London is expected to get a brand new Tulip Tower and this is expected to be the city’s second tallest building. The tower is quite similar to a flower with visitors going through the stem to the top-most observation building which is designed like petals. Foster + Partners has designed this tower and it will be developed from the ground floor plaza of one of the company’s most iconic skyscrapers in London, namely the Gherkin or 30 St Mary Axe. Bank and investment holding company J. Safra Group has proposed the project and already owns the Gherkin.
The Tulip will go up to 305.3 metres, a little shorter than the Shard which is London’s tallest structure at 306 metres. It will be higher than the upcoming 1 Undershaft development which will go up to 304 metres. The Tulip will have rotating gondolas made of glass on three sides and there will be sky bridges linking 12 storeys of internal viewing platforms. All of these will offer marvellous views of the city. The structure will have a restaurant and bar with 360-degree viewing and educational zone that will be offering 20, 000 free positions annually for local state school children for using the facility. There will be interactive guides for teaching people more about the history of London.
In case this tower obtains approval, construction may start from 2020 and could finish by the year 2025. The Gherkin has been followed by several iconic structures like the Leadenhall Building or the Cheesegrater and Walkie Talkie which is Rafael Vinoly’s building at 20 Fenchurch Street. The Tulip nickname seems set to stick in case of this tower. It will be one among 13 other skyscrapers which will come up in the financial district of London by the year 2026.
