Whats the progress on this building. I came here a few times before and it was just being approve. I don't know how long ago that was.

They just demolished the building and broke the ground. It is under construction now.

Hopefully this will be finished in time, and not delayed. :)

Mace take over from Monday so it will be full speed ahead!

how sensitive you are, you, english people! :lol:

it's authorized not to love the "pyramid" :nuts: personally i like it, but i must say that's a shame skycrapers are built quite anarchically in london.

and Zedferret, i think lots of capitals in the world would love to have a "tv mast" like the eiffel tower... but i understand londiners have hang-ups... :colgate:

Mace take over from Monday so it will be full speed ahead!

Brilliant! :banana:

Very nice tower. Hoppefully, i don't live so far from London, so when the tower will be completed, i'll take the next train!

and Zedferret, i think lots of capitals in the world would love to have a "tv mast" like the eiffel tower... but i understand londiners have hang-ups... :colgate:

My comment was a joke reffering to another posters dismissal of the Shard as 'just another pyramid'. I Love the Tour Eiffel, but I wouldn't want anything like it in London.

I think will be a blight on the London skyline - which in my view is already fragmented.

Great building in its own right, however.

Well it's an enormous city, of course the skyline will be fragmented. New York has several skylines across the city.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cbf878e4-11c9-11de-87b1-0000779fd2ac.html

Shard reaches for the sky amid office sector gloom

By David Fickling

Published: March 16 2009 02:00

Construction of western Europe's tallest building will begin in London today amid the gloomiest market for commercial building in decades, thanks to backing from a group of Qatari banks.

Designed by Renzo Piano, the Shard of Glass will tower 1,016ft above London Bridge station and stand nearly three times as high as St Paul's Cathedral.

The developers hope to avoid comparisons with One Canada Square, which it will overtake as the UK's tallest building when it is completed in 2012. The 800ft centrepiece of Canary Wharf was finished in the depths of the last recession in 1991 but remained part-occupied for most of the 1990s, leading to the collapse of its Canadian developer Olympia & York.

"This will be a landmark building and we've already let out 40 per cent of it," said Bernard Ainsworth, project managing director.

New orders in the non-residential building sector in the three months to the end of January came to just £2bn, compared with £4.1bn in the same period last year, according to recent data from the Office of National Statistics.

By comparison, the development cost of London Bridge Quarter alone is priced at £2bn, with £650m in contracts put out to tender so far.

"This is one of the few shows left in town now," said Chris Cole, chief executive of WSP, the structural engineer on the project.

Financial backing will be provided by a consortium of four Qatari banks - QInvest, Qatar National Bank, Qatari Islamic Bank and Barwa - as well as UK-based property developers Sellar. They came in after European lenders, including Credit Suisse and Hypo Real Estate, withdrew following the onset of the credit crunch in 2007. Hypo was bailed out by Germany's central bank last October.

Construction companies have been focusing on work for the public sector and regulated utilities, with hopes attached to projects such as the Olympics site, Crossrail and the widening of the M25.

But Derek Tordoff, director-general of the British Constructional Steelwork Association, said any stimulus from public projects would be blunted by their comparatively small scale next to the massive but ailing commercial sector.

"Everyone thinks the Olympics is the saviour of the construction industry but there will be more steel going into [the Shard] this year than into the entire Olympics site," he said.

One major public sector client has already bought into the Shard project: Transport for London will lease about 20 per cent of the total floor space, while a Shangri-La hotel will take up another 20 per cent. But the remaining 60 per cent is unlet.

Fears about the outlook for the office rental market meant that most new office projects were being called off, said Bill Page of Jones Lang Lasalle. That gave some hope of a supply-led recovery, although rents fell at double-digit rates last year and, he added, would continue to do so this year and next, before levelling off in 2011 and only starting to rise again in 2012.

"Most people just don't want to develop into this market," he said.

:banana::banana::banana::banana:

This is going to revolutionize the London skyline!:cheers:

i heard on the radio today that building work starts tomorrow,its the first time ive heard the building being mentioned outside this website , so onwards and upward then .

Great! This is one of my most anticipated upcoming skyscrapers.

http://www.ft.com/cms/0e45e12c-0619-11dd-802c-0000779fd2ac.html?_i_referralObject=1060746059&_i_referrer=mrss

FT interview on the shard from the construction site.....

Cool! All systems go!:cheers:

couple of questions
the top being 310m.
how high where spire starts? 245m?
how high is observation deck? 230m?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3363381095_9c9be55d55_o.jpg

what are the large floors below spire structure? ob decks?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3363381175_f6550d86e4_o.jpg

amazing building... so beautiful...

Outstanding !!! :uh:

amazing tower!

great building, wrong location, should be in the city or CW

couple of questions
the top being 310m.
how high where spire starts? 245m?
how high is observation deck? 230m?

...

what are the large floors below spire structure? ob decks?




Pinnacle height: 310m
Roof height: 306m
Top floor height (observation deck): 244m

Floor layout -

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=25998656&postcount=3645

great building, wrong location, should be in the city or CW

I couldn't disagree more. The location is perfect - absolutely spot on. This tower will basically complete the regeneration of the South Bank (which includes a major upgrade of one of London's busiest train stations). Plus if you built this in the City, it would be lost amongst the other towers, and Canary Wharf is quite far away from the main tourist areas. Here at London Bridge, it will really stand out - you'll get the full soar and impact of it.

wjfox, i scaled the elevation above and where it says spire --this is the 244m height.
where is 306m roof? the whole top 50m is open frame spire. isnt it?

^ I believe there are plant floors between the 244m and the 306m, as shown in the render above. The spires don't start from the roof of the building, but from 244m - effectively wrapping around the plant floors. There is a floor below the 306m that you could walk on, if that's what you're asking.

THis video shows the floors upto 306m:

pDCyeX-sbVg

great news! :cheers:

The spire, that appears to be open, actually contains the radiator/plant floors.. to cool the building and sh*t like that. The top floor height is technically 244m, as we don't could the plant floors. As you can see from that closeup though, there are extra floors above that for cooling and stuff.

great building, wrong location, should be in the city or CW

No, it shouldn't.

It's where it needs to be, and it'll form a gateway for the Thames with the Bishopsgate Tower on the other side.

I couldn't disagree more. The location is perfect - absolutely spot on. This tower will basically complete the regeneration of the South Bank (which includes a major upgrade of one of London's busiest train stations). Plus if you built this in the City, it would be lost amongst the other towers, and Canary Wharf is quite far away from the main tourist areas. Here at London Bridge, it will really stand out - you'll get the full soar and impact of it.

