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© Nigel Young
Situated on the south bank of the Thames immediately next to Tower Bridge, London’s new city hall focuses attention on a long neglected corner of the capital. Based on a master plan drawn up by the same architects, a new district is being created here with offices and public amenities. The work of the Greater London Authority (GLA) is made transparent by the large areas of glazing that distinguish this striking new building. Spiralling up through the interior is a ramp that links the various storeys and culminates at the top in “London’s Living Room”, a space for exhibitions and other events. The GLA building, the seat of the mayor and the elected assembly, contains 500 workplaces for the administration. Reminiscent of a beehive, its optimized form and orientation, which reflect solar-energy criteria, make the new city hall an outstanding example of sustainable administration building.