London Bridge Tower // UK // Renzo Piano
The Shard by Renzo Piano is a 72 story mixed-use building, comprising a substantial office element, retail, restaurants, hotel and apartments; integrated into a new public piazza and concourse at London Bridge Station. At 310m in height, it will be the tallest building in Europe. The Shard will be the centrepiece of the London Bridge Quarter incorporating the redevelopment of New London Bridge House. It is also known as London Bridge Tower, the Shard of Glass, 32 London Bridge and Shard Tower and construction in London is about to begin.
It would replace Southwark Towers, a 24-storey office building which was completed in 1976.
Renzo Piano, the project’s architect, has compared his design to ‘a shard of glass’– he considers the slender, spire-like form of the tower a positive addition to the London skyline and believes that its presence will be far more delicate than opponents of the scheme allege. He proposes a sophisticated use of glazing, with expressive facades of angled panes intended to reflect light and the changing patterns of the sky, so that the form of the building will change according to the weather and seasons.
In addition to the tower, there would be major improvements to London Bridge station and the surrounding area. As part of a Section 106 legal agreement, these would include a new concourse and public piazza, affordable housing and regeneration programmes. A new museum would also be built.
Another notable feature of the building would be a public viewing gallery at the top. This would be expected to draw over two million visitors a year. In addition, a shorter building known as London Bridge Place will be built nearby.
Piling work is due to begin on site on January 2009 and the building will be completed in May 2012.
For further information visit: www.shardlondonbridge.com.
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