| Built: |
1979-1984
|
| Designed
by: |
Richard
Rogers |
| Cost: |
£163,000,000.00
|
| Floors:
|
12
|
| Type: |
Skyscraper »» Click here to see
other skyscrapers. |
| Type: |
Office building |
| Observation
deck: |
Many |
| Location: |
One
Lime Street |
Somewhere
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.
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