The Shard London, Skyscraper, Architect, Renzo Piano Building, Photos, Design, Pictures

The Shard - London Bridge Tower : Information + Images

London Bridge Tower - Shard : Key Skyscraper in England, UK

The Shard London At a height of 310 metres (1,020 feet) and with a total 72 occupied floors reaching skyward into a breathtaking 15 story spire, the Shard London Bridge Quarter is set to be the tallest building in Western Europe. The Shard photos - exclusive to e-architect - from 1 Apr 2012 The Shard immediately adjacent to London Bridge Station will rest elegantly on the London skyline, providing a welcome new symbol for the world financial capital. The tower is also the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom, after the 330-metre (1,083 ft) Emley Moor transmitting station The Shard is one of the most enigmatic buildings to adorn the London skyline in recent years. The vision of its creator, the much lauded Italian architect Renzo Piano was for a vertical 'City in the Sky'; and the Shard at London Bridge Quarter with its mix of offices residences, hotel, restaurants and viewing platforms will herald a new era in high rise development for London and will become emblematic when all eyes look towards the city in 2012. The Shard replaces the Southwark Tower, a 1970's building located on London Bridge Street. The Shard offers high density vertical development at a transport hub and will be the UK's first truly mixed use tower, devised to interface with London on many levels. The master architect, Renzo Piano, designed the Shard as a 'vertical city' that includes a public piazza, 586,509 sq ft (54, 488 sq m) of world class office space, an exclusive collection of residential apartments which will be the highest residential apartments in the UK and will be serviced by Europe's first 5-star Shangri-La Hotel, retail space, restaurants, and a public viewing gallery. This will all ensure that it becomes the beating heart of a regenerated London Bridge Quarter. photos © Nick Weall The Shard photos - from 19 Mar 2012 images : e-architect resource Design: Renzo Piano Building Workshop with Ove Arup & Partners 25 Apr 2011 The Shard : Letter to e-architect I have the greatest privelege to watch this magnificient ediface take shape every day as I commute into London. On the whole we British to not take too well to change and are unacceptable of new ideas. The London Evening Standard Newspaper showed a skewed and highly doctored view of this building some weeks ago and suggested how shocking it was that it overpowered St Paul's Cathedral. That was pure humbug and typifies English attitudes. The Shard together with the Gherkin Building have brought Britain into the new century archetecturally. For London these symbols signify a new era of hope and optimism for the future. All the detractors live in a bygone age of sentimentality and a lust for this countries past glory. Renzo Piano is a wonderful archetect who will leave a legacy of dynamism the like of which the mediocre Frank Geary will never hope to attain. I am delighted that every day The Shard lights up my day and I say to all those wretched people who cannot see the brilliance to open there eyes further. Simon Weinberg Do you agree with Simon or not? Comments / photos for the The Shard London Skyscraper page welcome : info(at)e-architect.co.uk The Shard tower - construction photos tower photographs © Nick Weall The Shard photos © Nick Weall - from 27 Feb 2011 11 Jan 2011 The Shard Tower As the form starts to emerge there is growing consternation among many Londoners about its appearance. The latest nickname we've received is 'Dalek'. The siting of tall buildings at major transport nodes (here London Bridge, a major station feeding the city from the southeast) is a sound policy. But why super tall? What end is served by this macho rush for height? Other than the sheer bulk, the actual design appears to lack elegance - a wide base and angles well off the vertical. In some ways it is too early to judge properly - the render towards the base of this page shows a slender tip that helps carry the rest of the building below. However in eschewing a slender form the architects have taken a path less travelled, but it is less travelled for good reasons. Adrian Welch, editor Comments welcome at info(at)e-architect.co.uk View from Tower Bridge looking west towards GLA building and the emerging Shard on left: photograph © Nick Weall News Update, 25 Nov 2010 The Shard London - Tallest Tower in UK Renzo Piano's british skyscraper is now the tallest building in the UK - at 230 metres high. Eventually The Shard will be the tallest tower in Europe, at 306 metres high. Once the light gets better in Spring we will show new photos. London Bridge Tower - The Shard - Renzo Piano, architect with Ove Arup & Partners THE SHARD AT LONDON BRIDGE QUARTER - A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE LONDON SKYLINE The Shard Increasing density in central London, particularly near major public transport nodes, is key to London's future development. Improving the efficiency of the public transport system and maximising the use of space around transport hub is essential. Given the location of The Shard above one of London's key commuter stations, bus interchange and two main underground lines, a high density development was deemed not only possible but very desirable. image of The Shard from Dec 2009 The Shard - further information on the tower London Shard architects : Renzo Piano Building Workshop The Shard photos - external link to Andy Spain, photographer of The Shard photos at the top of this page

London Skyscrapers

Key London Building by Renzo Piano

Central St Giles

photo © Nick Weall

Key Proposed London Skyscrapers

'Walkie Talkie' building, Fenchurch St, City of London

image from Rafael Viñoly Architects
London skyscraper

122 Leadenhall Street
Richard Rogers Partnership

image : Cityscape
Proposed London skyscraper - 225m high - due to be tallest building in City of London

Key Existing London Skyscrapers

Canary Wharf, Isle of Dogs
Cesar Pelli

photograph © Jason Baxter

Tower 42 - formerly Nat West Tower
London office tower
183m high, 47 floors - tallest building in London until 1 Canada Square in 1990

London Architects

London Buildings

Comments / photos for the The Shard London Skyscraper page welcome: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

London Shard - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

London Bridge Tower : The Shard - website : www.shardlondonbridge.com