Kabir [M.Sc 2 STUDENT]DEPT OF ARCHITECTURE Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
Adam Crawley
Monday, February 19th, 2007 @ 4:57pm
Rating: Four stars. You know when you take a boat trip down the river thames and you see all those famous buildings like the houses of parliament and landmarks like the london eye and you go under bridges like tower bridge, well make this a little more known around the world and it will be a london attraction.
Mike
Monday, April 24th, 2006 @ 10:03pm
Rating: Three stars. Whery far from the proportional perfection of the Gherkin. Razer pretentious and chubby, so just funny. Not an eyesore, but nothing exeptional...
David Watts
Saturday, January 28th, 2006 @ 10:33am
Rating: Five stars. Not big as world structures go but, like the ghurkin, a texhnically and functionally brilliant design appropriate to the computer age, proving, as always, that reality is superior to the pedestrian concepts of science fiction.
Jose L Orduna
Friday, January 6th, 2006 @ 9:01pm
Rating: Four stars. he is surprising, mainly when one sees of an old and traditional side (bridge of the tower) and then this modern and special building congratulations
It`s amazing
Ebba
Wednesday, November 30th, 2005 @ 3:38pm
Rating: Five stars. I love it! So beautyful. Modern, slick, very light, seems weightless and still catch your eye. Can it get much better?
Amin
Thursday, November 3rd, 2005 @ 8:43am
Rating: Four stars. Have been inside the building and love it. It is not just looks great on the facade but also have a good interior as well. loves the spiral ramp which can promote a interaction between floors and the deck overlooking the tower bridge and london city at the most top floor is brilliant. Good job.
Aadrien Luke
Wednesday, September 14th, 2005 @ 1:17am
Rating: Five stars. It is a great landmark, next to the River Thames and across from the Tower of London, however it does clash horribly with Tower Bridge next to it.
Igor
Tuesday, August 16th, 2005 @ 4:57am
Rating: Four stars. It's great that London is bold and brave to defy conventions and traditions to approve this type of buildings.
Considering what the south bank was before the renewal this is a great step forward... regardless if you like this building or not.
wilson frederick
Wednesday, July 27th, 2005 @ 12:43am
Rating: Two stars. The skyline of the city of London keeps changing manifoldly through the years.Wonderful masterpieces and landmark monuments capture the eyes as never before.Wish all cities of the world focus their attention on such aesthetical aspects that can add to the appeal of the city and give a glorious face lift what London possesses!
Michelle
Monday, June 6th, 2005 @ 4:41pm
While I have not familarity with its context, the buildng must be commended for its boldness. Am quite sure that Her Royal Highness was please to open an installation what is indicative of the exploration in technology that is the hallmark of this age. it is time we let go of our nostalgia, we all want plasma screen tv, the latest comfort in cars and air travel but want our architecture to remain in the dungeon with corsettes and bustles. Kudos
S. P
Thursday, May 26th, 2005 @ 8:34am
Rating: One star. I hate this eyesore! It has been given so much credit! For what? I think it is very dull, unappealing and unpowerful!
Richard
Friday, April 8th, 2005 @ 3:24pm
Rating: One star. I call it "The Snail". Whatever you think it looks like, it seems we have to have a Theme Park approach to architecture with 'Gherkins' and 'Needles' etc., instead of mature aesthetics.
BTW, there are problems with the windows, which keep cracking.
Good design is not just about revolutionary looks.
Salwan Hameed
Monday, March 28th, 2005 @ 9:27am
Rating: Four stars. modern&stylish
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santosh
Four stars.
Hugh
Five stars.
khaya khumalo
Roecker
Sokkky
alex
One star.
bünyamin kalafat
Ehsan Feiz
Kabir
Mike
Three stars.
Jose L Orduna
Two stars.
Michelle