If you've ever travelled to London, you've no doubt seen the famous Swiss Re Headquarters designed by Norma Foster, otherwise deemed, “The Gherkin.” The building has become an iconic part of London's skyline and is one of the city's many landmarks. That is why the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's (or CTBUH) has bestowed the Gherkin with their first 10-year award. CTBUH feels that the design has “cleared the way for a new generation of tall buildings in London and beyond.”
The award deals with a building's overall performance and not just its design aesthetics over a 10 year span. The reason Foster's piece was chosen is because of the skyscrapers multiple advantages such as, natural internal ventilation, protected public spaces, and flexibility of its interior uses, making this award well-deserved.
