Swiss Re Headquarters Building

　　The Swiss Re Headquarters Building is situated in the financial district of London, UK. This 180-meter-tall commercial building features a glass façade and has 40 floors. The building goes by many names — it is located at 30 St Mary Axe in London’s financial district, hence also known as the St Mary Axe 30 Building. Due to its distinctive shape, it has earned various nicknames, the most common being “The Gherkin.” Other monikers include “The Spaceship” and “The Cigar with Holes.”

　　The Swiss Re Headquarters Building was completed in December 2003 and officially opened on April 28, 2004. Initially controversial for completely altering London’s skyline, it later won the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Stirling Prize for “the most innovative design of the year.” From top to bottom, “The Gherkin” is entirely cylindrical, featuring no iconic large doors or windows on its façade and looking largely the same from all angles. This gives it an impression of disorientation and detachment from the surrounding narrow streets and historic buildings. However, this shape follows aerodynamic principles — standing beneath the building, one will notice there are no strong gusts of wind, unlike near many other skyscrapers.

　　Architect Norman Foster adhered to his usual environmentally friendly design philosophy. The unique shape of the building minimizes the surface area of the exterior walls, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. The extensive use of glass allows maximum sunlight to enter the interior, enabling natural lighting, while the building’s excellent ventilation system reduces reliance on air conditioning.

　　Swiss Re Headquarters Reason to visit: The most famous “Gherkin” in London’s financial district Continent: Europe【Europe】 Country/Region: Britain[Britain] Province/State: Greater London [Greater London] City: London [London]