Erotic Gherkin

[major_clanger]

On my way in to my training course the other day, walking up past the Stock Exchange, I noticed a strange new construction looming through the mist. A vast barrel-shape girded with a geodisic array of rust-coloured beams, it looked quite unlike anything I'd seen being built before. I quickly realised this must be the famous Erotic Gherkin, aka the Swiss Re Tower or 30 St Mary Axe.

Yesterday I had an hour or so to kill between finishing classes and meeting purplecthulhu at the Barbican (of which more later), so I walked over to see if I could get a better view. An excellent vantage point turns out to be St Helen's Bishopsgate, from where you get a view like this:


This picture is a couple of months old; the building is now a fair bit taller and is glazed about a third of the way up, which looks really striking. A more recent photo (warning: very large) is here.


MC, who likes cool and neat architecture.

Comments

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I work at 33 St Mary Axe (until the end of September, anyway) and have been watching the, ahem, erection of #30 with interest - my last desk was right next to the window. I must say it's been fascinating to watch them dice with extremely stupid working practices, but as far as we can tell no one has actually died.

Which, if you subscribe to classical myth, means it'll fall down.

They haven't dropped any glass either ... and those panes are big

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

A more recent photo (warning: very large) is here.

Downloaded in 2 seconds.

MC, who likes cool and neat architecture.

Bug, who likes having broadband at work.

[pickledginger.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I do like the neo-Tudor lozengy glazing. That might be fun, when it's finished!