London skyscraper with a pyramid on the roof. Tallest skyscraper in London - The Shard
Previously, the opportunity to look at the capital of the Kingdom, where the sun never sets, from a bird's eye view was an unheard of luxury.
Only those who could afford to travel in a hot air balloon could see the views of this city - the most valuable "diamond" in the crown of the British Empire.
Today, the Shard skyscraper gives every guest the opportunity to see London from a bird's eye view.
History of the skyscraper The Shard
This is quite a popular place, because everyone should see London from a height, and The Shard offers simply amazing panoramas.
"The Shard" represents a huge glass pyramidal office building (from 2 to 28 floors) with apartments (from 53 to 65 floors), the Shangri-La hotel (from 34 to 52 floors), restaurants (from 31 to 33 floors) and an observation deck that occupies as many as 4 levels - from 68 to 72.
skyscraper with beautiful name The Shard of London is the tallest building in London.
It was built in 2012 on the site of the Southwark Towers office building, which was demolished in 2008.
The project for a new skyscraper was proposed by the architect Piano back in 2009, but it caused a strong reaction from the public. Therefore, it could only be approved a few years later, when the city authorities came to the conclusion that Shard will do more good for the city than harm.
350 million pounds were allocated for the construction of the Shard, but then the amount was increased to 435 million.
The construction of The Shard of London lasted 4 years. The project has been halted several times due to bad weather.
Lined With thousands of glass panels, this 309-meter skyscraper shines in the sun and is visible from afar.
Since the construction of Shard more than once got into trouble: one day he was struck by lightning, and a few days later a fire broke out on the lower floors of the building.
People like the new attraction even more than "". It is said that at this rate of visitation, the Shard will pay for itself in less than 10 years.
Some interesting facts about The Shard
- The project was almost frozen due to UNESCO listing world heritage. The public was concerned about how the Shard would affect the appearance of the city.
- A very strong wind blows at the top of the skyscraper, more than once preventing construction, and the temperature there is several degrees lower.
- The Shard of London was built using the tallest crane in the UK reaching the top of the building.
- In the episode "The Bells of St. John" of the British TV series Doctor Who, the Doctor rode the wall of the Shard skyscraper on a motorcycle.
- The viewing radius from the Shard Observation Deck can be up to 40 miles in clear weather. You can even see Kew Gardens and Wembley Stadium.
- The Shard skyscraper is inferior in height to Moscow's Mercury City, but is still the largest building in the European Union.
- The Shard building houses the tallest gift shop in London (on the 68th floor). Among the exhibits there are fur cubs. This is due to a funny incident during the construction of Shard: a fox settled on the site, which the workers called Romeo. They fed the fox until the veterinary service took him to the forest.
London from the height of the observation deck of the Shard skyscraper
Boldly "cutting" the skyline with its silhouette, the skyscraper quickly became an iconic monument of London. The tallest building in Western Europe, a tower with floor-to-ceiling windows offers stunning views to visitors.
The public visiting area "Oskolka Observation Deck" allows you to admire the city from a height of 244 meters above ground level
Skyscraper site is at the highest level - now, thanks to the Italian master, not only the Chinese, but also the British have their own "Celestial Empire".
Opening a panoramic view from above, the Shard Observation Deck is one of the city's most breathtaking sights.
Since opening to the public in early 2013, it has become one of the capital's favorite venues for events ranging from yoga classes to disco nights.
Magic kaleidoscope of the London skyscraper "Shard"
The Shard skyscraper in London observation deck open seven days a week throughout the year - it's more than just a photo opportunity.
As soon as you get here, the imagination immediately draws fantasy movie footage: you enter a kaleidoscopic elevator and rise at high speed to the 69th floor to a three-level observation deck (and this is not an imaginary, but a real flight up).
Window Floor-to-ceiling views on all sides of the building allow visitors to view the city skyline from up to 40 miles away.
Walk around the 68th and 69th floors, then go to the 72nd floor - the open-air platform.
