Architecture Analysis of Office Buildings in London - Art Paper Example

30 St Marys Axe (The Gherkin) Foster + Partners (2003)

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The 30 St Marys Axe which serves as the headquarters of Swiss Reinsurance Company is a different unique building built at the heart of England, London. A brief history about the building is that it was built after bombing that occurred. The restoration was to be performed but the building had been completely destroyed and it could not be restored therefore a project by architect Norman Foster began. The construction lasted from 2000 to 2003 and official opened in April 2004.

30 St Marys Axe or the gherkin as it is commonly referred to, a name derived from its shape. Is a unique building unlike many buildings that rely on stability at the center, the gherkin has a set of interconnected grids of steel that run diagonally (Powell and Smith, 2006). Heavy blowing winds and lateral loads were taken care of by fix joint and portal frame. Although as a building gets higher the portal frames became incapable of sustaining the heavy weight. The architecture in gherkin used diagonal exterior connection makes the building resistant to wind creating robust connections (Powell and Smith, 2006). Diagrid is the name of the design used in 30 St Marys Axe meaning Diagonal Grid referring to the interconnected steel grids that support the building.

The building has open shafts that allow for free air circulation at every floor. The glasses which acts as the wall and protection from the outside harm allow for entry of light in the building enabling saving of lighting cost, with estimated cost cut down up to 50% in total. This is economical considering the number of floors in the building and a building that in full capacity can hold 4000 persons.

122 Leadenhall Street (the Cheesegrater) Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners (2014)

Similar to the gherkin, Leadenhall building uses diagrid for stability. There is no central core to support rather the strengthening of the building is integrated into the frame of the building. This enables the building to have a light weight framework. This leaves for unobstructed expanse of space in the middle of the building that acts as a galleria and pave way for public space. The triangular geometry of the building allows for maximum floors with less space. A secondary support system that is K shaped or otherwise called a chevron is used. Further strengthening is by use of concrete slabs and steel beams.

Steel is strong and can bear high amounts of weight without breaking. Steel is also easily joined in form of welding and bolts. These are just but a few major advantages of steel. A major structure in buildings and skyscrapers establishment. This structure provides strength and protection against strong blowing winds. The Leadenhall building is located on the place where the P & O of 1960s that was a fourteen story building that had three basements but the new building needed an added basement.

Initially the building was designed to have a lightweight concrete floor but the architects that took over ought to use precast planks (Duany and Talen, 2014). This criterion used reduces the labor force involved, eliminates the need for in situ topping, reduces noise, offer substantial tolerance and trafficking is very quick. Generally, it is fast and non-hazardous.

Lloyds Building Richard Rogers (1986) Lime Street

The Lloyds tower designed for one of the largest company where individuals pool funds for a particular risk. The company grew overtime and it required to expand its territories as the profits and customers increase. This work was commissioned to Richard Rogers and the construction lasted from 1976 to 1986. In Wood Street another building was put up and the maritime registry all these engineered by sir Rogers.

The main structure is composed of a revamped cast in situ, main pillars of reinforced concrete and other structures of steel (Foster and Powell, 2010). The main idea of renovation was to look at possibility of vertical expansion. The composition of the building is slabs, pillars and beams, with all of the elements being prefabricated. Lloyds tower is considered a memorial of high tech in the United Kingdom although principal barrel vault shows a classical appearance.

The perimeter and core towers are made of concrete that is reinforced this enables for strong establishment against wind and earthquakes. The main structure is made of pillars and mesh contained within a set of independent stage represented by three layers of glass with a layer ventilated (Foster and Powell, 2010). The outer skin that is triple-glazed acts as a passage of air from the ceiling. The coating is enclosed in steel retardants.

The brilliant design of this building allows for other facilities to be out of reach of office premises avoiding interference with official duty. Places like kitchen and other similar facilities. The stainless steel ensures that the building does not look rusted. The glass panel allows for proper lighting and ensuring the cost of lighting offices is less. The passages ensures for proper air circulation. This ensures that little expense is channeled towards the establishing of air conditioning machinery.

The National Theatre Denys Lasdun (1976) Southbank

Deny Lasduns National Theatre is a layered concrete building that sometime back Prince Charles compared it to a nuclear power plant. The architecture is ideas of Lasdun of a modern landscape. Lasdun was commissioned to the work of architecture in the year 1963 (Sadler, 2005). He had never before done architecture or knowledge on design of a theatre but he convinced the directors that sat on the board, designers and the experts of technicalities to grant him his request. He did not even have a team of experts but he went in solo.