But it is totally out of scale...clusters work much better.

But it is totally out of scale...clusters work much better.

"Totally out of scale" would be 600m+. This is borderline supertall. Not too short, not insanely tall - but just right. This will be London's equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, and I don't hear anyone complaining about that.

Culwulla - do these help?


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46TheShard_pic5.jpg


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46TheShard_pic1.jpg


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46TheShard_pic2.jpg

Looks taller than only 310 meters high. But design is simply beautiful and impressive !

Design is beautiful. I don't know though how it will fit in London's skyline.

But it is totally out of scale...clusters work much better.

Would the Eiffel Tower work better in a cluster?

No, it wouldn't, and this is the same. It needs room to breathe. If it was obstructed by loads of other buildings, we would be unable to fully admire what will be one of the best skyscrapers in the world.

Design is beautiful. I don't know though how it will fit in London's skyline.

It's going to totally change the London skyline... It doesn't need to fit in. No supertall would fit in, unless maybe it was built out in Canary Wharf.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46TheShard_pic5.jpg


Nice renderings!

It's strange though, it seems on those that there's much more than a 4m difference between the top of the coolers floors and the tip of the spires.

If a floor is about 3.5 to 4m high, it looks like there's about 6 to 8 floor height or 20 to 25m between the top of coolers floors and the tip of the tower. There must be something wrong in the renderings.

first pile went in yesterday guys. this is a quantum leap forward in terms of London's development.

Would the Eiffel Tower work better in a cluster?

No, it wouldn't, and this is the same. It needs room to breathe. If it was obstructed by loads of other buildings, we would be unable to fully admire what will be one of the best skyscrapers in the world.

swiss re also would look much better on its own... but theyre still ruining it :bash:

Swiss Re would have looked good on it's own, but it was built in the center of the main district... no chance of it saying so visible forever.

Nice renderings!

It's strange though, it seems on those that there's much more than a 4m difference between the top of the coolers floors and the tip of the spires.

If a floor is about 3.5 to 4m high, it looks like there's about 6 to 8 floor height or 20 to 25m between the top of coolers floors and the tip of the tower. There must be something wrong in the renderings.

Yes, the renders are quite confusing. I'm just going off what's officially been said.

Frankly I wouldn't mind the plant floors finishing lower... It would make the top look sharper and more refined IMO, like it does in the renders.

Either way, it doesn't matter:) Fact is this baby is going up, after so bloody long...

Just dropping in. This project kind of reminds me of Montparnasse in Paris. Not in its architecture, but in the way it will stand out and also act as a transit hub. This will look amazing from the London Eye.

first pile went in yesterday guys. this is a quantum leap forward in terms of London's development.

You know that a quantum leap is actually something very very small right? :)

You know that a quantum leap is actually something very very small right? :)

Tell that to Sam Beckett.

Looks similar to the Russia Tower.

Yep, mabe the same Architect..

great pics.
ive scaled this elevation and roof = 270m. (above radiator section).

http://i41.tinypic.com/2zth6bd.gif

Looks similar to the Russia Tower.

Don't start that again, I think WJFox is probably getting a bit sick of explaining it;)

It wasn't the same architect. This was designed long before the Russia Tower.

Would the Eiffel Tower work better in a cluster?

No, it wouldn't, and this is not the same. It needs room to breathe. If it was obstructed by loads of other buildings, we would be unable to fully admire what will be one of the best skyscrapers in the world.

Come on the Eiffel Tower hardly has the mass of a building and and actually sits as an iconic monument within the city - thee focul point. Somehow it works...look at the future London sky line - where is the focal point?....Canary Wharf Cluster....the City...then the Shard - all so disparate. I mean, how are we meant to read that skyline....? Then you have the London Eye....and where is St Pauls in all of this?

All the great cities have composed skylines: Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, Singapore....I think Dubai will get there where there is scale in proximity given to the Burj...

London is huge enough to have several clusters, several one off iconic towers, and all manner of different skyline views.

amazing details

swiss re also would look much better on its own... but theyre still ruining it :bash:

wat u mean on its own? u mean swiss re being around low rises or u mean multiple number of swiss res?

It's not called Swiss Re anymore btw guys

why should i mean "multiple numbers of swiss res"?

no i mean surrounded by low rises ;-) thats what they should have done, maybe 10 very nice and high skyscrapers all over the centre, but with a lot of space between the towers.
thats how the mixture and contrast between old (low rise) and new (high rise) would have looked the best and most interesting imo. (and you would still have a cluster at canary wharf). thats my suggestion for london, but i dont think that such a decentralised skyline would work anywhere else. it really needs a dense and urban lowrise downtown. mayvbe paris but im strongly against towers in the old parts there...

It's not called Swiss Re anymore btw guys

what u mean? u mean Gherkin/ or u mean its got a new official name?

Come on the Eiffel Tower hardly has the mass of a building and and actually sits as an iconic monument within the city - thee focul point. Somehow it works...look at the future London sky line - where is the focal point?....Canary Wharf Cluster....the City...then the Shard - all so disparate. I mean, how are we meant to read that skyline....? Then you have the London Eye....and where is St Pauls in all of this?

All the great cities have composed skylines: Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, Singapore....I think Dubai will get there where there is scale in proximity given to the Burj...

Read the city however you want mate, it will look amazing from any angle.

what u mean? u mean Gherkin/ or u mean its got a new official name?
You could have done a Google search yourself. In any case the name is now its street address, 30 St Mary Axe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_St_Mary_Axe).

looks a bit like the russia tower :)

Come on the Eiffel Tower hardly has the mass of a building and and actually sits as an iconic monument within the city - thee focul point. Somehow it works...look at the future London sky line - where is the focal point?....Canary Wharf Cluster....the City...then the Shard - all so disparate. I mean, how are we meant to read that skyline....? Then you have the London Eye....and where is St Pauls in all of this?

