ARCH 655 Parametric Modeling in Design
30 St Mary Axe : The Gherkin 30 St. Mary Axe is a 40 story building in the St. Mary Axe area of London. It is recognized as one of the more distinctive skyscrapers in the financial district of London and it stands on the former site of the Baltic Exchange building. Its form is so unique, that it has been given the nickname "the Gherkin." Architect and Design The building was designed by famed architect Norman Foster of the Foster and Partners architectural firm. They are known for their innovative approach to design that stands out particularly well against the more conservative nature of most of London's buildings. The building’s construction began in 2001 and the Gherkin was finished in December of 2003. The Gherkin is essentially an elongated, curved, shaft with a rounded end that is reminiscent of a stretched egg. It is covered uniformly around the outside with glass panels and is rounded off at the corners. It has a lens-like dome at the top that serve