The Lloyd’s building always impressed me whenever I had the chance to see it in person. Our trip to London last month was no different in that. With its inside-out approach, it is one of the most recognisable pieces of high-tech architecture. To create open, uncluttered social spaces inside, the services for the building, such as ducts and stairs, are located on the exterior. Iconic at 35 years young, it was completed in 1986 by Richard Rogers and Partners.
Its remarkable exterior is similar to the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the first significant example of this style, also designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano. But the oeuvre of Sir Rogers does not stop here. The incredible legacy holds countless other landmarks like the Millennium Dome in London, T4 at Madrid’s Barajas Airport, 3 World Trade Centre, the European Court of Human Rights building in Strasbourg, 122 Leadenhall Street –the Cheesegrater (which I modelled only last week) – and many more.
Sadly, the great architect behind these inspirational buildings has passed away at 88. May he rest in peace.
