Lord Foster and Michael R. Bloomberg hosted the topping out ceremony of Bloomberg’s new European headquarters in the City of London today, located between the Bank of England and St Paul’s Cathedral. In its form, massing and materials, the new building is sympathetic to its surrounding context and is uniquely of its place and time – a natural extension of the City that will endure and improve the surrounding public realm.
The new building comprises two triangular volumes, bisected at ground level by an arcade and connected above by link bridges, reinstating Watling Street – an ancient Roman route that runs across the site. The height complements neighbouring structures and protects views of St Paul’s Cathedral, and the public spaces on the ground level include water as a homage to the Roman Walbrook River that once flowed through the site.
The cores have been moved to the perimeter of the building – facilitating the creation of the large-scale, open floor plates, which are especially suited to Bloomberg’s needs. The building targets a BREEAM Outstanding rating, with naturally shaded facades and natural ventilation throughout the interior spaces. It also features technologically advanced drainage and rainwater collection systems that enable net water usage to be zero.
For more information, see: http://www.bloomberg.com/company/london/.
For more information, visit www.fosterandpartners.com
