The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe, Steel and glass skyscraper in City of London, United Kingdom.
The cylindrical tower rises 250 meters into the sky with a curved glass facade that reflects sunlight across its 41 floors and diamond-shaped panels.
In 1992, the IRA bombing of the Baltic Exchange destroyed multiple buildings on this site and killed three people. Reconstruction was entrusted to architects Norman Foster and Ken Shuttleworth, who transformed the site into an unprecedented architectural project for the City. Construction started in 2001 and was completed in December 2003, creating one of London's first eco-friendly skyscrapers.
The building received the 2003 Emporis Skyscraper Award for its neo-futurist architecture that set new standards in London’s financial district. This international recognition highlights the tower's engineering innovation as the first to incorporate passive ventilation systems within a double-glazed glass envelope, significantly reducing the need for artificial cooling.
Twenty-three elevators serve the restaurants on the 39th floor and the observation areas on the 40th floor, from where one can see Tower Bridge, the Thames, and the City financial district.
Engineers placed six spiral ventilation shafts around the central core, creating a natural upward airflow that passes through the 41 floors and saves half of the energy typically required to cool a building of this size.
Location: City of London
Inception: 2004
Architects: Norman Foster, Foster and Partners, Ken Shuttleworth
Official opening: 2004
Architectural style: Art Nouveau architecture
Floors above the ground: 41
Elevators: 26
Height: 250 m
Website: http://www.thegherkinlondon.com/
Made from material: steel, glass, concrete
Address: 30 St Mary Axe
Website: http://thegherkinlondon.com
GPS coordinates: 51.51444,-0.08028
Latest update: November 20, 2025 16:27
20th and 21st-century architecture has transformed city centers with structures that push engineering boundaries. Observation towers like the Seattle Space Needle and experimental residential complexes like Habitat 67 in Montreal demonstrate the evolution of construction techniques. Architects have explored new forms using materials such as steel, glass, and concrete, creating structures that meet the growing demands of metropolitan areas. This collection includes buildings that marked their time with innovative design. In Barcelona, Antoni Gaudí's Casa Milà features a wavy facade that breaks traditional norms, while in London, 30 St Mary Axe incorporates energy-saving technologies into its 180-meter structure. From Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum clad in titanium to artificial islands shaped in the Persian Gulf in Dubai, these projects illustrate the diversity of architectural approaches worldwide. Each building reflects its urban context while offering solutions to technical and functional challenges of its era.
This collection brings together skyscrapers that showcase advances in modern engineering and architecture worldwide. These structures rise above metropolises and reshape city horizons, from the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab in Dubai to the CCTV headquarters in Beijing with its two linked towers. Each building reflects a unique architectural approach and technical innovations tailored to its environment. The selection spans all continents and features buildings with various functions. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, 452 meters high and connected by a sky bridge, stand alongside New York’s One World Trade Center, which reaches 541 meters. The Lakhta Center in Saint Petersburg is notable for its twisted glass facade, while the Torre Costanera in Santiago offers panoramic views of the Andes. Whether residential buildings like the Eureka Tower in Melbourne or commercial structures such as the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, these constructions demonstrate how contemporary architecture shapes 21st-century cities.
These structures represent postmodern architecture from 1970 to present. The buildings display diverse forms, materials, and functions: from museums and libraries to stadiums and churches. They combine new technologies with artistic elements.
Sir Norman Foster designs buildings with innovative technical solutions. His structures combine steel, glass and energy efficiency. From the Reichstag dome in Berlin to the circular Apple headquarters in California, his works demonstrate technical precision. Foster has shaped London's skyline with 30 St Mary Axe tower and the Millennium Bridge.
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