Foster's diagrid bullet — the building that made London love skyscrapers again
Skyscraper in London, England.
Featured in Foster + Partners's definitive monograph, Norman Foster: A Life in Architecture.
Visitor Guide
The building isn't open to the public, but the plaza and surrounding streets give excellent views. Leadenhall Market nearby makes a great pairing.
From the corner of St Mary Axe and Leadenhall Street for the forced-perspective tower-over-historic-buildings shot. Millennium Bridge offers the full City skyline with the Gherkin prominently placed.
Not open to the public (private offices). Ground floor restaurants occasionally. Open House London weekend in September sometimes offers tours. Exterior only.
The diagrid structure uses 50% less steel than a conventional frame for the same wind resistance. The spiraling dark bands are gaps between floors that create natural ventilation channels — the building breathes.
15 minutes (exterior)
Design & Structure
Foster + Partners used computational fluid dynamics to optimize the aerodynamic form — the building generates 50% less wind turbulence at street level than a rectangular tower. The diagrid was parametrically generated: triangulated steel members wrap the entire surface.
Diagrid steel exoskeleton, double-glazed diamond-shaped panels (5,500 of them), laminated glass. The dark spiraling bands are openable ventilation slots between the double-skin façade.
The diagrid is one of the first at this scale — it acts as both structure and façade support. No internal columns needed from the core to the perimeter, creating column-free floors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed The Gherkin?+
The Gherkin was designed by Foster + Partners and completed in 2004. It is located in City of London, United Kingdom.
Where is The Gherkin located?+
The Gherkin is located in City of London, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 51.5144°, -0.0803°.
When was The Gherkin built?+
The Gherkin was completed in 2004. It was designed by Foster + Partners.
Can I visit The Gherkin?+
The Gherkin is a real building in City of London that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.