Tower "Oxo" standing on the south bank of the Thames near Blackfriars Bridge, clearly visible from the opposite Victoria Embankment. This building looks unusual - red brick facade, overlooking the River Thames, and the actual tower light gray with strange windows look like two different buildings. The history of the building is also unusual.

Initially, there was a power plant, built in the late XIX century to the post office. Later the building was purchased by "Liebig meat extract." This product, which is a beef broth, condensed to the consistency of the extract (one hundred percent natural, no additives other than salt), was developed by the German chemist Baron Justus von Liebig in the forties of the XIX century. One of the greatest chemists founded a company that produced the world's first stock cubes. In 1899, after the death of Liebig, innovative product was named "Oxo".

The building of the power plant was rebuilt in Art Deco style by the architect Albert Moore - much demolished, but the facade, overlooks the river, it has been preserved and expanded. The company's management has dreamed of a tall tower, which will shine the name of bouillon cubes, but such advertising is not allowed. Then Moore built a four-sided tower, each side of which were vertically arranged three windows. These windows were in the shape of a circle, cross, and another circle, and together they were the very word "Oxo" (in English - Oxo). Arrange the windows as advertising was impossible ("This is the basic geometric shapes" - calmly explained Moore), and soon they were already being the world - around the clock.

The building, known as Stamford pier used for the processing, packaging and cold storage. Meat brought in barges (loading docks are still visible on the banks). However, by the 1970s, the pier was semi-abandoned. Finally, the tower and the adjoining land bought Organization "Coyne Street community Builders", responsible for the development of the South Bank.

More than five hectares of neglect have turned into a quarter where there are houses and shops, and restaurants, and sports facilities, and the path along the river. Tower also changed: carefully restored building now includes seven floors of shops, galleries and apartments, and the eighth - a terrace, there is a restaurant with stunning views of London. Downstairs cozy white lilac blossoms, and the top is still shining windows, necessarily advertising cubes "Oxo" (the company still exists today).