Lloyd's of London, London

Home to the world's oldest insurance organization and the renowned insurance and reinsurance market, the Lloyd's Building, standing 14 stories tall on Lime Street, is a remarkable embodiment of industrial architecture nestled in the heart of London. This extraordinary structure serves as a testament to the harmonious integration of architecture and industrial engineering. Comprising six towers, including three primary ones and three auxiliary ones, encircling a central rectangular core, it has earned the nickname "Inside Out Building" because its staircases, electrical conduits, water pipelines, and 12 glass-fronted elevators are situated on the exterior, optimizing interior space.

The ground floor houses the Underwriting Room, distinguished by its barrel-vaulted glass roof and the renowned Lutine Bell, which once tolled to signal that a ship was either delayed or lost at sea. While much of the building exudes a futuristic aesthetic, the 11th floor offers a delightful surprise: the exquisite Committee Room—a dining area originally designed in the 18th century, which was disassembled from the old Lloyd's building and painstakingly reconstructed, piece by piece, within the current structure.

Among the diverse insurance policies underwritten by Lloyd's are some intriguing ones, including coverage for Celine Dion's and Bruce Springsteen's vocal cords, protection for a comedy theater group against the unlikely scenario of an audience member dying of laughter, and support for the development of the New World Trade Center.