All the great cities have composed skylines: Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, Singapore....I think Dubai will get there where there is scale in proximity given to the Burj...Hong Kong's skyline is not "composed" at all. It's a jumble whose balance varies widely according to the viewing angle. The San Francisco and New York skylines are also not composed (though the latter's Downtown will be somewhat composed on completion of the new World Trade Center towers). Of the cities you mention, only Singapore and Paris have skylines that are planned on a city-wide scale. In London we can say that Canary Wharf is very much composed and planned. All the buildings are oriented in the same direction and there's a central trilogy of towers dominated by 1 Canada Square's pyramid. However I doubt Canary Wharf will ever become the focal point of London in terms of skyline or anything else. The focal point of London will always be the city centre. In terms of skyline the Shard works very well. It "answers" the City cluster across the river, and especially the 288m Bishopsgate tower, in much the same way that ICC and IFC2 answer one another across Hong Kong harbour. It also answers and balances the dome of St Paul's and these two will become the most distinctive individual shapes on London's eastwards skyline, contrasting with one another: St Paul's dome is rounder and bulkier but lower, wheras the Shard is wafer thin, pointed, and high. London, like Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, will have several focal points on its skyline: in the west there is the duet between Big Ben/Parliament and the London Eye. To the east of the centre will be St Paul's, the City cluster, and the Shard, and on the eastern periphery there's Canary Wharf.

looks a bit like the russia tower :)

Oh for goodness sake, gotta just be wind ups now :ohno:

Well said Langur, completely agree. The Shard will work fantastically in a balance with the city cluster, but because of it's tapering slender shape is able to work without actually being in a cluster itself

what u mean? u mean Gherkin/ or u mean its got a new official name?

It was called 'Swiss Re' because Swiss Reinsurance owned/occupied the building, but they no longer do (since 2006 or 07 I think). It is '30 St Mary Axe', or obviously more commonly 'the Gherkin'.

Oh for goodness sake, gotta just be wind ups now :ohno:

Indeed... Just ignore them.

Luckily, the superior design is the one being built.

It was called 'Swiss Re' because Swiss Reinsurance owned/occupied the building, but they no longer do (since 2006 or 07 I think). It is '30 St Mary Axe', or obviously more commonly 'the Gherkin'.They sold the building in 2007 but they still occupy it. To my knowledge it was never called Swiss Re officially. However it's often named after the company that built it, and that remains its largest occupant.

veeery nice :)

Come on the Eiffel Tower hardly has the mass of a building and and actually sits as an iconic monument within the city - thee focul point. Somehow it works...look at the future London sky line - where is the focal point?....Canary Wharf Cluster....the City...then the Shard - all so disparate. I mean, how are we meant to read that skyline....? Then you have the London Eye....and where is St Pauls in all of this?

All the great cities have composed skylines: Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, Singapore....I think Dubai will get there where there is scale in proximity given to the Burj...

:ohno:^^wheres the focal point in Hong Kong.Where is the Focal point in london lol how many do you want.Have you actually been to london or have you just been looking at pictures.The Shard will have the same impact as the trifel tower.If you think different then your away with the guz gogs(whatever that means lol).And why is it all so desprate having three major points.It's what makes london unique from other cities and not one concentrated cluster like most cities.And if you can't read the skyline from pictures you certainly won't see it in person.I don't think you have thought it through cos i don't think you know much about what London has and is.But if thats how you see it then your on your own mate.

looks a bit like the russia tower :)

Hasn't that been put on hold or even CANCELLED

The Russia tower has almost certainly been cancelled.

The reason there are 2 skylines in London is simple (I hope it is, because I'm going to talk about it.)

The city was protected behind st pauls from tall towers for a very long time...meanwhile the docklands which was a wasteland was in much need of development. So they decided to stick a few towers there and do the place up.

Due to an economic boom towers were approved in the city also...giving us 2 clusters.

NY even has a flat bit in the middle between downtown and midtown.


http://images.travelpod.com/users/tsargood/round_the_world.1190588880.2-view-empire-state-building.jpg

Wow! That's totally awesome!

The Russia tower has almost certainly been cancelled.

The reason there are 2 skylines in London is simple (I hope it is, because I'm going to talk about it.)

The city was protected behind st pauls from tall towers for a very long time...meanwhile the docklands which was a wasteland was in much need of development. So they decided to stick a few towers there and do the place up.

Due to an economic boom towers were approved in the city also...giving us 2 clusters.


^^didn't know that, thanks.


NY even has a flat bit in the middle between downtown and midtown.


http://images.travelpod.com/users/tsargood/round_the_world.1190588880.2-view-empire-state-building.jpg

^^you can't compare London and NY :lol:

Well obviously you missed the point of what I said.

Some geezer said london was lame because it had 2 clusters...and I just posted an image of NY knowing that it too had 2 main clusters.

Sorry if anyone clicked on this thread hoping to see some news...so here is an image I stole from the UK section.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3373829076_69757899cb_b.jpg


r-g-b, Photographist

Nice to see that construction is going on on LBT, I was almost certain that it would be cancelled or at least postponed to after the financial crisis, so this is surprising to me...

Check out the London section for daily photos and up to date news ^^

Byrne Brothers beats Doyle to £50m Shard concrete package
25 March, 2009
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3137060&origin=bldgbreakingnewsletter

By Sarah Richardson

Cheaper price wins Byrne contract despite expectations that rival would secure job

Mace has awarded Byrne Brothers the concrete package for the £425m Shard tower at London Bridge – a deal worth just under £50m.

Mace appointed Byrne this week ahead of rival Doyle Group, which had been working with Mace on its bid. Doyle had been expected to secure the job once Mace signed its contract with developer London Bridge Quarter earlier this month.

However, it is understood that Byrne Brothers had also been interested in the contract for the past two or three months, and offered a cheaper price for a different form of concrete.

The development comes after it emerged that Cleveland Bridge is to be dropped from the £50m steelwork package on the contract and replaced with Severfield-Rowen.

One source close to the project said: “This is the way contracting is going now. The market is very tight, and relationships with the supply chain contractors are coming under pressure.”

The client on the 310m-high tower, part of the London Bridge Quarter, has told Mace it expects practical completion of the project by May 2012. Mace is building the tower under a guaranteed maximum price deal, after originally proposing the construction management route.

‘The Shard’ gets closer to build start date
26 March, 2009
http://news.icm.ac.uk/hospitality/%E2%80%98the-shard%E2%80%99-gets-closer-to-build-start-date/924/

By Heidi Lees-Bell

The development of London Bridge Quarter has taken a step further this week, as it was revealed that Byrne Bros has won the concrete frame package on The Shard in a deal worth up to £50 million.

According to ContractJournal.com, the move has stunned rival contractors who considered Byrne an outsider to win one of the biggest concrete jobs in London from the project’s main contractor Mace.

It is thought that a similar round of last-minute jockeying is currently underway for the £50m steelwork package on The Shard – which could jettison Cleveland Bridge, originally named as the preferred steel contractor last June by developer Sellar Property Group.

The entire site of London Bridge Quarter covers approximately 2m sq ft of mixed-space comprising The Shard, a 310 metre-high tower, and the redevelopment of New London Bridge House – a stunning piazza linking the two buildings.

