London Bridge Tower
Southwark, London

Height: 306m
Floors: 71 + 16 radiator floors
Architect: Renzo Piano
Developer: Sellar Property Group

Links:
Official website (http://www.londonbridgetower.com)
Renzo Piano Building Workshop (http://194.185.232.3/works/062/pictures.asp)
Skyscrapers.com listing (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=101995)


Notes:
- Irvine Sellar's landmark tower, dubbed the "Shard of Glass" by the media, will be the first building in the UK to break the
1000ft barrier. It will dwarf the likes of Tower 42 and SwissRe.

- London's first truly "mixed use" tower, the floors will be divided as follows: 0-4 Public areas and retail; 5-28 Offices;
31-33 Public area and viewing gallery; 34-52 Hotel; 53-65 Apartments; 68-71 Upper viewing gallery;
72-87 Cooling radiator.

- At the lower levels, the skyscraper will extend the existing public concourse and open up routes connecting Guy's Hospital,
King's College and the southern residential areas to the business communities stretching along the river.

- 30% less energy will be required than for a conventional tall building through the extensive use of the latest
conservation and recycling techniques and materials. A ventilated double skin façade will considerably reduce heat gain
and increase comfort close to the facade. Excess heat from the offices will be used to heat the hotel and apartments
and any additional excess heat will be dissipated naturally through a 16-storey radiator at the top of the tower.
Winter gardens with operable louvre windows will be located on each floor allowing the occupants to connect with
the outside world.

- Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the tower was structurally redesigned to improve stability and reduce
evacuation times.

- The total cost of the project is in excess of £1.2bn and includes major refurbishment of London Bridge tube and
bus stations, along with other local transport improvements.


Current Status:
Following objections from English Heritage, and a lengthy public inquiry, London Bridge Tower was given final approval by
Deputy PM John Prescott on 19th November, 2003. Sellar have given PricewaterhouseCoopers (tenants of the current site)
12 months notice to vacate their building and say they are still fully commited to the project. The tower also secured its first
tenant, Shangri-La Hotels, who will be occupying floors 34-52. Demolition of the current site will start in summer 2006 and
will take exactly 12 months.



http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/lbt/1.jpg




http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/projects/lbt2.jpg




http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/lbt/2.jpg

Tall, Elegant, Graceful......reminiscent of a church spire - a very "London" skyscraper

A true beauty and a VERY close second favourite London proposal (Bishopsgate just pips it to the post in my book.....only just)

10/10

This has the potential to become one of the world's best skyscrapers.

10/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10/10 One of my all time favourite planned buildings (It could well become one of my all time favourite buildings once built but I'm going to wait till it's finished before I judge it properly)

10/10

Very iconic building (wouldn't be surprised if a few years after completion EH try and get protected viewing corridors put on it lol). I'll be really pissed off it by the Olympics this tower isnt finished.

Best of the best! :)

10/10

10/10 The best proposal in the world IMO. :)

Arghhhh, I just don't know what to think at the moment.....yes, it's tall, but is it beautiful? For some reason I just can't bring myself to love this tower, not as much as I'm loving the DIFA tower, then again, DIFA is centerd in the middle of the city and looks beautiful surrownded by the other buildings in the renders at least.

LBT just looks to out of the way surrownded by those low-rise and mid-rise buildings at best. But I'm all for it's construction, don't get me wrong. The quicker that bitch gets built the better.

10/10, the most spectacular proposal ever to exist! 20

Very futuristic 10/10

This is the one, one of those A list iconic structures that London produces every so often, St Pauls, Houses of Parliament, Nelsons Column, London Eye

I hate the fact that a large company like PWC can`t join in with the excitement and do the honourable thing and cut short their lease in that grotty office of theirs

nothing short of spectacular 10/10 :cheers:

Who could vote an 8 for this? It's amazing! But I guess every one is entiteld to their own opinion...

