The City of London

This chapter presents a preview of contemporary architecture of the buildings of the City of London. The heart of the City is at Bank and this is a good point to start with any visits. Most of the buildings listed are within easy walking distance, although Mansell Street and Whitechapel are on the City's eastern boundary and will stretch one's legs a little further. Around Bank, one will find Lutyens' No. 1 Poultry (Midland Bank), an adjacent Westminster Bank by Edwin Cooper, who did the first Lloyds building; the contentious Mappin and Webb triangle (Belcher); the Royal Exchange; Hawksmoor's St.Mary Woolnoth; Dance the Elder's Mansion House; and the John Soane/ Herbert Baker Bank of England. The chapter describes the architecture of Lloyd's of London, 1986; Broadgate Complex, 1984–92; Alban Gate, 1991; Bracken House, 1991; Fenchurch Street offices; Queen Street offices; Cornhill offices; Minster Court, 85 London Wall; Fleet Place; Billingsgate Securities Market; Insignia House; and Milton Gate. Alban Gate is an extravagant post-modern building in peculiar circumstances demanding sophisticated aesthetic and technical solutions. Milton Gate, the bizarre 20,000 sq. m office building near to the Barbican, is by the practice of one of the UK's foremost post-war architects, Denys Lasdun, the designer of the National Theatre. The building is both literally and metaphorically green, being entirely clad in a deep, double-skin of glass.