What fascinates me about the Architecture in cities like London is the cheek-by-jowl juxtapositions of different periods of history. These things can be seen in the detail of the buildings - details which give them distinction.
For instance the Houses of Parliament - iconic building but the remaining ancient parts are hidden and what you see does a very good job of looking the part to neighbouring Westminster Abbey, which you can see behind it from this view. The present-day Palace of Westminster was constructed after the Great Fire of 1834.
Other buildings that have become iconic for one reason and another.
Buckingham Palace
taken from the London Eye
It seems it has been there forever, but not long in the scheme of things when it comes to the Monarch's residence.Tower Bridge
St Paul's - rallied spirits during the Blitz due to the photo showing that it still stood in spite of the damage all around.
Even engineering feats of the Victorians with their 'cathedrals to the machine' like Waterloo Station.
And still more modern buildings which could easily be anachronistic in the city scape, but instead become recognisable features which say 'London'.
The award winning 'Gherkin' or 30 St. Mary Axe.
Even the London Eye - is it even architecture?
and the newest - The Shard, formerly London Bridge Tower, a 72-storey skyscraper in London. Its construction began in March 2009; it was topped out on 30 March 2012 and inaugurated on 5 July 2012.
This photo was taken around the end of May 2012.
Of course their are 'normal' places in London where people live. But even then it looks like London!
