20 Fenchurch St., London, UK
When the 37-storey skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street was under construction it had the power to set things on fire. Local shopkeepers reported carpets catching fire and smoldering doors. And that was just the beginning. In September 2013 the skyscraper literally destroyed a Jaguar parked across the street. The car was completely ruined, with melted panels, mirrors and other parts.
The skyscraper has been nicknamed “Walkie-Talkie" because of its peculiar shape. And it was exactly this shape which was causing the problem. The south-facing exterior wall was covered in reflective glass, and because it's curved it focused the sun rays onto a small area like a magnifying glass.
After the accident, the building has been fitted with a permanent solution - the 'brise soleil' sunshade to deflect sunshine.
