Gherkin vs Cucumber – the vegetable themed battle for London’s skyline

Posted Monday 22nd November 2010

Simon and David Reuben, billionaire owners of data centre company Global Switch, today unveiled their plans for a new skyscraper in the Paddington Basin, West London.

The 41 storey glass tower, to be officially known as 1 Merchant Square, will incorporate 222 flats, a boutique hotel as well as the potential for office space if demand requires.

The Reubens believe that 1 Merchant Square will become one of the most recognisable buildings in London and have ambitions to make the Paddington Basin the Canary Wharf of West London. If planning permission is granted, the project is due for completion in 2016.

So where does the vegetable theme come into all of this you may ask?

With the trend of giving new London skyscrapers food themed nicknames still very much alive (see the not so positive response from the head of British Land when he learnt of the nickname given to their 122 Leadenhall Street project), the Reuben’s have carried on the merriment by giving 1 Merchant Square the pet name ‘The Cucumber’.

Quite what fellow Cucumis Sativus specie and original trend setter of the craze The Gherkin (or 30 St Mary Axe to give its official title) in The City of London thinks of it all is a mystery.

But don’t be surprised then to see a Marrow, Parsnip or Celery gatecrashing the London commercial property party soon.

Personally though, we are all waiting with baited breath to see what the artist’s impression will be like for any project nicknamed ‘The Broccoli’…

To find out more about our office space at The Gherkin in the City of London, call us today or email info@abbeyoffices.com.