London is at the centre of world commerce. To own or rent commercial
property in London is to be part of the global business elite – some of the
most respectable, stylish and successful organisations around.
That doesn’t stop some of these businesses choosing some weird and
wonderful buildings as the locations for their commercial property in London.
From famous landmarks to fantastically futuristic constructions, these examples
of alien architecture are part of what makes London such an exciting and
vibrant place to be.
Here’s just a few of the most uniquely unconventional examples of
commercial property in London:
30 St Mary
Axe – Otherwise known as ‘the Gherkin’, this curiously crafted construction stands
proudly in the City of London – the capital’s premier financial district.
Construction was completed in 2003, and the building stands at an impressive
180 metres.
The building was erected in place of the planned ‘Millenium Tower’, a
massive building that would have dwarfed most commercial property in London –
with a planned height of 386 metres. The Millenium Tower was eventually
scrapped in favour of ‘the Gerkhin’ when two nearby airports complained that
the gigantic building would disrupt flight paths.
Believe it or not, 30 St Mary Axe is not a spaceship. It is in fact one
of the most sought after pieces of commercial property in London.
Container
City I & II – Located in London’s docklands, the Container City
projects are true to their name. They are constructed modularly from shipping
containers, giving the whole complex the appearance of children’s building
blocks – an eye-catching combination of bold colours and geometric shapes.
Although it looks rather unusual, the Container City developments contain
fully-functional office spaces. The use of modular technology enabled Container
City I to be completed in just five months during 2001.
The Container City developments are surely one of the weirdest examples
of commercial property in London – but they’re also practical, stylish and
environmentally friendly.
The Lloyds
Building – Another oddity that makes its home in the City of
London, the Lloyd’s Building has an intriguingly industrial appearance, lending
it the nickname ‘the Inside-Out Building’. The interior is incredibly grand and
spacious –because the water pipes and electrical power conduits are located on
the outside of the building!
Amongst this futuristic architecture is, bizarrely, a plush,
classically-inspired space known as the Adam Room. Designed by Robert Adam, the
room was originally situated in Bowood house, in Wiltshire. This room was
purchased in its entirety and installed in the building, providing a fantastic
contrast to the post-modern peculiarities of the main building.
Home to the eponymous insurance institution, the Lloyd’s building is –
despite its peculiarities – one of the most architecturally impressive examples
of commercial property in London.
Commercial property in London isn’t all as strikingly unusual as the
examples mentioned above, but one thing is for certain – locating your office
space in London is a fantastic way to absorb some of London’s diverse
atmosphere.
The UK’s capital is a city of many manifestations, and although the
examples of commercial property in London mentioned above are definitely not
the norm, they do capture some of London’s creative and forward-thinking
spirit.
