First of all the “Gherkin” appeared, soon followed by the “Walkie-Talkie and the “Cheese Grater”, and now the “Tulip” will become a new modern landmark in London. It will be surrounded by deluxe buildings in its location right next to 30 St. Mary Axe, better known as the “Gherkin”, on the same street of St. Mary Axe. It will be just 1 metre shorter than the tallest skyscraper in Europe, the “Shard”.
Design of the viewing tower was entrusted to talented architects Foster and Partners. This building, in the anthropomorphic shape of a tulip bud, will be a deluxe accessory to the iconic “Gherkin” building, which is owned by the same group. The tower is elegant, with delicate lines and takes care to keep its ecological footprint as small as possible. This is why it will also have sophisticated glazing and built-in photovoltaic elements. So-called gondola pods will revolve around three sides of the façade. Totally romantic!
The design of this building should reflect the true face of the city of London – which is progressive and constantly moving forward. The building should serve visitors as a cultural and social orientation point and it should be 305 metres tall, which is the height limit set by the city so that buildings don’t create an obstacle for aircraft landing at the airport 6 km away. It is now awaiting approval and construction could begin in 2020 with work on this fantastic skyscraper with viewing areas, bars and a restaurant being completed after five years.
The owner of this tower, Jacob J. Safra, intends to establish an educational centre for children aged between five and sixteen years in the building. Rough estimates suggest that up to 20,000 children could take educational courses here every year. As the primary investor, he has set a goal to offer students “classrooms in the clouds” where they can learn about English history and the dynamics of the metropolis. It will certainly be an unbelievable experience to observe the world from such a height!