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Core
THEORY & MATHEMATICSintermediate
Definition
The central zone of a building containing services — stairs, elevators, mechanical systems, bathrooms — that serve the surrounding spaces. The core is a functional and structural anchor around which other spaces are organized.
Example
Norman Foster's 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) in London (2004) has a central vertical core containing all services, allowing the surrounding office spaces to be column-free and flexible.