Take advantage of specially designed sensor telescopes to see sights up close, get information about the place that came into view, in any of ten languages to choose from.
And be sure to admire the same view during the daytime, at night, during sunrise and sunset.
Skyscraper Shard - when to visit and what to see
Have you already been to the Shard skyscraper and think that you have seen everything? Do not rush to conclusions.
Throughout the year, special installations are exhibited in it so that visitors do not get bored coming back here again and again.
Sometimes it summer garden with several thousand flowers and other plants, the rest of the time - a winter wonderland or something else no less original.
Last Sunday each month, the staff of the London Museum offer free program"Objects in Focus", during which they are allowed to view and even touch the exhibits of their collection, including items found at the archaeological site of Olympia.
The outing program is suitable for participants of all ages, runs from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm, and is free for all visitors with tickets.
A great solution can be to buy a day and night skyline ticket, which gives you the opportunity to visit the Shard skyscraper in the morning or afternoon and return there in the evening of the same day.
Thus, the grandeur of the British capital will open before you in all shades of its palette: from morning peach-tender to purple flames at sunset.
How to get there
The high building of the capital is located - the Shard skyscraper at the address: 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG.
Metro station London Bridge (less than two hundred meters) - 3 minutes walk, and a little further Borough station
Tower entrance located on Joiner Street, near St Thomas' Street.
Railway stations: London Bridge Main
Buses: 43, 48, 141, 149, 521
Opening hours
- Thursday to Saturday: 10.00 to 22.00 (last entry at 20.30)
- Sunday to Wednesday: 10.00 to 19.00 (last entry at 17.30)
You can book a table in the restaurant and purchase tickets for "The View from The Shard" on the official website www.theviewfromtheshard.com. It will be more profitable than buying them just before visiting the attraction.
The good news is that from December 1, 2017, the Shard observation deck was included in London Pass.
The Shard Tower is one of the tallest buildings in the UK. It officially opened on July 5, 2012. Impressive laser shows were organized to mark the occasion. Since then, visitors have been able to ride high-speed elevators and enjoy a 360-degree panorama of London covering up to 60 km (40 miles).
skyscraper construction
The Shard Tower was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. They say he was inspired by the sailing ships on the River Thames and the spikes of London's churches.
The history of the skyscraper dates back to the purchase in 1998 of the site - formerly the location of the building called Southwark Towers - by developer Irvine Sellar. In the early 00s, Mr. Sellar, hoping to get permission to build the tower, traveled to the German capital, where he had an appointment with Renzo Piano.
The latter is known for his architectural feats, such as the Pompidou Center in Paris and Lloyds of London. Mr. Sellar apparently met the architect Renzo Piano in a Berlin restaurant to discuss the design of the tall building. It was widely reported that Mr. Piano at that meeting first called the construction of the tall tower a "statement of arrogance" and then did sketch out the plan for the Shard.
The tower is built on an extremely strong concrete base that houses critical safety components such as escape routes and 44 elevators, of which several are dedicated to firefighters. Two-story elevators are used in office floors to increase the efficiency of elevator shaft operation. For unforeseen circumstances, three sets of stairs are provided, which are complemented by high-capacity evacuation elevators. This approach is common in cities like Hong Kong.
The center is designed to resist the massive side effects of the wind. Even in the presence of strong gusts, the Shard Tower moves no more than 50 cm to the side. For the lower office floors, a steel frame is used in the structure. Concrete frame with steel stretching - for higher hotel and residential premises. Steel allows for long, beam-free spans in offices, while concrete on upper floors helps create soundproofing in living spaces. The highest levels are steel. It uses a "truss" bar system that stabilizes the skyscraper by tying the perimeter beams of the building together.
Any skyscraper, even one as tall as the Shard, is sure to be filled with facts, features, and record-breaking statistics.
In fact, it is the tallest building in Western Europe. The Shard on a short time took first place, but two skyscrapers in Moscow overtook its height in a year.
Six women climbed the outer walls to the top of The Shard in July 2013.
