Willis Building, Grade I listed office building in Central Ipswich, England.
Description
Willis Building is a high-tech office structure in central Ipswich featuring three open-plan floors defined by dark smoked glass and exposed concrete pillars. Cantilevered structural elements extend throughout the interior, creating a distinctive spatial composition.
History
Foster and Partners with architect Wendy Cheesman completed the building in 1975 as a regional headquarters for the Willis Towers Watson insurance company. It stands as an early example of high-tech office design that would gain international recognition.
Culture
The building received Grade I protection in 1991, recognizing its importance to modern architecture and design. Visitors can observe how the space was originally conceived to function as a major workplace, reflecting attitudes toward office design from that era.
Practical
The building is easy to locate from the street due to its curved form standing out in the surrounding area. The interior features ample light through large glass panels, though dark surfaces may feel dim initially as your eyes adjust.
Did you know?
The building follows a completely curved floor plan with no right angles anywhere in its structure, adapting to the surrounding street pattern. This organic design was an unusual approach for a large office building when it was built.
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Norman Foster has shaped contemporary architecture through technical innovation and design clarity. His buildings feature extensive glass facades, exposed steel structures and energy systems. The Reichstag dome in Berlin with its spiral ramp and the circular Apple Park in Cupertino demonstrate his...
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