City Hall (London)

　　    Unlike the ancient city halls commonly found across Europe, London City Hall is a space-age, avant-garde structure from every angle. It stands on the south bank of the River Thames, resembling a soap bubble swaying in the wind, facing the historic Tower of London across the river and becoming one of the iconic buildings along the Thames.

　　    The designer of London City Hall is the internationally renowned Norman Foster. In 1993, Foster’s design was selected from seven competing proposals. Construction began in 1995 and, after 30 months, the building was completed and delivered on schedule. London City Hall is not owned by the city government; in 2003, the Greater London Authority and the City of London Corporation signed a 25-year lease with the owner, with plans to re-lease the property around 2028. The building is tilted 3 degrees to the south as a whole, which minimizes sun exposure and thus reduces air-conditioning costs. Another advantage of this design is that the building casts almost no shadow on the ground, ensuring the riverside pedestrian path on the north side remains sunny throughout the day.

　　    Most public spaces within London City Hall are open to the public and frequently host various themed exhibitions, but entry requires strict security screening. On the ground floor atrium is a massive 16m x 10m aerial map of London, where even tiny houses are visible. In addition to regular exhibitions and the “London Living Room” on the top floor, public information screens display meetings held inside the building daily, many of which can be attended by the public and press. During City Council meetings, visitors can also take the escalator to observe the proceedings.

　　    City Hall (London) Reason to visit: One of the most distinctive buildings along the River Thames Continent: Europe【Europe】 Country/Region: Britain[Britain] Province/State: Greater London [Greater London] City: London [London]