Most Famous Architectural Projects in London

In this article, we will look at some of the most famous architectural projects in London and try to understand why these examples are so highly valued.

1. The Shard, Central London

The Shard, more formally known as the Leadenhall Building, is located in central London and classified as a 738-foot-high-rise building.

Opened in July 2014 and designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, it features a slight upward slope on the front of the building. This creates a unique blade-like form with a lattice design, making it look like a kitchen appliance with the same name.

This building is used as office space in London's financial district and is often occupied by IT specialists, bankers, and lawyers.

Ultimately, it's an incredibly interesting and attractive structure, widely visited by young professionals, as well as one of the most fascinating landmarks in London from a tourist perspective.

2. The Shard

At second place is the icon of The Shard, which remains one of the most recognizable buildings in London and around the world.

This building opened on February 1, 2013 and is located on London Bridge Street in the southeast part of the capital. Amazingly, The Shard reaches a height of 310 meters, making it the tallest building in Western Europe and a dominant element on London's skyline year after year.

With its unique design and built primarily from tempered glass, the building stands out both in size and structure.

It's impressive that the entire facade contains about 11,000 individual glass panels, equating to approximately 56,000 square meters or the equivalent of eight football fields. Concerns may be raised about health and safety, as well as proper inspection of this amount of construction, but it's unlikely that many accidents occurred due to lack of safety measures since safety was a top priority.

3. The Gherkin, St Mary Axe

The distinctive Gherkin building is located at 30 St Mary Axe, in the bustling and vibrant area of St Mary Axe in London.

It is also situated at the center and heart of London's financial district, which in 2021 accounted for the main part of Britain’s financial services sector valued at £173.6 billion.

Ultimately, this design is recognized as one of the more notable skyscrapers in London's financial sector, and its form is somewhat less traditional compared to the aforementioned Cheesegrater.

The project was developed by renowned architect Norman Foster from Foster and Partners, who truly stands out against the crowded London skyline. Norman Foster also played a role in creating famous structures such as London City and the new Wembley Stadium.