The construction of the theatre took about 13 years with a focus of 2 years on the theatre alone. The project had so many political influences that saw it delayed that long. Lasdun described the outer surrounding as an added theatre the terraces and foyers the city is like a background. The strata of the building make it difficult to trace where the building begins and ends (Sadler, 2005). The joined pathways, separated levels and stairways that is spinning of the South Bank are linked with the citys environment. Previous buildings that existed in the area have been integrated with the theatres architecture this makes it look more magnificent.

The terraces were used by those who liked skating and the lower sides of the building as a playfield. In early times this was seen as an architecture failure. Although, a recent move to save the skate park appreciate it. Claiming it is a magnificent space in the heart of London. The national theatre represents the architecture that Lasden referred to as urban landscape that use various massing that simplifies complexs volume (Sadler, 2005). Fly towers for the open theatre visible in the outside and proscenium theatre. This two building are joined by horizontal bands of outdoor terraces. That run wide the width of terraces that the architect referred to as strata. Horizontality is reinforced by dark obscurities fashioned by recessed glass facades at each level.

Tate Modern Extension Herzog de Meuron (2016) Southbank

The Tate Modern is one of the worlds most visited urban contemporary museum that is best renowned for art. Since 2000 Tate Modern has transformed London. The influence on modern design and artwork is significant to South Bank and Southwark as it is to artistic and culture. A new entrance in the South will enable free movement from Thames to the exit place where the Turbine Hall is located, out to Southwark. This new design will create a more public space enabling free movement.

The aim is to develop a new model museum of modern urban art. The displays, ways of learning and social interactions are wholly incorporated, developing stronger bonds with the surrounding environment. In a close look of the new Tate plan it shows a unique use of many parameters that must be discussed. Connecting lines and path formed a pyramidal shape that is formed by the geometrical appearance of the site, environment and the standing building.

The fundamental goal of the project is to integrate the new and old building to form one. Attracting both those in the city and outside ensuring that both adjust themselves. The same base palette of bricks were used and a similar brickwork, in a drastic new way (Ponzini and Nastasi, 2011). They developed a brick screen that was punctured which allowed for light through during the day and glow in the night.

The simple glamorous artwork done on the exterior of the building that involves brickwork and perforation is fascinating. The brickwork undergoes a radical change from a solid massive material to a veil that covers the concrete nakedness of the building. The facade is ever changing depending on the observers perspective not in opacity but also in orientation and pattern.

London City Hall (GLA Building) Foster + Partners (2002) Tower Bridge

The city hall is a building that was built by Foster and partners architects to accommodate the government officials of London and other relevant offices. It is also considered the symbols of the capital. It is part of the project of South Bank to give Thames a new face of urban development. The building is similar to a spherical shape but with technology in it, looks like a distorted sphere.

The building integrates a lot of glass work to the exterior side acting as the main protection from external threats. The shape of the building is quite intriguing and this is not just a mere decoration but also it was designed to shun undeviating light coming from the south and absorb the light with use of enormous glass facade (Jackson, 2012). The building has no front or back for it is derived from a sphere that is altered geometrically. This unique design is mainly used to minimize the surface area exposed to sunlight.

The building uses diagrid system that has no vertical system but instead uses diagonal grids. This ensures that vertical and horizontal loads into the ground. The diagrid is used and proves to be efficient in buildings with medium heights. Diagrid takes good consideration of both vertical and horizontal loads where the vertical load is about thirty times horizontal load (Jackson, 2012). The diamond stricture allow for proper air circulation. The building also use photovoltaic solar panels that ensure little carbon emissions to the environment.

The building uses water cooling systems that ensures excess unwanted heat is given off to the environment. Thereafter, the water is recycled and reused in toilet flush. Energy conservation is also vital and the building changed the use of high energy intensive bulbs to those that use up less energy moving from 75 to 16 watts bulbs.

The Shard Renzo Piano Workshop/ Broadway Malyan (2013) London Bridge

The Shard, also known as London Bridge Tower is a story building with 72 floors located on the South Bank of Thames. This project was envisioned but London mayor Ken Livingstone with urban development policy that he formulated. This enables public transport to be extensive and reduce traffic congestion.

The building has a pyramidal geometry like that ensures stability reducing the center of gravity. Making the building resistant to strong blowing winds. The shape also is as a result of the mix of activities. The lower floors are made to accommodate offices. The middle section restaurants, hotels and public relaxation area. Far up is apartments for people residential. The last floors allow for public viewing of the city of London.

The name of the building is derived from the eight sloping facades, outline shape and pictorial quality of the tower. Splitting the scale of the building and shunning away light in irregular ways. Opening ve...