Two major pre-lets have already been contracted for The Shard: Shangri-La Hotels is taking over almost 200,000 sq ft of space over 18 floors (floors 34 to 52) and Transport for London is to occupy 190,000 sq ft of office accommodation on floors four to ten inclusive.

The Shard will be Europe’s tallest and first truly mixed-use building – with 1.4m sq ft (gross), featuring offices over 24 floors, a mid-level leisure and viewing complex set over three floors. Rather uniquely, it will also feature a concrete frame sitting on top of a steel one; this, combined with such distinctive design, has created a dream engineering feat.

Architect Renzo Piano is one of the world’s greatest living architects, and shot to international prominence in 1977 when, together with Richard Rogers, he designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Of The Shard he says: “The tower is designed to be a sharp and light presence on the London skyline, and to be sustainable from every point of view: human, technological, energetic and economic.”

25th March 2009



http://i39.tinypic.com/awyefn.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2cfbg35.jpg




29th March 2009



http://i43.tinypic.com/2wdbtbm.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/bebu6u.jpg

^^ Looking great! :)

You know I walk past this every day but the site looks so small to imagine that a 1000 footer will be rising on it.

The Walbrook looked like it had a bigger floorplate - and when they were doing the piling, they excavated a good 50 feet below OD! I guess they cant do that with LBT because of the Jubilee line underneath it

Jubilee line is a long long way underground. At least 50m.

This rendering shows plans for a possible recladding of the neighbouring Guys Hospital (http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=100) (regularly voted London's ugliest building) -


http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/guyshospital/reclad.jpg

It would definitely fit in better with the Shard if it was reclad.

PLEASE reclad it, or demolish it! Looks terrible. Even if they painted it, it would be something. The reclad render looks quite nice as well.

That would be very funky if they reclad it like that in that render!

This thing is dreadful. Truly defines the term 'eyesore'... They must act now!

This thing is dreadful. Truly defines the term 'eyesore'... They must act now!

I do hope you're referring to Guy's Hospital!

I do hope you're referring to Guy's Hospital!

Ha, pretty sure he was. If they carry out the reclad like that render it'll look increadible imo, very unsual and interesting, but will compliament the Shard perfectly without being a dull box (ie Baby Shard/Gem thing).

awesome! The english are finally putting out something new out that's great!

It's British, British, London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is our nation, made up of individual countries so if I see 'London England' one more time on a hollywood film I will scream. It is not hard to understand. Yes it is the capital of England, but also the capital of the UK.

Also what do you mean finally? Gherkin etc etc ? Been to the UK have you?

awesome! The english are finally putting out something new out that's great!

WHAT!? :ohno:

Lloyds...
Swiss Re...
The British Museum...
The GLA...
Tate Modern...and the bridge linking old with new...

Are you fcuking crazy...?

Yep, I think he's crazy.
The Broadgate Tower's also new, and also our much-loved 1 Canada Square, (and I suppose 8 and 25 Canada Square as well.)
So yeah, he's crazy.

I think he thinks only the 'super talls' are decent buildings. You are right , all the liested buildings just then are outstanding, I think also Beetham tower manchester (love it or hate it) is fantastic too. Pluss the pinnacle, Heron going up.. All great.

I think the LBT will be great! I hope it gets built soon!

I wonder how much it will be to take a trip up to the observation floor. Bet that won't come cheap! I think it is safe to say though that it won't stop many people who watching this go up, me included :)

WHAT!? :ohno:

Lloyds...
Swiss Re...
The British Museum...
The GLA...
Tate Modern...and the bridge linking old with new...

Are you fcuking crazy...?

Lloyds is actually awesome. but swiss re and the gla :lol: efficient yes...aesthetics :lol:

Just leave it guys lol....

moving on.

Lloyds is actually awesome. but swiss re and the gla :lol: efficient yes...aesthetics :lol:There's also the London Eye, Millennium Dome (O2), the new Wembley, Heathrow T5, and hundreds of lesser buildings. London has been a forest of construction cranes for the last decade. Millions of square metres of new commercial and residential buildings have been constructed, many of them designed by the world's leading architects. That's why it sounds bizarre and ignorant to claim that "finally the English are building something new". We've been through a massive construction boom, and have probably added more recognisable and iconic buildings in the last decade than any other city in the Western world.

I honestly don't get to much word about the smaller things. I'm actually doing a materials study on the laban dance academy for a project in building "affect". its just, I don't know, the ones I always get word of are the major projects and it always seem that FOA just kills London lol

^ But the projects I've mentioned are huge and high profile. The London Eye has been one of the most successful and high profile additions to any city in the world in the last decade. The Millennium Dome/O2 is gigantic (365m diameter, 1147m circumference) and imo architecturally stunning. The new Wembley is the largest and most hi-tech football stadium in the world and has an instantly recognisable and iconic arch that can be seen across London. It's the most famous stadium in the world's largest sport. HT5 was the largest construction project in Europe until its completion last year. The interior space is gigantic and impressive. An equally large terminal is now under construction at the other end of Heathrow. There's also the fabulous restored/expanded St Pancras (the new home of the Eurostar), Tate Modern, British Museum Great Court, etc which are seen by millions of visitors every year (the attendence figures of the Tate and BM are among the highest of any museums/galleries in the world). Europe's largest urban shopping mall has just opened, and another one of equal scale is already at an advanced stage of construction. And of course there are lots of skyscrapers either recently built, UC, or soon to commence. The 2012 Olympics are also coming. London's had loads of large and high-profile projects in recent years.That's why your statement that "England finally builds something new" is a tad ridiculous....

^ But the projects I've mentioned are huge and high profile. The London Eye has been one of the most successful and high profile additions to any city in the world in the last decade. The Millennium Dome/O2 is gigantic (365m diameter, 1147m circumference) and imo architecturally stunning. The new Wembley is the largest and most hi-tech football stadium in the world and has an instantly recognisable and iconic arch that can be seen across London. It's the most famous stadium in the world's largest sport. HT5 was the largest construction project in Europe until its completion last year. The interior space is gigantic. There's also the new fabulous new St Pancras, Tate Modern, British Museum Great Court, etc which are seen by millions of visitors every year. Europe's largest urban shopping mall has just opened and another one of equal scale is already at an advanced stage of construction. London's had loads of large and high-profile projects in recent years....


Leave it......let him live happily in his ignorance...remember he's American, and to the 70-80% of Americans, who have no passport, the world dosent really exist beyond their borders.


