He already owns «The Gherkin», but now he wants to add «The Tulip» to his portfolio. Jacob Safra, the owner of the Swiss-based private bank, plans to build another landmark in the London City.
J. Safra Group has submitted a planning application to the City of London Corporation for the new skyscraper. «The Tulip», as the project has been dubbed, will rise 300 meters high and extend into a flower-shaped, oval construction at the top.
«The Tulip» is the brainchild of Sir Norman Foster, who already constructed «The Gherkin» – at the time for Swiss Re. J. Safra bought the office block in 2014 for 726 million pounds ($932 million).
The project submitted now is for a building on 30 St Mary Axe, right next to «The Gherkin». If constructed, it will become another landmark in London City, which already sports a walkie-talkie, a cheese grater and a gherkin.
The walkie-talkie also has been dubbed «The Pint» for its resemblance of the typical British pint glass. The cheese grater by contrast is a less favorable description of the Leadenhall Building in the City.
Free Entry for Schoolkids
Jacob Safra, the owner of J. Safra Sarasin private bank, plans a center for culture and education at the new landmark, with facilities for local school children. Some 20,000 free entry tickets would be handed out each year, according to the statement on the Website of the project. Construction is slated to begin in 2020 and the grand opening is planned for 2025.