In July 2013, the Shard Tower was chosen as the site of a Greenpeace protest to draw attention to oil company Shell's plans to explore for oil in the Arctic.
The builders found the fox at the top of the tower. The fox, nicknamed Romeo by the staff, was found on the 72nd floor and is believed to have survived on food left behind by the builders.
Externally, the Shard consists of 11,000 glass panels. The building is so named because it resembles a shard of glass, and its 11,000 panels have a total area of 56,000 square meters. m.
It houses a very expensive penthouse. The huge apartment at an altitude of 224 m occupies two floors and has a price point of 50,000,000 GBP.
The observation deck actually occupies three floors. The observation deck occupies floors 68, 69 and 72. On the 68th is Cloudscape, from where you can see different types of clouds over London. On the 69th there are interactive telescopes, and the 72nd is dedicated to the forces of nature.
The average ascent speed is 6 m per second. While the elevators are very quiet and entertain passengers with videos, it's best to bring some chewing gum with you as it can block your ears.
Inside view:
- Lobby: floors 0 and 1;
- Office premises: 2-28. According to The Financial Times report, the price is 50-55 GBP per sq. m. foot;
- 29-30 - service;
- Restaurants (31-33) - occupy a height of 121 m;
- Upscale Shangri-La Hotel: floors 34-52;
- Spa (52). This is the part of the hotel where you can see London in every detail;
- Luxury residences (53-65 (height from 186 m to 224 m)). Among them there are those that occupy an entire floor and cost up to 65 million USD. The Financial Times says they won't sell for several years as the developer wants "the image of the building to be built first";
- 66-67 - service floors;
- Lookouts (68-72 with the most high level- 244 m)
- 73-74 - official;
- Floors 75-87 are within the spire. They are not occupied, but necessary to radiate the heat generated by the skyscraper.
Many floors have public access. These include observation decks and restaurants. Hotels, restaurants, residences, venues and offices have their own entrance. You can enter the observation decks on Joiner Street.
Restaurants
- AQUA SHARD. Innovative British cuisine on the 31st floor, as well as an exciting three-story atrium bar.
- oblix. Inspired by the New York skyline. The menu features sophisticated urban everyday cuisine. Located on the 32nd floor.
- Hutong. The menu of the restaurant features a variety of Northern Chinese cuisines. Based on the Hutong Restaurant in Hong Kong.
- Lang. Known for signature Shangri-La cakes, fresh coffee, chocolate and pastries.
- TING. Modern European cuisine with an Asian twist on the 35th floor. Like LANG, the restaurant belongs to the Shangri-La Hotel.
- GONG. The cocktail bar is located on the 52nd floor, offering dramatic views of London. An ideal place to relax and have a late drink of various drinks.
Tower surface
- The Shard is made up of 11,000 glass panels.
- The area of the glass facade is 56,000 square meters. m, which is equal to eight football fields.
- 95% of building materials can be recycled.
- 20% of steel structures are made from recycled materials.
- Each facet forms a shard. The surface of the glass is slightly inclined inwards and rises upwards.
- The fragments of the skyscraper do not touch, allowing it to "breathe".
How to get to the tower
Address: Shard Tower, 32 London Bridge Street SE1 9RL
Nearest metro station: London Bridge (2 minutes walk)
Skyscraper The Shard website:
http://www.the-shard.com/overview/
Adult tickets cost 25 GBP.
In case of bad weather, London Landmarks Guarantee is offered to all guests on tickets. This means that if there are clouds, you can return to the site for free!
And so, in London, the tallest building in Europe officially opened with a solemn ceremony and a laser show.
Over the 12 years that the project has been underway, the construction of The Shard skyscraper (“Shard”) has been in jeopardy several times due to public discontent and lack of funding. As a result, a steel tower 309.6 meters high, lined with 11,000 glass panels, was built at the expense of Qatari investors who are actively acquiring real estate in the British capital. At the same time, The Shard may lose its honorary "high-rise" title in the near future.