Who could vote an 8 for this? It's amazing! But I guess every one is entiteld to their own opinion...

Jealous foreigners? ;)

Well...is nice, is very tall... :yes:
9/10 :wink2:

Forward-thinking, diverse, inspiring, bold, delicate yet empowering - everything that sums up this beauty, and London itself.

They belong together. An embarrassment it is still awaiting construction.

10/10.

the tower looks ok, londons only reasonably tall building...if london comes up with one of these each year it will have a skyline better tan melbournes by 2015. i never expected a place like london to have a building this high, at least not in this era... finally london it catching up to cities like sydney and toronto.

about time london got the olympics again...but people will have to fly back home if they want any decent food.

10/10 Far nicer than anything in Australia.

Who voted a 1?!??!?!??!?!??

oh, it was BRISBANE. What a surprise. Why did he say positive stuff about it then give it a 1? idiot!

Can a moderator or something remove BRISBANES vote because he isn't basing his vote on the tower bu the fact that it's in London and that he is an anti-london troll. He doesnt deserve a say here, especially since he's been banned. It's unfair on us that he posted a 1 for no good reason and tried to lie by putting up posotive comments.

It deserves atleast 8 no less than that. I'd say it's a niner :)

about time london got the olympics again...but people will have to fly back home if they want any decent food.

Another classic comedic post, do you use these up the Brisbane comedy club?

A true Skyscraper.
A skyscraper of Beauty.
A structure of Magnificence.
A icon For London
A Building that is Ultimate.

Without a shadow of a doubt this building deserves 10 or more, but since it's out of 10 i'll give it a 10. Eventually London has hieght, a peice of proudness. London is the future of the world and oh yeah I nearly forgot so is Birmingham. lol.
Usherling

^^ :applause: :applause: :applause:

My favorite London scraper 10/10.Hopefully demolition of the Southwark towers is only 9 months away.

Another classic comedic post, do you use these up the Brisbane comedy club?

The bloke's a tit!

I would take it over Burj Dubai anyday.

^ ^
Amen to that!

about time london got the olympics again...but people will have to fly back home if they want any decent food.
Awesome chat, mate. You, an Australian, taking the piss out of our cuisine?

That's made my day.


London Bridge tower is everything you could ever ask for in an iconic skyscraper. Fantastic.

10/10

about time london got the olympics again...but people will have to fly back home if they want any decent food.

I didnt know they ate food on mars?

The name is now Shard/London Bridge

10/10, if it gets built.

6

Don't like this at all. I don't like the shape, and it just seems too tall. I know its a skyscraper, but the height doesn't suit the style for me, and size isn't everything.

I do like this though:

- 30% less energy will be required than for a conventional tall building through the extensive use of the latest
conservation and recycling techniques and materials. A ventilated double skin façade will considerably reduce heat gain
and increase comfort close to the facade. Excess heat from the offices will be used to heat the hotel and apartments
and any additional excess heat will be dissipated naturally through a 16-storey radiator at the top of the tower.
Winter gardens with operable louvre windows will be located on each floor allowing the occupants to connect with
the outside world.

Height, location, design and shape are all perfect for me... I genuinely believe this could become one of the very best skyscrapers in the world - ranking alongside the Chrysler Building, Bank of China Tower, Empire State Building, Burj Al Arab, etc...

Steve C what do you consider a decent skyscraper, just for example.

I think this is perfect!! This is the only kind of design that can never be too tall, in fact i think it should 'soar' above all others... the fact it is shorter (or similar size) as Difa makes me wish it were taller....

Anyway... perfect in my opinion....

the tower looks ok, londons only reasonably tall building...if london comes up with one of these each year it will have a skyline better tan melbournes by 2015. i never expected a place like london to have a building this high, at least not in this era... finally london it catching up to cities like sydney and toronto.

No you dont understand, Melbourne and Sydney have been catching up with N.American cities... this is something different

Steve C what do you consider a decent skyscraper, just for example.

