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Building the Gherkin

Name: Building the Gherkin
Director: Mirjam von Arx
Released: 2005
Duration: 89 min

No Poster Available

Representation Score

4.0/10

Limited

2005

Director

Mirjam von Arx

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Building the Gherkin serves as a technical and historical chronicle of architectural achievement. It prioritizes the intersection of engineering, corporate identity, and the evolving skyline of a global financial hub over identity-driven storytelling. The film captures the tension between radical design and the socio-political climate of the early 2000s. However, the narrative remains largely tethered to traditional Western institutional frameworks and professional hierarchies. Ultimately, the documentary lacks significant engagement with identity politics, focusing instead on the structural and aesthetic impact of a landmark in a post-9/11 landscape.

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Category Breakdown

Does Building the Gherkin have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on the technical and aesthetic aspects of the Swiss Re building. The nickname 'the erotic gherkin' refers to the structure's curvilinear geometry rather than any LGBTQ identities or narratives.

How does Building the Gherkin portray gender?

Fair

The narrative centers on the professional achievements of Norman Foster. The discussion is dominated by male-centric spheres like architecture and finance, reinforcing the image of the visionary male architect.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Building the Gherkin?

Limited

The film explores London’s financial district, a space characterized by Western institutional power. There is no explicit evidence of diverse casting or non-white protagonists driving the narrative.

How does Building the Gherkin represent religion and culture?

Fair

The documentary examines the intersection of capitalism and urban resilience following global tragedy. It frames the building as a site of systemic controversy within the London skyline.

Does Building the Gherkin include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence that disability, neurodivergence, or chronic illness serve as central themes or character elements in this documentary.

Present on Screen

Explores the tension between radical architectural design and global socio-political anxiety.
Provides a detailed look at the intersection of corporate identity and urban evolution.

Limited or Absent

Lacks engagement with identity politics or diverse personal narratives.
Reinforces traditional male-centric professional hierarchies in architecture and finance.
Focuses heavily on Western institutional power and architectural hegemony.

Official Synopsis

Can a single building impact the career of an architect, the image of a global company and even the skyline of a big city? Just a month and a day after the disastrous attack on the World Trade Center in New York, the first steel beam of a new tower is erected in London. One question is on everybody’s mind: is it the right decision to build a new iconic tower in the midst of London’s financial district, on a site that has already been bombed before? The 40-storey steel and glass tower sparks further controversy. Norman Foster, one of Britain’s most visionary architects, calls his design for the new Swiss Re London headquarters ‘radial – socially, technically, architecturally and spatially’. In fact, its size and shape are so radical that it is almost immediately nicknamed ‘the erotic gherkin’. Will the Gherkin become the landmark they all dream of?

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