A New Building, The Tulip, Could Change the London Skyline Forever | Vogue

"A 1,000-foot-tall proposal from Foster + Partners promises a 360-degree view of London and a striking floral form that would rise beside The Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe). Envisioned as a predominantly cultural and tourist attraction rather than offices or residences, it packs in a pocket park, a rooftop garden, an educational center, a sky bar, restaurants, and a viewing gallery with sky bridges, internal glass slides, and gondola pod rides. Sustainability is central: the soft, bud-like silhouette and minimal footprint reflect reduced resource use; high-performance glass and optimized systems cut energy demand; heating and cooling rely on zero-combustion technology; and integrated photovoltaic cells generate power on site. It would fall just shy of London’s tallest building—the Shard at 1,004 feet—yet, according to the Evening Standard, it looks like it will have the city’s tallest observation deck. The application hasn’t been accepted yet; if it is, construction will likely begin in 2020 and end in 2025, potentially placing it alongside Big Ben and the London Eye as an icon for twenty-twenty-somethings." - Elise Taylor