I think this is perfect!! This is the only kind of design that can never be too tall, in fact i think it should 'soar' above all others... the fact it is shorter (or similar size) as Difa makes me wish it were taller....

Anyway... perfect in my opinion....

Sorry, I forgot I'd posted in this thread.

I wouldn't say there was a particular style that I liked. I love the gurkin for example, but also like the traditional, simple 'squarer' designs of scrapers in New York.

This tower just doesn't do it for me though. Perhaps its just the renders, maybe it'll grow on me, or maybe I'd appreciate it better if I knew the area. I don't know. Whatever it is though, looks like I'm in the minority here :cheers:

thanks for the reply Steve C,

Not sure why this one doesnt strike you... especially since you appreciate te gherkin also. It's not the squareness of NY towers i like most, its their tapering effect which i think works best..... it adds value to height, the idea that it was stretch to puch the limits

http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/lbt/lbt.jpg

that top is sensational, sublime, a wren spire

hey post this one of the city vs city :)

This is the same picture as what Wjfox posted, but i made it smaller and to scale so that you can see how well and truely tall and sharp the building is:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a331/tijjan/lbt.jpg

^^ Wow........

What a render :drool:

It is 310m high.

OMG :drool2:

Its beautiful :drool:

Omg so its actually going to get built. Can you even begin to imagine what that will look like in the flesh! Bout time one of the greatest cities on earth got it together. I just cant put it into words what I think this is going to look like towering over London on a bueatiful still clear day. Will make London look so like thee place on the tv coverage of the olympics. Landmark occasion. So eh what am I looking at for a penthouse guys?

Will make London look so like thee place on the tv coverage of the olympics.

Yes so many foreigners dont understand why we keep equating both the Olympics and these landmark scrapers together. The two are mutual and just happen to coincide within the same timescale.

Its almost like witnessing the birth of a new London.

yer but no but yer 10

It is the dogs bollocks isn't it? Although it would've been better next to swiss re in the cbd.

i'm in love.

-

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/3560/idontlikeit0qj.jpg

^^ LMAO :laugh:

Definately 10/10. A world class building, if it gets built.

Is it approved, proposed???? Is it gonna be built or not?

i cant believe people vote below even a 7 for this... it is a real travesty...

Definately 10/10. A world class building, if it gets built.

Is it approved, proposed???? Is it gonna be built or not?

Approved, demolition of the building currently on site is dueto start around July-September, and construction due mid-late 2007. Completion mid-back end of 2010.

10/10 a very nice building! will be one of the best

ten out of ten, its fantastic

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=330760

:D

[QUOTE=wjfox2002]http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=330760

Do you mind telling the good people of the rest of the world that mainly British forumers voted because of a little vote rigging/hinting? Oh wait, I voted for LBT tower too - touche!

^^ wow. Will mentions the thread in the Uk section and suddenly he is a cheater.
1. More people should have voted for the other ones if they wanted to
2. Other people are welcome to do the same

Looking at that list skyscrapers i agree LBT is the best proposed.No 4 Bishopsgate tower is that the 305m version?

^^ wow. Will mentions the thread in the Uk section and suddenly he is a cheater.
1. More people should have voted for the other ones if they wanted to
2. Other people are welcome to do the same
Yeah, exactly...

No 4 Bishopsgate tower is that the 305m version?
No, 288m

It's done really well on here hasnt it, no one voted a one (Except for one anti-british person who came on, said it was beautiful, and then vote a 1 thinking no one would know it was him)

i've always thought it was a 10, then they added new london bridge house to complment it, so now its an 11?

i think the south bank will start looking shit hot soon

Second best future scraper of London for me (after DIFA), still kick ass tho, and UKs first 1000ft+, get in!

DIFA just doesn't do it for me.

