The Lloyd’s building is the home of the insurance institution Lloyd’s of London. It is located in London’s main financial district, the City of London. The building is a leading example of radical Bowellism architecture in which the services for the building, such as ducts and elevators, are located on the exterior to maximize space in the interior.
Photo: Stephen Richards / Lloyd’s of London, Leadenhall Street (1) / CC BY-SA 2.0
In 2011, twenty-five years after its completion in 1986 the building received Grade I listing; at this time it was the youngest structure ever to obtain this status. It is said by Historic England to be “universally recognized as one of the key buildings of the modern epoch”. However, its innovation of having key service pipes, etc. routed outside the walls has led to very expensive maintenance costs due to their exposure to the elements.
Photo: © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
The building was designed by the architect company Richard Rogers & Partners and built between 1978 and 1986. The building consists of three towers, each with their own service tower, which surround a central 60-metre high atrium that houses the main Underwriting Room and is naturally lit by a barrel-vaulted glass roof that took its inspiration from Joseph Paxman’s Crystal Palace.
The 12 glass lifts were the first of their kind in the United Kingdom. The entire building is wrapped in stainless steel giving the building a high-tech, almost postmodern, aesthetic.
Source: wikipedia
About the Author:
Bruno Dursin – Managing Director at Believe in Steel. Bruno has more than 30 years of experience in promoting steel & steel solutions. His clients benefit from his extensive network within the building industry.
