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Iconic 'Gherkin' may be sold off | Iconic 'Gherkin' may be sold off |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Owners of the iconic Gherkin building in the City of London have confirmed they are considering selling the tower. | Owners of the iconic Gherkin building in the City of London have confirmed they are considering selling the tower. |
Despite reports it is being sold for £600m, financial giants Swiss Re said while they were evaluating the sale, no decision had been made. | Despite reports it is being sold for £600m, financial giants Swiss Re said while they were evaluating the sale, no decision had been made. |
It also said it would occupy the building for the foreseeable future. | It also said it would occupy the building for the foreseeable future. |
Officially called 30 St Mary Axe, the unusual building was built on the site of the bombed Baltic Exchange in the heart of the financial district. | Officially called 30 St Mary Axe, the unusual building was built on the site of the bombed Baltic Exchange in the heart of the financial district. |
The 40-storey tower cost £138m to build and was completed in 2003. | The 40-storey tower cost £138m to build and was completed in 2003. |
Open House | Open House |
Designed by Lord Foster it maximises daylight and natural ventilation so that it uses half the energy typically required by an office block. | |
Each floor rotates five degrees from the last and the only curved piece of glass on the entire building is the very top piece. | Each floor rotates five degrees from the last and the only curved piece of glass on the entire building is the very top piece. |
As winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize in 2004 it was described as "elegant and impressive". | As winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize in 2004 it was described as "elegant and impressive". |
The same year a reported 2,000 people queued to get a glimpse inside as part of the Open House initiative. It will be open again this weekend for Open House 2006. | The same year a reported 2,000 people queued to get a glimpse inside as part of the Open House initiative. It will be open again this weekend for Open House 2006. |
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