30 St Mary Axe, also known as the Gherkin and the Swiss Re Building, is a skyscraper in London's main financial district, the City of London, completed in December 2003 and opened on 28 April 2004. It is 180 metres (591 ft) tall, with 40 floors. Its construction symbolised the start of a new high-rise construction boom in London.The building was designed by Lord Foster, his then business partner Ken Shuttleworth, and Arup engineers, and was constructed by Skanska of Sweden in 2001–2004.
you know that last picture defines London for me in a way, the very old alongside the very new...we are used to this sort of modern vs old but to many people it would be so wierd. Its like when we go to florida and its all so new...no architectural history, then somewhere like paris, i don't think we saw anything modern....
ReplyDeletehave to say though, prefer the old, the character, the history of it all....
lovely pictures as usual, i have been keeping up the last couple of days, tooth ache is kicking my arse a bit, i may have to have a couple of shots of brandy before salsa...might make me dance better LOL!!!
awesome pictures as always!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies for your comments and your visit. The great thing about London is the mixture of the old with the new. As sally has noted the last picture with the church standing nicely in the shadow of the Gherkin. Many people in London don't really see the our beautiful history both old and new around them as they are often in a rush to get to A to B.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dena for your return visit. :) you are welcome back any time!
Wow, what an amazing building. I've never seen anything like it.
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful and unusal building and can be seen from many locations around London. I think it sits quite well with the hsitorial landscape of London and is a favourite of mine as well.
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