The Gherkin.

High - Tech Architecture.
Ar. Norman Foster.
Presented by :- Nikita Sahuji.

1. TIMELINE: HIGH -TECH ARCHITECTURE
BUILDING : THE GHERKIN
ARCHITECT: NORMAN FOSTER
NIKITA .SAHUJI
309121
T.Y.ARCH
CONTEMPORARY ARCH.
J.N.E.C

2. THE GHERKIN
WHAT IS HIGH –TECH ARCHITECTURE ?
STRUCTURAL EXPRESSIONISM EMERGED BY 1980’s.
CELEBRATES DISPLAY OF BUILDING SERVICES.
EXTENSIVE USE OF GLASS AND STEEL
FLEXIBLE INTERIORS
USE OF COLOURS TO INDICATE DIFFERENT SERVICES
LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIAL
GLASS SKINS
PIONEERS : NORMAN FOSTER, RICHARD ROGGERS, I.M.PIE, etc.

3. THE GHERKIN
BUILDING : 30 ST.MARY AXE,LONDON, U.K
STYLE : HIGH TECH ARCHITECTURE ,
NEO FUTURISM
FUNCTION: OFFICE SKYSCRAPERS
OWNER : SAFRA GROUP
ARCHITECT: NORMAN FOSTER
CONSTRUCTION: 2001-2004
HEIGHT : 180M (591ft)
FLOORS: 41
AREA : 47,950sq.m
ABOUT PROJECT:

4. THE GHERKIN
ABOUT PROJECT:
30 ST. MARY AXE IS KNOWN AS ‘ THE
GHERKIN ‘ BECAUSE THE PLANS LOOK LIKE
GHERKIN IE: THE SLICE OF CUCUMBUR.
IT IS LONDONS FIRST ECOLOGICAL GREEN
SKYSCRAPER.
IT IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST BUILDING IN
LONDON.
IT WAS HONOURED WITH THE AWARD OF
BEST BUILT PROJECT IN 2006.

5. THE GHERKIN
PRELIMNARY DESIGN IDEA:
Breaking the hierarchy of solid
rectangular boxes in the vicinity.
Offers minimal resistance to wind,
improving the environment for people on
the ground and reducing the load on the
building.
The slim base reduces the reflections
and increase daylight penetration.
The bullet shaped building responds
to specific demands of small site
area.

6. THE GHERKIN
SITE PLAN WITH GROUND FLOOR :
N

7. THE GHERKIN
GROUND PLAN :
N

8. THE GHERKIN
FLOOR PLANS :
40
th
FLOOR PLAN
1
st
FLOOR PLAN 6
th
FLOOR PLAN
21
st
FLOOR PLAN
1 2 3
6
5
4
6
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
-Entrance
-Lobby
-Retail
-Core
5
6
7
8
-Offices
-Light well
-Private Dinning
-Lift and
staircase
N

9. THE GHERKIN
FLOOR PLANS :
40
th
FLOOR PLAN 39
th
FLOOR PLAN
1
st
FLOOR PLAN6
th
FLOOR PLAN21
st
FLOOR PLAN
33
rd
FLOOR PLAN
5 deg. TILT IN EACH FLOOR PLAN
N

10. THE GHERKIN
SERVICE FLOOR:
PLAN
SECTION
NOTE : THE DEMARKATION OF SERVICE FLOOR IS IN
RED COLOUR IN SECTION.

11. THE GHERKIN
SECTIONS :

12. THE GHERKIN
SUSTAINABILITY AND VENTILTION:
Differing air pressures and double skin façade allow natural ventilation.
Six spiralling light wells allow daylight.
Windows are computer controlled and they open only when
temperature is between 20-26 deg. And wind speed is less than 10mph

13. THE GHERKIN
CIRCULATION:
Each of the two main stairwells contain 1037 stairs.
It has 23 lifts out of which 18 are passenger lifts.
It has well designed corridors with an professional ambience created by
use of lightings and interiors.
Two special shuttle elevators serve the top floors of the building.

14. THE GHERKIN
FOUNDATION :
Because of site restrictions and in
order to create a monolithic
foundation, all the piles were
poured in one day.
No.ofpiles : 333
Length of pile : 9km
Diaof pile : 750mm

15. THE GHERKIN
GENERAL STRUCTURE :
The structure is based on primary elements
1. DIAGRID
2. CORE
Diagrid is the main structure resisting horizontal and gravitional
loads.
The core resists the gravitionalloads.

16. THE GHERKIN
DIAGRID :
Aluminium coated tube steel.
Series of two stories high.
One full diamond is four stories
tall.
Diagrid is a series of triangle
that combine the gravity and
lateral support into one.
It makes the building stiff,
efficient and lighter than
traditional high rise buildings
It was later on adopted in many
other buildings.

17. THE GHERKIN
THE CORE :

18. THE GHERKIN
CONNECTIONS :
A special connector transfers the loads
at NODES which are rigid ,monolithic
and welded properly.
The core has the rigid connections of
steel beams and columns
The diagrid has the rigid node
connections at intersecting members.

19. THE GHERKIN
CONCLUSION :
THE BUILDING ALLOWS TO INVESTIGATE HOW A CITY DEVELOPS
AND CHANGES OVER A TIME.
IT IS GREAT EXAMPLE OF CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
SURROUBDED BY MEDIEVAL CITY.
THE EXCELLENTLY EMPHASISED STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF THE
BUILDING MAKES IT STAND OUT IN THE VICINITY
THE ARCHITECT MADE A GREAT EFFORT TO MAKE THE
AMALGAMATION OF ARCHITECTURE , CLIMATE AND STRUCTURE.

20. THE GHERKIN
MATERIALS :
35km of steel, 10000 tons are used.
24000 sq.mof glass is used on façade.
Recyclable and recycled material was used
wherever possible.
The exterior cladding consists of 5500 flat
triangular , diamond shaped glass panels.

21. THANK YOU