The history of The Shard began in 2000, when the Italian architect Renzo Piano designed the future champion. At the same time, entrepreneur Irwin Sellar decided to renovate the morally and technically obsolete 25-storey business building complex Southwark Towers, built in 1975 near the London Bridge over the Thames (Southwark area). Having met for lunch in Berlin, Sellar and Piano agreed to erect a new skyscraper on this very site (originally The Shard was called London Bridge Tower, and then The Shard of Glass, "Shard of Glass").
Plans for the construction of a skyscraper Londoners perceived ambiguously. In particular, the project was opposed by the administration of Southwark and several large public organizations, who argued that such a tall building would spoil the panorama of the city and overshadow the historical sights. In general, residents of the British capital quite often express dissatisfaction with new skyscrapers, but they do not always succeed in canceling the implementation of projects. Most vivid examples this is served by 30 St Mary Ax, nicknamed the "cucumber" by the townspeople, and Strata SE1, known as the "electric razor" and. It was not possible to cancel the construction of The Shard either - it took some time to coordinate the construction, but at the end of 2003 the project was approved by the authorities.
However, what the Londoners did not cope with almost succeeded in the world financial crisis. At the end of 2007, when the developers of the project (CLS Holdings, Sellar Property Group and Halabi Family Trust) were already preparing for the demolition of Southwark Towers, unrest began in the financial markets and a number of project participants decided not to invest in expensive construction. The project, then estimated at £350 million, was on the brink of cancellation. It was then that a powerful group of investors from Qatar came to the rescue, including, among others, the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani and the head of the National Bank, Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani. In January 2008, a Qatari consortium bought 80 percent of the project for £150 million and later increased its stake to 95 percent.
By the beginning of 2009, the dismantling of the old business center was completed, and the active stage of construction of The Shard began. In four years, the builders erected a 95-story tower 309.6 meters high (23 floors are technical). At the same time, in the course of work, the volume of investments in the project increased to 450 million pounds.
The building fully justifies its name - it is made in the form of an irregular pyramid and is covered with 11 thousand glass panels from the outside. Almost all of the materials used in the construction were reported to be recycled products. The Shard will house office and retail space, a five-star Shangri-La hotel with 200 rooms, restaurants and a dozen apartments, each of which costs up to $80 million. One of 44 elevators takes you to floors 68-72, home to the UK's highest public observation deck. It is worth noting that work has now been completed only on appearance skyscraper, and interior decoration will continue until 2013. Since the project was financed by Qatari businessmen, a number of "Islamic" restrictions will be placed on The Shard's tenants. For example, companies associated with the gambling or alcohol industry will not be able to place their office in the tower.
Meanwhile, the discussion around The Shard, especially after the arrival of Qatari capital, is only heating up. At the same time, not only the spoiled, according to some, “postcard” view of the capital causes dissatisfaction. So, even Londoners accustomed to high prices were surprised by the cost of tickets to the observation deck of the skyscraper, which will open in February 2013. In order to climb it, adult visitors will have to fork out about 25 pounds and give another 19 pounds for each child.
Not everyone was satisfied with the grand opening ceremony of the building, which, in addition to the leaders of Qatar, was attended by many British politicians and the son of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew. After dark, the laser show began - beams different colors illuminated The Shard itself and connected it to other London high rises and landmarks. The "soundtrack" of the event was classical works performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The ceremony also divided the Londoners - some considered it unreasonably large and costly, while others, on the contrary, were deceived in their expectations and did not see anything unusual.
Annoying ordinary Britons and the very fact of Qatari expansion into the real estate market in London. Businessmen from the emirate own not only many modern town-planning dominants of the city, like The Shard, but also iconic historical objects. For example, back in 2010, Qatar Holding, which also participated in the financing of Shard, bought the Harrods retail chain, which owns the famous department store of the same name, from the Egyptian billionaire Mohammed al-Fayed.
