The Gherkin and St. Andrew Undershaft: A tale of two buildings
Next to the Elizabeth Tower (often incorrectly referred to as Big Ben which, in fact, is the name of the bell within the tower) and the Tower Bridge, the bulbous gleaming form of The Gherkin often finds itself within the silhouette skyline always used when depicting the City of London. It sticks out like a bullet from the row of mid-rise offices and apartment buildings that cover the financial center.
The Gherkin on St. Mary Axe (top: Peter Imbong), towers over the Church of St. Andrew Undershaft (bottom: Collage - The London Picture Archive).
Completed in December 2003 at 41 storeys high and with 46,400 square meters of office space, the circular plan that tapers as it rises stands out from its rectangular neighbors down and up the block. According to London-based architecture firm Foster+Partners, its unique profile "reduces wind deflections compared with a rectilinear tower of similar size," which helps create a comfortable environment at the ground level and also creates system of natural ventilation.
But while tourists and bankers alike walk along St. Mary Axe marveling at the Gherkin's voluptuous gleaming facade, the Church of St. Andrew Undershaft has quietly sat within its looming shadow since it took the spotlight more than a decade ago.
Built in 1532 during the reign of Henry VII, what's peculiar about St. Andrew Undershaft isn't its unremarkable structure, but its history. Aside from being one of the few surviving pre-Restoration churches in the city, it has managed to survive three major historical events: the Great Fire of London in 1666, the Blitz during the second world war, and, most recently, an IRA bomb in 1993.
The Church of St. Andrew Undershaft (middle: Collage - The London Picture Archive), continues to be swarmed by new more modern development (Peter Imbong).
It takes its unique name from the shaft that it was once under in medieval times. A May pole once stood above it and here, festivals were celebrated. It was removed in 1517 for reasons, reportedly, that the May pole had more of a Pagan origin than Christian.
The church is normally closed to the public, but arrangements may be made with representatives from St. Helen's Bishopsgate who administer the building. Currently, more steel and glass structures are in the process of construction around the church. But that is one of the beautiful things about London -- where the old and new stand side-by-side in complementary beauty.
