30 St Mary Centers

The 30 St Mary Axe (or Swiss Re Building ) is a Gratte-ciel located in the district of businesses of City of London (the United Kingdom).

This name corresponds to its postal address and it is that which was used by the cabinet of architects which conceived it. In reference to its form, the Londonien S took the practice to call it the Gherkin (the Cornichon), to even compare it with a phallic object. It was open the April 28th 2004 and was conceived by the cabinet of architects of Norman Foster for Swiss Reinsurance Company. It is the first skyscraper built in the district since the years 1970 and is the highest real construction of City. Its originators assert the ecological title of first skyscraper of the the United Kingdom.

High of 180 meters and 41 stages, its aerodynamic form makes it possible to use the wind in the ventilation system of the building, be like winter; this form employs cells, a structure of frontage in spiral and the shape of a gherkin ( gherkin ). Between 12 and 25°C and with a moderated wind, weather stations manage the opening of the windows. If the temperature varies in lower part or above these temperatures, natural ventilation is supplemented by the heating or the cooling of the air.

Inside, the stages are organized out of star with six branches so that the whole of the buildings profits from the external light.

The ventilation system and the internal organization of the buildings allow energy saving. The idea to make a building respecting of it the environment also leads to the quasi-absence of car parks car (18 places) to the profit of a large park for bicycles. This encourages the employees of the companies installed in the skyscraper to use public transport or the bicycle; what reinforces the policy of limitation of the motor vehicle traffic installation by the municipality in the center of London in the form of a toll.

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