Almost immediately, the new owners unveiled plans to build a luxury hotel store on the roof. The implementation of this idea, however, was not reported, but in early July 2012 it became known that the Harrods network would no longer be exclusively trading. Under a well-known brand, it is planned to open hotels around the world, in particular, in Malaysia, the USA, France and China.
sketch by Renzo Piano
Despite all the ups and downs, The Shard managed to get the title of the tallest building in Europe, taking it away from the Moscow Tower of the City of Capitals complex in Moscow City, 302 meters high (buildings like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, 324 meters high, or the British TV towers Emley Moor, 330 meters, are traditionally not taken into account in such ratings). Another thing is that he will not be able to keep this title for a long time. The main competitors are the Moscow 332-meter skyscraper "Mercury City Tower" (in March current year builders passed the mark of 310.8 meters, but the building has not yet been completed), Moscow’s 360-meter Vostok tower of the Federation complex (with a spire - 509 meters) and the 320-meter Hermitage Plaza multifunctional complex in the business district of Paris La - Defense, which will be built by the company of Russian businessman Emin Iskenderov. The first facility is expected to be put into operation in 2013, the second - in 2014, the third - by 2017.
The tallest building in the European Union, The Shard, is located in London, between two bridges - Tower and London. The structure is an 87-storey pyramid with a height of about 306 m, lined with mirror glass. Shard was officially opened in February 2013, some office space has already been occupied, 3 restaurants, an observation deck are open, the Shangri-La luxury hotel is about to open its doors to visitors. Also on the upper floors there are several apartments, the cost of which reaches 50 million pounds!The other day we decided to have lunch at one of the skyscraper restaurants - Oblix, located on the 32nd floor, as well as look at the views of London from viewpoint Shard.
to me restaurant I liked it already because they put us at a table by the window, despite the fact that we booked just a day in advance and when we arrived, the hall was full, there were no empty seats at all. Otherwise, it somehow makes no sense to dine in such a restaurant. By the windows, there are mainly tables for two, so the company will most likely be seated in the back of the hall.
The interior is very modern. Right at the entrance - the kitchen, everything is very stylish and neat. And the food is very tasty.
This is what I understand, king prawn, I have never seen such big ones.
And, of course, the view of London from the window is wonderful.
Login to observation deck from the skyscraper is on the other side of the building, so we had to go down first. We bought tickets in advance on the Internet (it was also a few pounds cheaper), but there was still a small queue at the entrance. Price not small: £25 for adults, £19 for children, so it was very interesting what was so unusual there. For comparison, a ticket to Westminster Abbey costs £18 for an adult.
To justify the price and make the event more important, at the entrance all visitors are checked by the security service and passed through special frames, like at the airport, they are forced to remove their outerwear. Then they offer to take a picture on a white background, instead of which they then substitute views of The Shard in Photoshop. For a fee, of course. 2-3 smiling employees lead you along a small corridor to a high-speed elevator, which will take you to the middle of the road in a few seconds. On the ceiling of the elevator, beautiful pictures are replaced by a kaleidoscope.
Then 3-4 more people will take you to another elevator, and you will go up to the 68th floor. Here, too, you will not be left alone and will show you where to go with inviting gestures.
On a small staircase past the souvenir shop, you will finally reach the observation deck of The View skyscraper. The views, of course, are amazing. Especially if before visiting the Shard you have already got acquainted with the main sights of London, you know where to look for Big Ben on the horizon, london eye, The Tower of London, The City, The Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf. Try to find them in this video.
By the way, pay attention to the group of high-rise buildings in the City - the center of London. One of the buildings, shaped like a huge walkie-talkie, is currently covered with a dark coating in its upper concave part. This is due to the fact that its ingenious designers did not calculate that there are also sunny days in London. Therefore, this summer, when the temperature rose as much as 30 degrees, the concave mirror surface warmed up so much that it began to melt the cars standing under it with its reflective rays.
There are also special computers on the Shard observation deck that will help you zoom in on objects, recognize other buildings and sights of London, and look at them at different times of the day.
