BRITAIN'S PRIZED PICKLE

The Swiss Re Tower, designed by Norman Foster, is London's first environmental skyscraper and the newest landmark in that city's financial center. The building received the 2004 Stirling prize from the he Royal Institute of British Architects and has become affectionately known as "The Gherkin." Next week, ArchitectureWeek contributing editor Don Barker will show us around this major new addition to the London skyline.

COMPUTER MODELING FOR THE GHERKIN

Parametric modeling was a critical tool for the design of the Swiss Re Tower's complex curved forms. The 3D computer modeling process worked like a numerical spreadsheet: by storing the relationships between various features of the design, the model enabled the designers to manipulate the various elements until the desired form was attained. Next week we'll see how this worked.