It's their loss.

^^Ignorance is exactly why I'm about to graduate a top ranked architecture school and why I can look at project and critique it for the space it creates in the urban environment. I actually disagree with A LOT of American architecture and I do look beyond the borders because we are cheap and even though we have a sense of design, we don't want to pay for it, thus left with ugly boxes.

Anyways, Langur have you seen Zaha's rendering for the olympics (I think its the pool complex but not sure)? I just saw it today in the new A.D. and one can only hope that gets built. I haven't seen the stadium but I heard it was sorta normal with some weird twist in the design or structure...pretty unclear about it all

^^Ignorance is exactly why I'm about to graduate a top ranked architecture school

You obviously have a lot to learn.

C'mon guys, there's no need to get personal.

I'm glad that London's gonna get this awesome tower :)
And | don't know why| I really like it's name - ''The Shard'' :D
:cheers:

There's also the London Eye, Millennium Dome (O2), the new Wembley, Heathrow T5, and hundreds of lesser buildings. London has been a forest of construction cranes for the last decade. Millions of square metres of new commercial and residential buildings have been constructed, many of them designed by the world's leading architects. That's why it sounds bizarre and ignorant to claim that "finally the English are building something new". We've been through a massive construction boom, and have probably added more recognisable and iconic buildings in the last decade than any other city in the Western world.

Wow I was in Heathrow T5 last week and I loved it. I arrived at T3 and bussed to T5. I like the structure with huge arms.

Sucked because I only stayerd at Heathrow on the way to Paris

dis looks like the Ryugyong Hotel.

dis looks like the Ryugyong Hotel.

slap :lol:

but dis building is quality...

Anyways, Langur have you seen Zaha's rendering for the olympics (I think its the pool complex but not sure)? I just saw it today in the new A.D. and one can only hope that gets built. I haven't seen the stadium but I heard it was sorta normal with some weird twist in the design or structure...pretty unclear about it all

You should check out the UK section of SSC, tonnes of threads on smaller projects, the Olympics, construcion pics etc etc. ;)

my one of fav projects:okay:

but dis building is quality...

+1
This building looks great imo

dis looks like the Ryugyong Hotel.

Not really. It doesn't have the funny round flying saucer at the top.

dis looks like the Ryugyong Hotel.

No this tower is blatantly a copy of Tower of Russia.

No this tower is blatantly a copy of Tower of Russia.

Russia tower is descendent or ryugyong, shard is descendent of beauty itself.

Actually, Russia Tower is a copy of this. This was proposed first.

Wonderful. I love London! :)

So this is a copy of Russia tower......lol! just kidding, how many times does it need to be posted, perhaps each new page should start off with that.

Ha, I'm pretty sure Madman was taking the piss guys..

dis looks like the Ryugyong Hotel.I would have taken you seriously if you hadn't said "dis". Shame is education that bad in the states?.....I prefer dis building to dat one an' I fink it's going to be free hundred meters tall

I like this tower!

Yes it will look great from the north bank of the Thames.

Blimey these international forums are jam-packed with inane drivel aren't they?!?! Back to the UK forum for me! cheerio!

Blimey these international forums are jam-packed with inane drivel aren't they?!?! Back to the UK forum for me! cheerio!

Indeed. I've just deleted more than half a page of posts...

I must say I don't like the tower. The design itself is mediocre and the position right next to those small houses and a lack of space + the lack of any wide roads around it is IMHO horrible.

I must say I don't like the tower. The design itself is mediocre and the position right next to those small houses and a lack of space + the lack of any wide roads around it is IMHO horrible.

^^lol.....attention seeking whore.

I must say I don't like the tower. The design itself is mediocre and the position right next to those small houses and a lack of space + the lack of any wide roads around it is IMHO horrible.

what do wide roads have to do with it being built??
there's more than one way to travel to a tall building considering this is being built on top of a train station. :bash:

what do wide roads have to do with it being built??
there's more than one way to travel to a tall building considering this is being built on top of a train station. :bash:

I didn't know that. But still, I don't like it's position. Living down below in the shadow must be horrible

If anyone is living down below it they must be super rich!

anyone know what this is that arrived on site today?!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=407549&page=259#5173

The Eagle has landed!!

Any suggestions for what exactly this big yellow thing is?

The base of a tower crane perhaps?

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/24Apr2009197.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/24Apr2009196.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/24Apr2009199.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/24Apr2009201.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/24Apr2009202.jpg

^^nevermind- turns out it's a pile test rig

I didn't know that. But still, I don't like it's position. Living down below in the shadow must be horrible

In what way is that different from any other tall building ever constructed anywhere in the world. I'm sure having an apartment at the base of the empire state building is similarly shaded!

I didn't know that. But still, I don't like it's position. Living down below in the shadow must be horrible

Yeah, tall buildings with a world class design are awful aren't they... find another forum mate.

wow it's a beautiful supertall

not a fav of mine but still pretty good, like the cladding, does anyone have like a floorplan ?

not a fav of mine but still pretty good, like the cladding, does anyone have like a floorplan ?

The only detailed ones I've seen are a couple for the appartment floors. See post #1205 of this thread, pretty spectacular..

ok thnx

it's look really crowd around this construction area.
I doubt is there any spaces for car parking?

this building sucks. suits london well

Thanks for that insightful comment!

amazing

this building sucks. suits london well

Great, thanks for that, you're the one in the ICC thread that hates trees aren't you?... hmm :nuts:
Go away

Great, thanks for that, you're the one in the ICC thread that hates trees aren't you?... hmm :nuts:
Go away
It was the Greenland Plaza thread, actually. Though I agree with your sentiment.

Ha, oh really? Well I think he's made his tree feelings clear in both threads then.. and probably more! :lol:
Maybe he was brutally savaged by a mob of trees as a child... or maybe he's just an idiot...?
Ho hum

Ever seen the movie "Evil Dead"? :lol: :lol: :lol:

this building sucks. suits london well

London could not handle it. Planes fly too low on way to City Airport!

it's look really crowd around this construction area.
I doubt is there any spaces for car parking?

none at all, as far as I know.
it is right next door to a major rail and metro station though. tbf, anyone driving a car into central london is insane :)

this building sucks. suits london well

Stupid comment. If your going to post why you don't like the building and actually start some intellectual debate about it's merits and flaws, then fine.

Otherwise, you just sound like a jealous retard:lol:

^^ Yeah, we need to give each Architect respect. Not all buildings will be liked by everyone. You are right, if someone is going to say something negative, they must give a reason to justify their dislike.

