The Lloyd's Building will open to the public for one day of the London Open House festival, its first public opening since 2014. The event is part of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the iconic building located in the heart of London's financial district.
The building was designed by architect Richard Rogers to house the global insurance market. Its futuristic façade has been a celebrated part of the City of London's skyline since it opened in 1986, although its interior is rarely seen by the public.
Critic Owen Hatherley described it as "monstrous, captivating" in his 2012 book "A New Kind of Bleak". In the 1980s, the then Prince Charles suggested it had been inspired by a North Sea oil platform. However, in 2011 it became the youngest building to receive Grade I-listed status in the United Kingdom.
The visitor galleries that offered views of the trading floor have been closed for years for security reasons. The opening during Open House will allow admirers of the building a rare opportunity to see its interior.
