The Vortex (whirlpool), so named because of its slightly curled shape, is a new hotel to be located on the outskirts of the City.
Its height will be 300 m, which is twice the height of the "gherkin", built with the active participation of Shuttleworth by Foster's bureau for the firm "Swiss-Re". According to the architect, "Suisse-Re" has set a new level for high-rise construction, therefore "Vortex" is unusual both technically and artistically. The most demanded areas of skyscrapers are the lowest and highest levels. They are extended in a new building, while the whole structure remains traditional, all supports are straight. Also important is the active use of color, which the British capital lacks.
This large-scale project is one of several that Shuttleworth's Make [Make] bureau started with. Almost all of Make's architects also came from Foster's firm. They have already managed to win the latter in a competition for a project for the reconstruction of 23 hectares of London's Elephant and Castle district. They are also developing a project to rehabilitate the coastal area of Edinburgh.
