Which skyscraper is known as the Gherkin?

30 St Mary Axe is the London skyscraper known as the Gherkin.

The tower was completed in 2003 at 30 St Mary Axe in the City of London. Its rounded, tapering form and diamond-patterned exterior led Londoners and the international media to adopt the nickname “the Gherkin,” after the pickled cucumber.

The building was designed by Foster + Partners with engineering support from Arup. Its diagrid structural system allows the tower to use fewer conventional vertical columns while contributing to its distinctive appearance.

The Gherkin is sometimes confused with London’s other nickname-heavy towers, including the Shard and the Walkie-Talkie. Those buildings have different designs, locations and official names, even though all are prominent parts of London’s modern skyline.