Lloyds is actually awesome. but swiss re and the gla :lol: efficient yes...aesthetics :lol:

u iz da tard

Just another pyramid...

It has more than 4 sides.....

just 3 years time..on the skyline from a distance....


http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/just3yearstime.jpg

^ I can honestly say that's one of the most exciting renders I've ever seen on this forum. :)

^ I can honestly say that's one of the most exciting renders I've ever seen on this forum. :)

I agree. I love this tower.

Looks like the one from the movie I, Robot.

^^^Fantastic rendering. When the image is put into context with the London skyline you realise how tall it's actually going to be.

I work in the building directly in front (Guy's hospital), so i walk past the site every day. Not much to see at the moment - just holes being drilled into the ground, but i'll take my camera into work and get a few pictures next week.

I personally think its fundamental that once built, the LBT remains the tallest building in London.. I'd hate for it to be surpassed, I'm sure most would disagree, in wanting 350m+ even 400m+ towers, but for me I think the Shard should be 'the' tower of the city.

The above render I think echoes my sentiment, and shows this design is exceptional.

I think it would be interesting to see at least a 500 m tower in London. Of course more than that would be going too far. But some skyscrascrapers over 400 m would be great for the skyline. The Shard shouldn't be the end of a period in London's constant renewal. It shoud be the beginning of great changes in the urban landscape of the city. The Shard might be the start for something bigger.

Of course it is south of the river therefore not technically part of the City of London.

between Bishopgate and this, London will have a beautiful skyline

Of course it is south of the river therefore not technically part of the City of London.

Yeah, but I think perhaps they were referring to Greater London, not just the Square Mile.

just 3 years time..on the skyline from a distance....


http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/just3yearstime.jpg

is this taken from south of thames or north of thames?

South of surely?

Yeap south.

I not taste of buildings with cone format, but am pretty of the same skill

south. nice if guys hospital were demolished. that's the thing in the way.

This is one of the best projects in the world and is appropriate for the best city in the world.

south. nice if guys hospital were demolished. that's the thing in the way.

There is a project somewhere to renovate it... Urgent is the word.

There is a project somewhere to renovate it... Urgent is the word.

Funnily enough I believe Guy's is the tallest hospital building in the world - over 400 feet.

just 3 years time..on the skyline from a distance....


http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Public/just3yearstime.jpg

It looks like Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, a lonely pyramid. I'm not really sure that tower will fit London that well... I like the other part of the skyline more

Of course that's my opinion, hope to change it when completed.

Yeah,it makes me think of Pyongyang as well...

Funnily enough I believe Guy's is the tallest hospital building in the world - over 400 feet.

2nd tallest

The O'Quinn Medical Tower at St. Luke's, in Houston is 477ft/145m
Guy's Tower, is 469 ft/143m

anyone got some new updates or are they still working on the foundation?

Can we please try to stay on topic, and stop posting mindless spam? I've just deleted about 20 posts here...

They are going forward quite smoothly...

For those unable to visit the site - here's a few pics of the latest action.

The site is so jammed full of equipment, that they had to hoist up one of the smaller cherry pickers to make way for its larger replacement (hence the flying equipment in Pictures 3 and 8).

Picture #1
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/15May2009007-1.jpg

Picture #2
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/15May2009008-1.jpg

Picture #3
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/15May2009010-1.jpg

Picture #4
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/15May2009014.jpg

Picture #5
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/15May2009019.jpg

Picture #6
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/15May2009020.jpg

Picture #7
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/15May2009023.jpg

Picture #8
http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv295/nihildicit2/15May2009005-1.jpg

Can anybody tell us what is the purpouse of the big hole visible in pic 4? Is it core position maybe?

^^ It is looking like core position to me.

Renzo Piano = Great Architect

so glad this is being built

super buena esa construccion en londres.. vvia colombia!!

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3140788&channel=783&c=1&encCode=000000000198afc4


London through a Shard

19 May, 2009
By Ruth Bloomfield

This is London as you have never seen it before – a glimpse of what visitors to the Shard will see when it opens to the public in 2012.


http://www.bdonline.co.uk/Pictures/web/u/h/m/Shard1HP.jpg


LBQ, the Qatari and UK consortium behind the London Bridge landmark, has created a series of images giving an early taste of the new views of the capital the Renzo Piano tower will expose from its public viewing galleries.

Work on the Shard began earlier this year. It will contain offices, flats, a hotel, restaurants, with the developer claiming it “will herald a new era in high-rise development for London”.

At 310m and with 100 levels, the Shard will be the tallest building in Western Europe. The viewing galleries at a height of 244m will offer the highest publicly accessible observation point in London.

The viewing galleries are spread over floors 68, 69 and 72 and offer a vantage point at almost twice the height of the London Eye.

A triple-height space on the main viewing level will offer floor to ceiling heights of approximately 8m, while an “indoor/outdoor” experience on the third and highest observation deck will partially expose visitors to the elements.

The galleries will offer 360 degree views across London, with the South Downs (http://www.visitsouthdowns.com/client/images/19/UKmapnewwithinset.jpg) visible on a clear day.

James Sellar, chief executive of Sellar Property Group, which is part of the LBQ consortium, said: “The Shard is set to become one of the most significant additions to the London skyline in decades. From the outset, it has always been my aim to ensure that this wonderful building is open to the public, so that they get to experience the wonder of the Shard at first hand.”

TWINCE the height of london eye, that is the selling point of this tower..

wow!! how much work has been done?

Lol, the London Eye will have no visitors when this is finished!
(Hopefully not, but it's possible... ;))

^^ The whole ride will be just crap looking at shard standing there high and proud...

How much will it cost to go to the top gallery?

From my experiance people will still ride the eye, probably in greater numbers than the shard due to stunning views over the houses of parliament and buckingham palace. The shard isnt in the most tourist area of london (although there are alot of attractions near by), and i think the visitors will be people who have already travelled on the eye or are more descerning / investigative. The london eye is a world attraction and i feel this wont change because of height.

From my experiance people will still ride the eye, probably in greater numbers than the shard due to stunning views over the houses of parliament and buckingham palace. The shard isnt in the most tourist area of london (although there are alot of attractions near by), and i think the visitors will be people who have already travelled on the eye or are more descerning / investigative. The london eye is a world attraction and i feel this wont change because of height.

But just the fact of being really high up and in the tallest building of the city is bound to attract people.

it's too bad the only supertall in london's pathetic skyline is going to be this eyesore..

^^If this guy is just going to pop up in here every page or two and troll, I think he should be banned.

