LONDON + 2000. NEW ARCHITECTURE

London's recent buildings are some of the most vibrant in the world. From the daring shape-making of Norman Foster's 30 St. Mary Axe, more familiarly known as the Gherkin, to the cool, layered artistry of David Adjaye's Rivington Place, these projects are internationally admired and have played an important role in the city's conversion from an architectural backwater to a world capital of contemporary design. Economic growth, resurgent popular interest in architecture and design, heightened political and nonprofit support and funding, and London's relatively new status as Europe's creative and financial melting pot have all contributed to this radical shift. Taking advantage of this climate, a group of talented firms are creating unique, artful projects that derive inspiration from contemporary forms and technologies, the city's glorious urban chaos, its fascinating collision of history and modernity, and its palpable energy. They range in scale from tightly-fit house additions to skyline-altering towers.