London Buildings City (The Square Mile) City HallCity Hall
City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority which comprises the Mayor of London 
(not to be confused with the 'Lord Mayor of London') and London Assembly. It is located in Southwark, stands on the south bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge. Designed by Norman Foster, it opened in July 2002.
The building has an unusual bulbous shape, intended to reduce its surface area and thus improve energy efficiency. Former mayor, Ken Livingstone referred to it as a "glass testicle", while the present mayor, Boris Johnson, more politely call it "The Onion". Its designers reportedly saw the building as a giant sphere hanging over the Thames, but opted for a more conventionally rooted building instead. It has no front or back in conventional terms but derives its shape from a modified sphere.
City Hall was constructed on a site formerly occupied by wharves serving the Pool of London. The building does not belong to the GLA but is leased under a 25-year rent. It forms part of a larger development called More London, including offices and shops. Next to City Hall is a sunken amphitheatre called The Scoop, which is used in the summer months for open-air performances; it is not, however, part of the GLA's jurisdiction. The Scoop and surrounding landscape were designed by Townshend Landscape Architects.
The Queen's Walk, Southwalk, London SE1 2AA
