The Glass British Window Cleaners Have To Clean In The Future

London's rising skyline: Various new buildings are popping up in the capital's financial area – many of them with a distinctly futuristic look. An artist's impression above of The Leadenhall building, London. A 235-metre skyscraper which has been dubbed the Cheesegrater. Work on the project has been revived. Other leading developments include the Pinnacle, also known as the "Helter-Skelter," and Heron Tower on Bishopsgate, due to open early next year, as well as the Shard at London Bridge. Two others have recently been completed: St Botolph and the Walbrook, both by Minerva. Click pictures to enlarge.

The St Botolph Building is a new landmark office building in The City of London's EC3 insurance district. The scheme, designed by internationally renowned architects, Grimshaw is for a 14 storey landmark office building with circa 560,000 sq ft accommodation, including retail space.

The Walbrook building: This new statement building stands in a prime position in the City of London, right by Cannon Street Station, just south of Mansion House. Designed by renowned architect Norman Foster’s practice, it contains 35,293m² of office space and 3,681m² of retail space. The building incorporates trading floors and office accommodation over ten floors and around two atria. Much like many new buildings, the exterior of The Walbrook will be encased with solar shading, helping keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter and improving energy efficiency. The building’s cladding is made entirely from Fiber-Reinforced Polymer – a material which has not been used to this extent on buildings before – which gives it a high sheen, similar to that of a car. FRP is commonly used in the aerospace, automotive and marine industries due to its strength and lightness – in fact it boasts a strength-to-weight ratio higher than steel or concrete.

An artist's impressions of The Shard at London Bridge, which is currently being constructed. When completed in 2012, it will be the tallest building in the European Union and the 45th tallest building in the world. It is the second tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom after the 1,084 ft (330.4m). The tower will stand 1,017 ft (310 m) tall and have 72 floors, plus 15 further radiator floors in the roof. The building has been designed with an irregular triangular shape from the base to the top. It will be clad entirely in glass. The viewing gallery and open-air observation deck will be on the top (72nd) floor. The building replaces Southwark Towers, a 24-storey office building of 1976. Renzo Piano, the building's architect, worked together with architectural firm Broadway Malyan during the planning stage of the project.

New development of Tate Modern. This new development will transform Tate Modern. An iconic new building will be added at the south of the existing gallery. It will create more spaces for displaying the Collection, performance and installation art and learning, all allowing visitors to engage more deeply with art, as well as creating more social spaces for visitors to unwind and relax in the gallery.

Inside the One New Change complex - One New Change is designed by architect Jean Nouvel in the City of London. One New Change was built at a cost of £540m and has attracted the ire of Prince Charles who has criticised its sleek design, which has won the 560,000 sq ft complex the nickname of the "stealth bomber". Financial professionals seeking something more expensive than Topshop will be able to browse Banana Republic and Hugo Boss concessions, while Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay are opening restaurants in the building. In keeping with its surroundings, One New Change will have 330,000 sq ft of office space above its retail outlets.

Two artist's impression of the Walkie Talkie above: Plans to build the 160-metre tower at 20 Fenchurch Street, designed by the award-winning architect Rafael Viñoly, were put on hold at the start of the financial crisis but Land Securities is now keen to get it off the ground. Dubbed the Walkie-Talkie due to its shape and sloping sides, it is expected to be completed in 2014, when many leases expire in the City, exacerbating the shortage of modern office space.