Architecture Design – Reaching The Heights In London

Standing at an impressive height of 230 metres, Heron Tower is located in the City of London, the renowned trade and finance centre of the capital. The Tower was finally completed in July 2010, when its famous spire was added, to bring it up to its present height. Perhaps the greatest attraction of this wonderful piece of architecture is its 70,000 litre aquarium. The largest privately-owned in the United Kingdom, it contain in excess of 60 species of fish, which enjoy their own completely sustainable eco-system!

There can be no argument over the tallest of all the buildings in the capital city. The Shard, at a height of almost 310 metres, is not only the tallest habitable building in England, it is the tallest in Europe. Finished on the exterior completely in glass, and officially opened on 5th July 2012, The Shard is eye-catching and deserves its position as not only the tallest of London’s buildings but also one of its most impressive architectural projects.

Also in Canary Wharf, is the fifth of London’s highest five architectural designs, 8 Canada Square. Standing a majestic 200 metres, the skyscraper has 45 floors and was completed in March 2001. It is the home to the head office of the HSBC banking group and is sometimes colloquially referred to as the “HSBC Tower.” The tower is famous for its concentration on energy efficient systems, extending to the employment of recycling procedures for the furniture and equipment that it houses.

The only one of these tall constructions that was built over fifty years ago, the Crystal Palace transmitting tower is the main provider of television signals for the London area. Completed in the mid 1950s and built on the site of the ruins of the Crystal Palace, it stands at a height of 219 metres. Unlike the other four designs that we have featured, the transmitter is not habitable but it nevertheless presents as a fine example of mid 20th century architecture and engineering. It reigned supreme as London’s tallest building until surpassed by 1 Canada Square.

The second in the list of London’s tallest buildings, which officially opened in August 1991, looks more like a conventional skyscraper and is located at Canary Wharf. 1 Canada Square stands at an impressive 235 metres and consists of 50 storeys beneath its now famous pyramid roof. The building principally houses offices, with a small number of retail units and is sufficiently high to need an aircraft warning light! It is now a celebrated London landmark.