"Scalpel" in the heart of London

Modern architects never cease to delight us with innovative ideas, many of which are truly original. Among such buildings is the office tower at 52 Lime Street, designed by specialists from the American architectural firm KPF. Thanks to its memorable pointed silhouette, the building was given the name "Scalpel", which was later approved as an official name. Next to the new skyscraper are no less original examples of modern architecture - Leadenhall, called nothing less than "Cheese Grater", and St Mary Axe "Gherkin".

"Scalpel" cutting the sky

The customer for the construction of the new inhabitant of the London city cluster was the American insurance company WR Berkley, which equipped the European headquarters of the company in the original building. The free areas of the skyscraper are rented out and are extremely popular.

• Modern trends in office tower architecture

When choosing the geometry of the building, the architects opted for a stepped design. This allowed them to harmoniously complement the original architectural ensemble and preserve the general trend of the area. The solid glass façade has an inclined surface and is interrupted only by metal strips that outline the boundaries of the building's faces. The core of the office tower is shifted toward the southern façade, making the building not only original, but also functional.

• Connection with history

Despite the modern design of the buildings in London's business district, the architects strive to maintain a connection with history. Thus, while developing the architectural design for the building, James Woodford equipped it with four bas-reliefs depicting the elements. Previously, they were located on the Lloyds building, built in 1957, and then on the building at 52-54 Lime Street, which gave way to the "Scalpel".

• Interior design

When choosing a design solution for the building's interior spaces, the creators gave preference to timeless trends. Natural materials and lighting imitating natural light were used to decorate the vestibules, lift halls and three-level atrium. Due to its high energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, "Scalpel" received an "excellent" rating according to BREEAM.