I agree.

He is doing the same thing in the Strata thread too.

The Shard looks great. Wish I could go there!

it's too bad the only supertall in london's pathetic skyline is going to be this eyesore..

I just find it a shame that he has a Hong Kong pic as his avatar, you're a disgrace to that fine city sir! :lol:
I think banning would be a sensible course of action, just an idiot...

This tower is beautiful.

Regards.

it's too bad the only supertall in london's pathetic skyline is going to be this eyesore..

Stop spamming London related threads please.

it's too bad the only supertall in london's pathetic skyline is going to be this eyesore..
^^If this guy is just going to pop up in here every page or two and troll, I think he should be banned.
I agree.
Will? :)

^^If this guy is just going to pop up in here every page or two and troll, I think he should be banned.

I'll second that but most importantly... NO ONE should react after say... This post.
He's enjoying it too much. Dork. :bash:

What I like it is integration of the tower with London Bridge station.

^^ DO NOT click on this link it contains a virus. Please can a mod delete the post?

-Thanks!

But just the fact of being really high up and in the tallest building of the city is bound to attract people.

That will attract a certain type of person but the London eye is an attraction in itself, while i think the shard will become a tourist destination, i dont think it will be as succesful as the eye purely because it has mostly an office and residential aspect, its away from the most touristy area of London and the eye provides better views of londons most iconic buildings. This doesnt mean im an advocate of the eye over the shard, just that its already etablished as londons observation platform.

I believe people will go on the eye to see the shard ;)

what's the current high about?

-5m

I believe people will go on the eye to see the shard ;)

Or the monument...which would be far better I assume.


So if anyone is panning to visit london in 4 years...check out the monument in the city.

I wonder what number of people visit the monument and climb the steps. I only discovered it by chance, its now one of my must see places in london for tourists.

I wonder what number of people visit the monument and climb the steps. I only discovered it by chance, its now one of my must see places in london for tourists.

Just as I decended on my last visit to the Monument I heard an American/Canadian lady ask one of the assistants if it had a lift!!!

Haha, those Yanks just can't help but slot themselves neatly into the typical stereotype! :lol:

perhaps they should instal one for tourist we dislike, as the tower tapers at the top and hence the lift would get progressively smaller, how long before they panic!? lol

Just as I decended on my last visit to the Monument I heard an American/Canadian lady ask one of the assistants if it had a lift!!!

:laugh:

only thing about the monument are those metal grilled cages at the top that obscure your view and doesnt allow you to fully appreciate the vista

No photos?!? If someone snaps one of the construction, would they please post it? Thanks.

I believe people will go on the eye to see the shard ;)

I think people will go to the last floors of the Shard to see the Pinnacle, and just after that they will try to sneak into the Pinnacle to catch a glimpse of The Shard... Well, I'm pretty sure I will be among them. :cheers2:

No photos?!? If someone snaps one of the construction, would they please post it? Thanks.

Well, there isn't much to see right now - just piling and prep work. Above-ground construction is still several months away.

Originally Posted by Taller, Better
No photos?!? If someone snaps one of the construction, would they please post it? Thanks

From 6 May (i dont know if those posted before)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3510024674_2b68db7656_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarflondondunc/3510024674/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3662/3565888748_f240e1ea2a_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/axelrd/3565888748/

I think people will go to the last floors of the Shard to see the Pinnacle, and just after that they will try to sneak into the Pinnacle to catch a glimpse of The Shard... Well, I'm pretty sure I will be among them. :cheers2:

There will be a public restaurant on the top (4?) floors of the Pinnacle, and there will be terraces that allow you to go outside. So you should be able to get up there :)

The website has been updated slightly. The movie has a new scene at the beginning (click on "Film").

http://www.shardlondonbridge.com/

Also, if you click on "Visualisation" followed by "Live site cams" (on the right), one of the webcams now has a closer view.

Screenshot from the new vid:


http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt283/skyscrapercitypics/london/shard/shard_new_rendering.jpg

That will attract a certain type of person but the London eye is an attraction in itself, while i think the shard will become a tourist destination, i dont think it will be as succesful as the eye purely because it has mostly an office and residential aspect, its away from the most touristy area of London and the eye provides better views of londons most iconic buildings. This doesnt mean im an advocate of the eye over the shard, just that its already etablished as londons observation platform.

It might never be as popular but that doesn't mean it won't be better. For me the best current view point is the bar up Tower 42. It's not cheap but say you get a £30 bottle of wine between 3 people you're paying less than entry to the eye, it's more relaxed, and you get to enjoy the wine.(And the view is stunning!) No doubt the Shard will be better still...

It must not stay in London

^^ What is that supposed to mean!?!?! :dunno:

Looks like i will have another favorite building after the Gurkin :)

It must not stay in London

I agree, once its built, it must be shipped oversea, but how???

I agree, once its built, it must be shipped oversea, but how???


It would be easy. The parts of the Shard could be taken apart, then shipped overseas, and finally they could be put together in his backyard. :lol:

It must not stay in London
Of course. We'll just prop it up on a cart and wheel it across the ocean.

Beautiful tower. Love it!!!

I agree, once its built, it must be shipped oversea, but how???

Attach a couple of powerful boosters one side of what will be the base, then add a control tower on the other side and tada!! You get an imperial destroyer! Simple as that amigo :D

Wasn't this already almost constracted :D ???

Here we go, only glassing left :

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3369010609_e35c999cc2_b.jpg

scaffolding work look so disorganised.

Wasn't this already almost constracted :D ???

Here we go, only glassing left :
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3369010609_e35c999cc2_b.jpg

I think you're posting in the wrong thread....

... oh wait, you're trying to be funny?

WOWZOMG HAHAHALOLZ LOLOCAUST THAT IS BRILLIANT NOBODY HAS MADE THAT JOKE YET HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!1111ONEONEONE

EDIT: ^This is sarcasm, it suddenly dawns on me that if you have no sense of humour you probably have no grasp of sarcasm either.

4chan-type humor is always appreciated.

i'm sorry i'm horribly late
but could someone repost the video that everyone's taking screencaps of?
i've looked and can't seem to find it.

i'm sorry i'm horribly late
but could someone repost the video that everyone's taking screencaps of?
i've looked and can't seem to find it.


http://www.shardlondonbridge.com/

(click on "Film").

Why the Shard is special

What is unusual about the project is that the construction of the core will start at ground level and go downwards into the three storey basement as the superstructure is constructed upwards. This will save time.

