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Officially named 30 St Mary Axe but usually known as "The Gherkin", this building is one of the most dramatic landmarks in London…

The road on which it stands takes its odd name from the nearby church of St Mary Axe. The "Axe" part refers to a relic kept in the church.

Situated in the capital's main financial district the Gherkin is 179.8m tall and towers above much of the city's skyline. The building was commissioned by Swiss Re, a Swiss insurance company, to act as its headquarters in London.

The design was a team effort between architects, Foster and Partners, and the engineering/designing firm, Arup. It was built by Skanska, who completed it in December 2003 and in April 2004 it became the recipient of several awards, including the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize.

It is famous for it's shape because it looks like a huge glass gherkin.

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12y ago

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