The View continues on the 72nd floor of the Shard skyscraper. It's more open now, so it can get chilly. There are also staff photographers walking around offering to take pictures of you and then buy pictures.
In general, visiting the Shard is, of course, interesting, but a little expensive. Although this is understandable - the construction of a skyscraper cost, according to Wikipedia, approximately 435 million pounds, now these costs need to be recouped.
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The shape of the spire… belongs to our imagination. This form - in a poetic sense - is tantamount to a breath of fresh air.
Renzo Piano
This 309 m high steel and glass skyscraper has eight double-layer facades with natural ventilation. Very white glass reflects sunlight. Above the lobby are retail stores; offices on the lower floors, a hotel in the central segment, and apartments with an observation deck above.
The temptation to present to the world his understanding of the image of the London skyscraper was exceptionally strong. So when local developer Irwin Sellar suggested that Piano design a skyscraper on the site of Southwark Towers, a 1970s office center, the Italian master agreed.
The name "Shard" came about as a result of sharp criticism of the project from the defenders of the historical image of the city, indicating that it would be "a piece of glass in the heart of historic London." The nickname stuck, completely replacing the original name of the tower. Over time, the skyscraper changed its name even on the logo and in official documents.
"Shard" is located on the south bank of the Thames, close enough to the main attractions of the center. Historically, this was the area of London Bridge, which connected the city with the suburb of Southwerk. This is where the first official name of the skyscraper came from, translated from English as “London Bridge Tower”. The skyscraper is embedded in a large transport hub "London Bridge": the lower levels of the building are connected to the railway station, bus station and metro station. In fact, long-distance trains bring passengers to an extension that goes straight to the foot of the tower. And part of the station infrastructure with shops is simply built into the lower levels of the skyscraper.
The development of London is proceeding at a rapid pace, despite all sorts of crises. Over the past three decades, dozens of high-rise buildings have appeared in the city. If at the time of construction, Foster’s “Cucumber” seemed to be the highest, then since 2004 there have been new towers around it, among which it is the most modest in size (180 meters). But this is the City - the right bank of the Thames, and the Piano skyscraper was originally planned on the left bank, in close proximity to the main historical landmarks of London - St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower. Therefore, the idea found many influential opponents. After all, the height of the Shard is an impressive 310 meters, while the cathedral is only 111. Of course, St. Paul's Cathedral stands on top of Ludgate Hill - the highest point in the city, but even in total it is lower than the Shard. So the concerns of heritage defenders seem justified.
The public debate lasted for several years and was comparable to a discussion in terms of intensity of passions. Even after the fundamental decision on the construction was made, the process of agreeing on the project lasted another year and a half. With the active support of the then mayor of London, Ken Livingston, and the personal approval of the Deputy Prime Minister of the government, John Prescott, in 2003 the plan was accepted for implementation. Piano began to prepare working documentation for the construction of the object, and the owners of the site began to dismantle the old 25-story tower.
In 2007, the economic crisis hit London, and many high-rise projects, including the Shard, were mothballed or canceled altogether. But by the beginning of 2008, a new investor was found for Shard, and the implementation process finally started. By this time, the former skyscraper had just been completely demolished, and in February 2009 construction began. Since the main budget for it was allocated by a consortium of Qatari banks, the grand opening of the building on June 5, 2012 was conducted by the Prime Minister of Qatar.
Shard has 72 floors and 110,000 square meters of total area, half of which are offices, and the rest are given to the Shangri La hotel with restaurants. There are also several large and very expensive private apartments in the tower, and on the top five floors there are observation galleries open to the general public.
The obelisk-shaped skyscraper was designed by Denton Corker Marshall and Harry Seidler & Associates in the late 1990s for Melbourne's Grollo Tower. None of them were implemented due to funding problems. Shard Piano has the shape of a narrow pyramid with an open end. This skyscraper may have influenced the design of the similar Lotte World Tow (2016) in Seoul designed by KPF.