The site is in a densely built up area and there is hardly any storage space. To get round this constraint, the ground floor slab will be poured before basement excavation starts. The 16.5m deep basement will then be built top down as superstructure and above ground core construction starts. “We were intending to build the core bottom up, but it was taking too long,” says WSP Cantor Seinuk director Kamran Moazimi. “Instead we’re going for a top down strategy including the core.”

Firstly the piles are sunk. Piles 900mm in diameter are used for the secant basement wall, and the piles that support the basement floor are either 1500mm or 1800mm diameter.

These piles go to 53m depth and are filled with concrete to around 16m below ground floor level. For the core, large plunge columns will be fed down the empty top sections of the shafts used to create the piles. The plunge columns are embedded in the top 5m of concrete in the pile shafts. Foam concrete is then pumped in around the plunge columns to fill in the voids.

These plunge columns will support the core while the basement is being excavated. They are large braced plated columns around 500mm square. The columns weigh around 800kg/m and will be taking around 19MN each.

The slipforming of the core above ground will start at the same time as the basement is excavated, meaning that these columns take the load of the core while it is being constructed. Once the basement excavation reaches the bottom, the concrete walls of the core will be poured.

http://www.nce.co.uk/the-shard-down-at-the-bridge/5200168.article
Rest of the Article ^^

Just as I decended on my last visit to the Monument I heard an American/Canadian lady ask one of the assistants if it had a lift!!!

I'm new here, so I'll probably get crucified but.....

Chances are, if she were an American, she probably would have asked if it had an elevator, not a lift.

Maybe she was joking, maybe she has a medical condition, maybe she was serious.

Certainly no other nationality would have asked such an asinine question.

Sarcasm intended.:banana::banana::banana:

lol yeah, no american would ever ask if something had a "lift"

personally, id say that it dosent fit in London, being a very cultural city, London looks very good with it's own western style peaceful buildings that has its own beauty.
however the tower does look stunning, but itll just be standing there by itself since its one of the only supertalls in London. It would look better in cities like HK or LA.

personally, id say that it dosent fit in London, being a very cultural city, London looks very good with it's own western style peaceful buildings that has its own beauty.
however the tower does look stunning, but itll just be standing there by itself since its one of the only supertalls in London. It would look better in cities like HK or LA.

True, it will stand out on it's own, at least for some time.

But, with the Bishopsgate tower (the pinnacle) at 288m it nicely mirrors the the city square. I imagine it won't be long till it has it's own cluster.. Infact the "three houses" were proposed not too long ago, though renders have not been made, it will be very close to the 300m mark.

I understand the uncomfortable feelings about it not fitting in, but many said that about Tower 42, the Gerkin and such... yet they all look great?

True, it will stand out on it's own, at least for some time.

But, with the Bishopsgate tower (the pinnacle) at 288m it nicely mirrors the the city square. I imagine it won't be long till it has it's own cluster.. Infact the "three houses" were proposed not too long ago, though renders have not been made, it will be very close to the 300m mark.

I understand the uncomfortable feelings about it not fitting in, but many said that about Tower 42, the Gerkin and such... yet they all look great?

The Shard is going to look awesome standing alone. It will be THE landmark tower, and the Big Ben of the 21st century.
The fact that it won't be a part of the city's cluster is for the better. Imagine the view one will be able to get from Shard's observation deck! There will be no better place for starring at the Pinnacle and the rest of the buildings standing just across the river. :cheers:

The Shard is going to look awesome standing alone. It will be THE landmark tower, and the Big Ben of the 21st century.
The fact that it won't be a part of the city's cluster is for the better. Imagine the view one will be able to get from Shard's observation deck! There will be no better place for starring at the Pinnacle and the rest of the buildings standing just across the river. :cheers:

I do not dispute this, I too believe it will create a new icon for london. I also believe it will look better on it's own, but this may not last very long. The London Bridge Station is a huge transport hub, and as such planning permission for large buildings are easier to obtain around it. It won't be long till new proposals are unearthed for Southwark.

personally, id say that it dosent fit in London, being a very cultural city, London looks very good with it's own western style peaceful buildings that has its own beauty.
however the tower does look stunning, but itll just be standing there by itself since its one of the only supertalls in London. It would look better in cities like HK or LA.

I disagree, the London of old had dozens (hundreds?) of spires reaching into the sky. This is a futuristic take on old London, IMO. And it will be an icon for the capital, showing it's just as forward thinking as anywhere else.

Haha, those Yanks just can't help but slot themselves neatly into the typical stereotype! :lol:

Or, they were elderly or disabled and wouldn't otherwise be able to reach the top. What if they were Canadian, would you have reacted the same way? You do understand that most towers (even older ones) have been retrofitted with lifts, don't you? Don't slot yourself into the uncultured, uncaring Scottish stereotype. You're dangerously close.

:doh: Hook, line and sinker ;)

wonderful building... though too much of a standout in historic and cultural london... I still applaud piano's sleek design though....

Or, they were elderly or disabled and wouldn't otherwise be able to reach the top. What if they were Canadian, would you have reacted the same way? You do understand that most towers (even older ones) have been retrofitted with lifts, don't you? Don't slot yourself into the uncultured, uncaring Scottish stereotype. You're dangerously close.
:lol:

I assume you don't know much about the Monument.
Here is something for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monument

hows the site looking ?

A lot of piling works going on.

from my travels today:

hadn't seen the new hoardings until today - snazzy!

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2977/img2670p.jpg

4 piling rigs, 2 mobile cranes and a shed load of equipment, although the site was quiet today:
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8635/img2671o.jpg

big piles
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/450/img2672z.jpg

organised chaos:
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5916/img2673e.jpg

looks like they got halfway and gave up for the weekend:
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6674/img2674d.jpg

^^ Nice updates.

Can you pls resize those pics? Thanks.

Nice to see there is progress on the site. Cool pics.

thanx for the pics.

could become in my top ten fav' when finished,really nice

Amazing tower!

I love London's skyline, so contemporary...

It has to be finished in 2012?

It would look nice being one of the center of the atention of the Olimpic Games :D


Cheers...

It has to be finished in 2012?



May/June 2012 - a few weeks before the Olympics.

Lets hope it finishes on time.

It will be the biggest tower in UK right?

^^
exactly:)

London's skyline is the most stylish and unique in Europe. I like it a lot. And this tower is just a great point to all this! Congratulations

Fantastic to see progress! They are still going for 310m?

im happy for London but also for whole europe which finally have a 300 m skyscraper...im glad ;)... what about the three house projects nearby ? on hold? or cancelled?