Lloyds of London building built in 1979
Somewhere between art deco and Blade Runner, the Lloyd’s of London Headquarters is a surprisingly risky design for an insurance company. Many marvel at its shimmering steel and glittering glass. Others consider it a monstrosity imposing itself on the heart of London’s financial district. It has been successfully compared to a building turned inside out with ductwork and services on the outside instead of neatly concealed behind a uniform structure. Industrial dreck, or post-modern masterpiece, it is at least a building that gets noticed. While the six towers are most noticed by tourists, the main focus of the building is part that few actually see -- the internal atrium. This is the hub around which all activity turns on a series of galleries. Building facilities like rest rooms, kitchens, elevators, etc… are placed on the outside of the building where they won’t get in the way of the work of business. More importantly, being easily accessible from the outside means they can be upgraded or replaced with a minimum of hassle and without impacting usable office space.
Any other weird buildings you know of?
Inside out building
Linear Mode