According to the original plan, the owner of the site, Sellar Property Group, intended to create a whole block of new development in the area, the core of which was to be two high-rise buildings from Renzo Piano, set on a new small town square. The architect came up with the first version of the skyscraper project back in 2000. Next to the 310-meter Shard, he placed a second skyscraper with a height of "only" 180 meters. The smaller building ("New London Bridge House") was expected to contain 55,800 square meters of offices and shops at a cost of around £400m. The onset of the crisis made its own adjustments, and as a result, the Baby Shard was never implemented.
During the approval process, Piano emphasized in every possible way that the cladding of the structure with panels of exceptionally light glass would make it possible to visually hide its real dimensions. Thus, the "Shard" will not greatly violate the usual panorama of the British capital from the Thames. In cloudy weather, the skyscraper really reflects the sky, and its top dissolves into the clouds, but on clear days, the Shard is perfectly visible for many kilometers. Obviously, he nevertheless became a monument to his time and irreversibly changed the overall appearance of London, bringing a modern note to it. At the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012, it was even shown documentary dedicated to this building and its relationship with the urban context.
Many critics of the skyscraper blamed its creator for the excessive schematic and simplicity of the facades, the lack of details of a human scale and obvious spatial games. But games are the lot of postmodernism, not high-tech. With Piano, architecture is formed by thoughtful functionality, and he is not interested in aesthetic tricks for the entertainment of the public. Since the indispensable condition for the implementation of the giant building was its maximum possible invisibility, it would be foolish to expect some provocative undertakings in it, as in the Georges Pompidou Center or some other works of the master.
Livingston's desire as the mayor of London to get the highest skyscraper in Europe, to have such a status object, crashed into bureaucratic delays. The world high-altitude race is being carried out at an exceptionally dynamic pace, and even old Europe, adding new high-altitude dominants with great care, does not stand aside from this process.
Piano's task was to build a "vertical city". He proposed this shape of the spire not only to demarcate the various functions of the building - from commercial to residential - but also to create the illusion of "disappearing into the clouds." Situated close to London Bridge, the Shard has become a symbol of urban regeneration and a reflection of the London skyline. After graduation construction works this £430m tower is the tallest building in Europe.
During the approval and construction of Shard, other skyscrapers were announced and implemented, which took away the title of "the tallest building on the continent" from the latter. In particular, the Russian "Vostok" towers "Federation", "OKO" and "Mercury City" today moved "Shard" to fourth place in Europe, and the "Lakhta Center" in St. Petersburg, "Akhmat Tower" in Grozny, "Hermitage Plaza" in Paris and some other announced projects will only continue this process.
Architectural and design features:
- Not far from the Shard is a no less famous building, the Administration of Greater London, built somewhat earlier by another of the founders of hi-tech - Norman Foster.
- During the construction of Shard, the development of the adjacent area was replenished with new buildings.
- Initially, next to the "Shard" it was planned to build a whole block of new buildings with another dominant on a smaller scale. New London Bridge House, nicknamed the "Baby Shard", was to rise 180m and house 55,800m2 of offices and shops. But the total cost of the complex of 400 million pounds was too high, and with the onset of the crisis, the second high-rise project was canceled.
- The skyscraper consists of an office part (from the first to the 28th floors), restaurants and bars (31-33rd floors), a hotel complex (34-52nd floors) and 10 luxury apartments (on the top 20 floors). The covered observation deck is located on the top floor and offers magnificent views of the historic center of London.
- The viewing platforms are equipped with special interactive telescopes, through which you can observe the architectural masterpieces of the British capital.
- The skyscraper is serviced by high-speed elevators with a speed of up to 6 m/s.
- The building has 72 ground operated floors. The total height is 309 m. Today, the Shard skyscraper is one of the main symbols of modern London and the whole of Great Britain, it is the tallest building in the country.
- The skyscraper got its name "The Shard" due to its spectacular completion in the form of several sharp glass "shards" growing from the broken edges of its glazed facade.
- The building is made of special panels of light glass, maximally "dissolving" the massive structure in the city space.
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