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Image by Hayes Davidson and John Maclean.
Image by Hayes Davidson and John Maclean.
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Also known as: The Shard of Glass
Formerly: London Bridge Tower
Built:
2009- 2012
Cost: £425,000,000
Designed by: Renzo Piano
Type: Skyscraper
Stories: 70
Location: 32 London Bridge Street
City: London
State: England
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F
ew large projects in London are built without controversy, and {HumanName} is no exception. Having Europe's tallest skyscraper in London wasn't the problem. It was just that many people didn't want to see it. Though Europe was a leader in creative architecture and skyline transformation in the late 20th century, by 2000 China had taken over that title, and the Europeans wanted skylines they felt were more classic, human, and European.
When it was first announced, plans called for a 1,200 foot tall £600,000,000 tower with 87 stories. The September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and elsewhere led the designers to put together a new plan. This one called for a smaller tower with faster escape routes and greater stability.
In spite of the fact that it retained its graceful shape, it was labeled "the shard of glass" by those who believed the modern skyscraper would tear a cultural gash across the London skyline by hiding views of Saint Paul's Cathedral. English Heritage complained that the skyscraper would be visible from the Tower of London, and that it would visually overpower the cathedral as well. Those fears were at least partially allayed by the Commission for Architecture and the Build Environment which said the tower would become an icon for the city, and not cause harm to the visual fabric of London.
How true those fears become will remain to be seen. For now, the drawings of the project do, indeed, depict a tower that pierces the sky, rather than maintaining the flat roofs and domes of other nearby structures. The building tapers as it gets higher, ending with an observation level topped by more levels of building mechanics.
Unlike most skyscrapers that feature a steel frame on a concrete base, this one uses a steel frame on the lower office floors and a concrete frame for the upper hotel and residential floors. The steel allows for longer column-free spans in office areas. And the concrete helps with soundproofing living areas. Having weighty concrete up high also offers a greater measure of wind resistance.
The building is to be covered with what the designers call "extra white" glass, which will reflect the sky more than most traditional skyscrapers. In effect, the upper levels will disappear in certain weather conditions. Moreover, as the light changes from season to season, so too will the appearance of the tower change.
**Developer: Sellar Property Group
**Architect: Renzo Piano
**Associate architecture firm: Adamson Associates
**At the time of completion, this will become Europe's tallest building.
**The building was designed with 39 elevators, 11 of them double-deckers.
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 **This was the site of Southwark Towers, built in 1976.
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