Foster’s soft-edged office utopia: a green roof, a glassy curve, and a 1970s belief that workplaces could be humane machines.
Skyscraper in London.
Featured in Foster + Partners's definitive monograph, Norman Foster: A Life in Architecture.
Visitor Guide
Walk the perimeter slowly. The building is about the continuous edge — corners dissolved, façade turning like a calm river bend.
From the pedestrian side where the curved glazing reads longest; late afternoon for warm reflections and less internal glare.
Not typically open to the public (working office). Occasionally accessible during heritage/open-building events; otherwise exterior viewing only.
The grass roof wasn’t a gimmick — it’s an early energy-conscious move that treats insulation as form-making.
20–40 minutes
Design & Structure
Early Foster high-tech pragmatism: deep-plan efficiency with envelope/roof performance considered as a system; design developed with rigorous environmental reasoning before ‘sustainability’ became branding.
Glass curtain wall and insulated green roof: transparency for daylight and visibility, landscape for thermal performance.
Conventional office frame supporting a continuous curved envelope; detailing keeps the curve visually smooth despite modular construction.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with Willis Building (London) — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
More by Foster + Partners
View all →
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
British Library of Political and Economic Science
Dresden Hauptbahnhof
Beijing Capital International Airport
Willis Building, Ipswich
Imperial War Museum Duxford
Nearby in City of London
London Metropolitan University
One New Change
The Gherkin
Lloyd's building
88 Wood Street
Moor House
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Willis Building (London)?+
Willis Building (London) was designed by Foster + Partners and completed in 2008. It is located in City of London, United Kingdom.
Where is Willis Building (London) located?+
Willis Building (London) is located in City of London, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 51.5129°, -0.0815°.
When was Willis Building (London) built?+
Willis Building (London) was completed in 2008. It was designed by Foster + Partners.
Can I visit Willis Building (London)?+
Willis Building (London) 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.