St. Helen's
London, UK

HEIGHT: 118m
FLOORS: 28 floors
COMPLETION: 1969
ARCHITECT: Gollins Melvin Ward Partnership ( GMW Architects )
USE: ?



Notes:

One of the first tall buildings to appear in London's financial district.


Arguably the best example of high quality International architecture in London, this building is up to be
listed by English Heritage.


It has had three name changes in five years. First it was CGNU and then Aviva, and is now called St Helen's
after the nearby church.


Headquarters of the UK's largest insurance group, Aviva.


4th tallest building in the City of London.


First building to feature a 'hung' structure.


The building is situated in a prominent location in The City, and occupies one entire side of St Helen's square,
opposite the Lloyds Building and SwissRe. It will soon be joined by a neighbouring 225m skyscraper, the Leadenhall Building. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=97414)




http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/1.jpg





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/2.jpg





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/3.jpg





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/4.jpg





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/5.jpg





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/6.jpg





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/7.jpg





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/8.jpg





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/9.jpg

6.5/10 nice contrast between this one and Swiss RE. the old modern and the new modern:)

6.5/10

It looks really good for something built in 69. Nice glassy facade.

I've always like glassy facades. 6/10

just average. I wouldn't give it a second look. 5

7/10
I like it, but I don't like it's proximaty to St. Helen's church.

5/10 Just an average box. Those gitters, or whatever they are, in the middel and in the top, ruins the nice facade. :down:

7/10

6.5

wow, i thought this would be trashed by international standards!!!

i give the neat box look a 6

6/10

rather plain, the colour makes it a bit more elegant 6

Pretty good box

8/10

6/10

5 Bad copy of the project never built of Van der Rohe for London... The other one was much more better, specially the relation with the square....

7/10

it looks ok

7/10

A nice midrise that helps to bulk out the City skyline. Not exactly stunning, but it's been around for ages so it wins points for sentimental value I guess.



http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/city/18sthelens.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/city/16swissre2.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens_plaza_montage.jpg



http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/st_helens.jpg

5/10

http://img41.photobucket.com/albums/v127/jorgito/DSC02685.jpg

Viewed from 30SMA:


http://img52.photobucket.com/albums/v158/Winkel/swissre/002_30.jpg

some nice pics there thanks for adding :)

Here's another. :)



http://www.terminalterminus.co.uk/Architecture/Photos/StHelens.jpg

I dont like this building much. 5/10.

A bad imitation of the Seagram building, but gets a 6 for helping to bulk out the City cluster.

http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/swissre_aerial1.jpg

not very special, looks lower than it is. the design is horrendous! 5/10.

7/10 A quite nice box

6/10

6/10

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/buildings/99_pic4.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/buildings/99_pic5.jpg

A 3.5 is a bit harsh, whoever did that is crazy!. A 5 at the lowest, but I gave it a 7 as it is a nice box.

A great example of the international style....

However I never liked the intl style...... sorry :(

I've updated the pics and information at the start of this thread. :)

not good,not bad
6/10

Viewed from the west, it forms an interesting set of "steps", with 6-8 Bishopsgate in front, and SwissRe behind.



http://img72.exs.cx/img72/875/aerial60px.jpg

http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/sthelens/10.jpg

6/10

6/10

I don't mind it, but it blocks SwissRe from Waterloo Bridge which is a bit poo.

You can't hate it or love it, I'd go for a very average 6.5

7/10

10/10

7/10

9/10

7/10

I like boxes, but this one is quite boring ;) 7/10

just a box, nothing more 5/10

A nice international-style box, slightly Chicago-esque, and it really helps to bulk up that part of the skyline.

Quite nice from street level too.

7.5

7/10

..

Box! 7.5/10 ;)

6,5/10

6.5/10

Dull. 4/10

7/10

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/sixwm/2005/06/375108.jpg

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/sixwm/2004/03/248219.jpg

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/sixwm/2003/10/225295.jpg

7,5/10

8/10

classy building.

Not bad for the swinging sixties: 8/10

8/10

Boxy, 5/10.

7/10

http://www.nicholashodder.com/galleries/london/IMG_1578.jpg

6.5/10

7/10

The Erotic Gherkin is an interesting structure but it is totally out of character with the surrounding built environment. As such, it doesnt work for me at all. It is a disgrace to have it so close to St. Pauls also. Anyway, sorry to sound like Prince Charles, but this is how I feel. This should be out in the Docklands. Keep the heart of London traditional.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukv4JEqKAmk

The Erotic Gherkin is an interesting structure but it is totally out of character with the surrounding built environment. As such, it doesnt work for me at all. It is a disgrace to have it so close to St. Pauls also. Anyway, sorry to sound like Prince Charles, but this is how I feel. This should be out in the Docklands. Keep the heart of London traditional.
You really don't have a clue.

7.5/10

8/10

Nothing wrong with this tower, a 7,5 out of 10.

Average.. Looks relly bad when compared to the near by Swiss Re. 4.5/10

6/10...okish...i very unusual style for London...

not ugly but boring 5/10

7/10

7/10

7/10

7,5/10

7/10

8/10

Simon Halabi announced his plans to demolish the tower and replace it with a much taller one. The plans may have been abandoned.

nice

7/10

8/10

6.5/10

8/10. Considering its age, the facade is very modern.

8/10

7. Regards.

7/10

10/10

you love everything in london lol

8/10.

I love modernistic simplicity with no needless elements. Just clear. 9/10

8/10

9/10

8/10

7/10

8/10

7.5 - I love how the main 'Block' seems to hover over the main lobby floor...

6/10

7/10

6/10 boring box, and the mechanical floors are eliminated ugly in the structure.

6/10, another one copy-pasted glass box.

7/10