Hotels near to Aldgate & St Mary Axe
(The Gherkin)
You are searching for a hotel near to Aldgate and St Mary Axe.
30 St Mary Axe, aka "The Gherkin", is one of the most talked about and easily recognized buildings in the whole of the UK. Its 30 St Mary Axe moniker refers to its street address, as the building is located on the tiny street of St Mary Axe, which derives its name from its medieval past when the general area was the site of both a church devoted to the Virgin Mary and a tavern displaying a sign with an axe image. Remnants of London's medieval history exist nearby in the form of the 13th century Great St Helen's church and the 14th century church, St Ethelburga. The Gherkin nickname results from its forty-story skyscaper's unusual design. Known for its curved glass shape, many say the tower looks like a giant gherkin rising above the rest of London's buildings. Being draped in green lights at night during its construction lends to this name as well. Others, commenting on the building's phallic shape, have come up with plenty of other inevitable nicknames for 30 St Mary Axe.
Although construction started as recently as 2001 and was completed in 2003, the building, which opened in April of 2004, is already considered an iconic fixture of the London skyline. 30 St Mary Axe is visible from as far away as the M11 motorway, some 20 miles north of London, as well as from Windsor to the west. Coming in at just under 600 feet tall (180 metres), the Gherkin is the second tallest building in the City of London (with Tower 42 being the tallest) and the sixth tallest in all of London. In 2005, 30 St Mary Axe was voted "most admired new building in the world" in a survey of the world's largest architecture firms.
Beyond its unique look, 30 St Mary Axe is equally distinctive for its list of sustainable credentials. Incorporating energy efficient into its constructions results in 30 St Mary Axe requiring half the power that similar towers would likely consume. A natural ventilation system, comprised of six shafts, cools the building by pulling warm air from it. These shafts also let sunlight pass through the tower for less dependence on electric lighting, not to mention a more pleasant office atmosphere. Passive solar heating is used in winter.
Constructed by Skanska, the multinational construction and development company of Swedish origin, the design belongs to the award winning British architect, Lord Norman Foster and ex-partner Ken Shuttleworth, with help from the engineering firm, Arup. Foster, also known for the Hearst Tower in New York and the restored Reichstag in Berlin, has recently completed the much acclaimed International Terminal at Beijing Capital International Airport in China.
The building's main occupant is global reinsurance company, Swiss Re, which actually had the building commissioned to be its Headquarters for the UK. In fact, in addition its address and Gherkin nickname, many refer the tower as the Swiss Re Tower. In the fall of 2006, the building was put up for sale and sold at the end of the same year for £600 million to a German property firm.
Interested in visiting the Gherkin? Aldgate Station is the nearest Tube stop, but Liverpool Street Station is very near too. The plaza at the base is open to the public (there's usually at least one photographer checking out the site), where a bar and newsagent are located. At the tower's top floor (the 40th), there is another bar for tenants and their guests with 360 degree views of London. A restaurant operates on the 39th floor, as well as private dining rooms on the 38th.
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