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London is one of the world’s great historical cities and is home to buildings which span many centuries, encompassing a wide variety of architectural styles. However, some of London’s most remarkable buildings are modern creations, buildings which have established new architectural standards in form, function and design.
In our latest article, we take a look at five of the finest modern buildings in London.
City Hall
The official office of the Mayor Of London, City Hall is one of the most distinctive modern buildings in London. Located on the south bank of the Thames, City Hall was designed by world-famous architect Norman Foster and opened in 2002. The building is instantly recognisable for its tilted appearance, which gives the impression that it is somehow leaning backwards.
Lloyd's Building
The Lloyd’s Building an extraordinary and futuristic looking building in the capital. This giant, machine-like structure, was designed by Richard Rogers and constructed in 1986. The unique appearance of the building is due to the service elements such as stairwells, lifts, ducts and vents being visible on the outside, leading to the building being nicknamed the ‘inside-out building’. Unfortunately, Lloyd’s Building is not open to the public, but usually takes part in the annual Open House London event.
National Theatre
The National Theatre is probably the most famous and best-loved brutalist building in London. The theatre was designed by architects Sir Denys Landun and Peter Softley in the 1970s and built in three stages. The building is comprised of four auditoria – Olivier, Lyttelton, Dorfman and Temporary – and countless terraces provide superb views across the river from the South Bank. The National Theatre underwent a major upgrade in 2014, and visitors can enjoy the wonderful building and its programme of arts and culture all year round.
The Gherkin
The second building designed by Norman Foster on our list, 30 St Mary Axe has come to be known universally as the Gherkin, due to its uncanny resemblance to the vegetable. This elegant and entirely unique building stands at 591 feet tall, comprises 40 stories, and is clad in 24,000 square metres of shimmering glass. The building, which opened in 2004 in the heart of London’s financial district, attracted a significant amount of criticism due its shape when the design was first unveiled but has since come to be recognised as one of the most brilliant contemporary buildings in London.
The Shard
Unveiled in 2012, the Shard is another contemporary building which divided opinion when the design was first revealed but has since become an integral and instantly recognisable element of the London skyline. This stunning 72 storey skyscraper is the tallest building in London by some distance, and the second tallest building in Europe (behind the OKO Tower in Moscow). Designed by Italian architect, Renzo Piano, the distinctive tapered design of the building is said to have been inspired by the geometry of the nearby London railway lines.
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