Economics of 30 St Mary Axe ( The Gherkin ).

The Gherkin is constructed basically from steel composite structure for the whole
structural element to the building. Steel is a very scarce resources which is from a day to
another, it lesser than before. Hence, making it become less supply but more demand for
it. Steel’s price has getting more expensive than any other alternative material for
constructing structure for the building. For an example, by using concrete reinforced
superstructure will help the client to save more cost but since not all the place in
European continent have the resources on the lime as the main element in cement. So
that, importing it would be another problem and adding cost to the construction.

30 St Mary Axe is constructed on a diagrid structure, which is as can be seen like scale
from a fish, but in the form of polygonal shape. The surface and façade of the building is
made from 5500 glass panels and only a piece of curve glass is used as the lens. The
radial floor design of The Gherkin is rotated about 5o. In addition, the building is build
with sets of six atrium which is two to six stories high for each atrium.

In term of economics, the building can be classified as sustainable building as the

building is supposed to consume less energy by 50% since it reduce the consumerism of
light during day hour because of the design of the building allows for natural light to
penetrate inside the building. This mean, most of the area in the building did not have to
use light from electricity. It is also energy saving in the term of natural ventilation. This
is because of the aerodynamic design of The Gherkin, which creates downdraft to the
atmosphere. Besides that, differing air pressures and double skin façade also allow for
natural ventilation. The installation of solar blind in the building is to allow heat from
going out and also to reject heat from outside from going in.

But the building also not economics in the gross floor space since that only 63% of the
space is usable. Means that 37% of the floor space area cannot be used for commercial
purpose. This is because of the bridge in the building which occur to connect from one
atrium to another atrium is space consuming. Besides that, the building also lack of
confidentiality due to the open design and atriums. If the tenants of the building want
some privacy, they need to install their own partition.

Mohd Adnan Dollah

2010646192

references, pilih je mana…

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