London set to get a new tower dubbed The Tulip

A proposed new tower is set to be London’s second tallest structure, and in keeping with the city’s tradition already has its own nickname, The Tulip. The tower is designed to resemble a flower, with visitors ascending a long thin stem to an observation building on top, shaped like the petals of the bulbous blossom. Designed by global architecture firm Foster + Partners, the tower would be built within the ground-floor plaza of one of the firm’s other notable London skyscrapers, 30 St Mary Axe, or the Gherkin. The project has been proposed by J. Safra Group, a privately owned banks and investment holdings company that owns the Gherkin. At 305.3 metres, The Tulip would be just shy of being London’s tallest building, which is The Shard at 306 metres. It would also edge out a new skyscraper development underway, 1 Undershaft, planned to be 304 metres.It will be built next to another well known building, the Gherkin. The Tulip’s proposed steel frame and glazed tipped attraction would feature rotating glass observation “gondolas” on three sides, with sky bridges connecting 12 storeys of internal viewing platforms, all offering sweeping views of London. The building will also feature a bar and restaurant with 360-degree views, as well as an education space that would offer 20,000 free places each year to local state school children for use of the facilities, including interactive guides to teach visitors about London’s history.