I think it looks like it needs to be much much taller for it to 'work'. I am aware it was reduced in height, but even before the reduction it still looks like it should have been a super tall.

I absolutely love this!!! This is the skyscraer I am most looking forward to seeing out of all the future London Skyscrapers, and can't wait for them to start building it!

I gave it 10/10 by the way!

8/10
Very special !!! And you see the building everywhere in London !!!
Very, very nice !!!

Skyscraper nirvana - can only be a 10.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a331/tijjan/lbt.jpg

10/10

The only criticism I can level at it is that the sheer glass is a little "traditional" now, although that probably means it will age better :)

The only criticism of it is how long it is taking to be built!!! Have they even started yet?

The only criticism of it is how long it is taking to be built!!! Have they even started yet?

No. They've got to demolish a 100m skyscraper first.

A beauty ;) 10.

This is never going to happen?!!!!!?

can only be a 10

10/10...what else could you give it!!! when completed it sure will be one of the worlds best in my opinion...

10/10

I can't believe 3 people voted 1/10...and one of them was a moderator!

Who voted a 1?

^^

an american, turk and australian

gave it a 10:D

9 out of 10 - don't think you can possibly have perfection else we'd give up and go home now. Certainly the most beautiful, but falls behind 122 Leadenhall Street in my personal rankings.

Finally, it has begun, and not before time.

The outside of the building is made in the netherlands.

Beautiful building

10/10

Dreadful. Truly an awful building which will be nothing but an eyesore.

I think it should be built in Birmingham, instead of the V-Building.

;)

your a wormy cocksuker you now that.10/10

Newer renders:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/Shard.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/Shard-4.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/Shard-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/Shard.jpg?t=1234526538

Most recent construction updates (by Nihil Dicit):

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq194/nihildicit/Feb09Pics024.jpg

http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq194/nihildicit/Feb09Pics026-1.jpg

Gawd, I really don't like the new design of New London Bridge House. Looks terrible in the third render. One's eyes should be immediately drawn to the beauty of the shard, but instead mine keep wandering off to the clumsy, bulky crown of NLBH which has crappy silver bits all over it. Real shame we don't have the original. The play of the curve of the roof and the none-more-spiky worked so nicely...

http://londonist.com/attachments/sizemore/babyshard.gif

But 11/10 for The Shard itself. Love it.

The shard will be such an amazing landmark when it is built!

There's only one real problem with it.







It's not in Manchester..........

It is a truly beautiful skyscraper in every sense 10/10.

If I had to pick flies, the only problem I see with it is, it will make the buildings in the City look like the 'poor relations' .... except maybe for the Gherkin, which will look really small when this is built.

11/10 no question. Probably the most elegant and breathtaking of all the London proposals (closely followed by Leadenhall and the Pinnacle) and I know that it will be recognised around the world as both a London landmark and a soaring icon of true beauty!

I've rated it as 7 apparently, but that must have been a long time ago because I would be more inclined to give it a 9 now I think. I actually think it makes even The Gherkin look dated!

It's perfect other than it's a bit cumbersome. It needs to be lifted off the ground a bit more, or perhaps even be broken up to look like more than one shard of glass. I much prefer the new design than the flatter old design though :)

10/10 I love it. :)

Beautiful:okay:

10/10

where is the option for 11? 10 really doesn't do this justice.

10/10

If there were an 11 option, then you'd probably want one for 12, Comdot. :)

About the building, I'm not sure whether it has to do with the quality of the renderings, but it looks a bit round from some angles... I'd go so far as to suggest that it bears an unfortunate resemblance to a tipi. I should like the Shard more if it actually looked like a shard—relatively flat—but I suppose that would not be good for the floor plans.

its ok, 9

Brilliant! But does every new project have to get an objection from English Heritage? They seem to have been doing it so long that no one really takes any notice.

It's one of the few 'perfect' skyscrapers in the world, IMO. 10/10 :drool:

Its a Master peace. :horse: