The Gherkin in London may soon have a new neighbor, as Foster + Partners have announced their plans for a new cultural and tourist attraction named The Tulip that would take shape just next door.
Foster + Partners revealed on Monday that plans have been submitted for The Tulip, which is envisioned as a “state-of-the-art cultural and educational resource,” offering a vantage point 300 meters above the city.
The firm, which is also behind 30 St Mary Axe a.k.a. The Gherkin, submitted the plans along with the owners of the other instantly recognizable building. Among their proposed ideas for The Tulip are an educational facility offering free spots for London schoolchildren, plus views of the city that visitors will be able to experience from sky bridges, internal glass slides and gondola pod rides on the building’s façade.
A sky bar and restaurants will offer 360-degree views of the city, and visitors will be able to learn about the history of London with the help of interactive materials and expert guides found within the building’s soft, bud-like form.
In the area around the building, a new pocket park is proposed alongside a two-story pavilion featuring a publicly accessible rooftop garden.
Subject to the planning approval process, construction on The Tulip could begin in 2020, with completion projected for 2025. JB
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