London Bridge Tower - the "Shard of Glass"
Southwark

Height: 310m | Floors: 72 | Architect: Renzo Piano | Developer: Sellar Property Group

Links: UK Forum thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=407549) | Official website (http://www.shardlondonbridge.com/) | Renzo Piano Building Workshop (http://www.rpbw.com) | Skyscrapernews listing (http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=46) | Station redevelopment (http://www.tpbennett.co.uk/project.aspx?siteid=2&projectid=13)

Notes:

This landmark tower will be the first building in the UK to break the 1000 foot barrier. It will be nearly twice the height of the Gherkin,
and one of the tallest buildings in Europe.
London's first truly "mixed use" tower, the floors will be divided (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=25998656&postcount=3645) into a mixture of residential, office, hotel, retail and public space.
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the tower was structurally redesigned to improve stability and reduce evacuation times.
The tower went through a lengthy public inquiry. It was approved by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, on 19th November 2003.
The total cost of the project is in excess of £1.2bn and includes major refurbishment of the neighbouring train and bus stations.
The tower has two main tenants lined up - Shangri-La Hotels (http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/london/shangrila), who will be occupying floors 34-52 - and Transport for London (http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=595) who will
take some of the office space.
Financial issues plagued the tower for years, but were resolved in 2008 when four Qatari banks took an 80% stake
in the project (buying-out both CLS and Simon Halabi). All funding and contracts were subsequently secured.

Current Status:
Under construction! Click here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WYKyCrK9tM) for a video of the schedule. The tower is scheduled for completion by May 2012.


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





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





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





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





http://homepage.mac.com/benveasey/.Pictures/lbt.jpg

Image credit: Chest





http://www.willfox.com/images/skyscrapers/london2012/28.jpg





http://i11.tinypic.com/34rzy8g.jpg





http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/1-4.jpg




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Thread landmarks (Note: these links refer to the UK forum thread)

24th Nov 2006 - PwC staff informed that they will vacate Southwark Towers (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=10613887&postcount=125)

15th Nov 2007 - Mace chosen to build the Shard (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=16496003&postcount=2210)

10th Jan 2008 - CLS Holdings sells stake in the Shard (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=17612436&postcount=2453)

18th Jan 2008 - Halabi sells stake in the Shard (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=17781935&postcount=2489)

22nd Jan 2008 - Sellar Property Group sets up Qatari consortium to carry out the Shard development (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=17873271&postcount=2505)

24th Mar 2008 - 'White sheet of death' appears on Southwark Towers (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=19219507&postcount=2798)

12th Feb 2009 - Demolition of Southwark Towers structure complete (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=32187072&postcount=4443)

23rd Feb 2009 - Mace secures contract to build the Shard (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=32720050&postcount=4538)

16th Mar 2009 - Shard officially starts construction (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=33685318&postcount=4741)

17th Mar 2009 - First piling rig (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=33759394&postcount=4764)

18th Sep 2009 - First steel column (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=43273008&postcount=5967)

19th Sep 2009 - Installation of Tower Crane 1 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=43326016&postcount=5982)

1st Oct 2009 - Installation of Tower Crane 2 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=43971194&postcount=6168)

10th Oct 2009 - First concrete pillars (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=44408468&postcount=6254)

Some renders there I havent seen before and it certainly shows that this building is a lot more detailed than I first though. Will be a great focal point, I think.

Construction time is very quick as well. Some buildings half the size take that time!

This tower is, what can I say.. Sexy!!!!!! & Stunning!!!

I love how the tower soars into the air and dominates that area of London!

...How Come Every Time You Turn Around My London Bridge Wanna Go Down Like London London....:banana2: :banana2:

Ok, it was a stupid joke . But this new tower is stunning ! Great for London. :cheers1:

It will set a new standard for highrise architecture in Europe. Can't believe work is actually going to start in 7 months time.

congrats London! very nice projects (a Parisian talking :lol: )

i just can't wait for this tower to RISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't believe work is actually going to start in 7 months time.
Well, I can't believe it's taken so long just to reach this stage. The delay has been ludicrous.

In theory, it could already have been completed by now - if English Heritage hadn't forced a public inquiry, if PWC had vacated straight away, and if Sellar had commenced work as soon as it was originally approved.

Yes but atleast it is finally going to happen though:)

Newcastle guy is right

I love this building - suits London very well.

Cool! tower! love it!

Awesome, go London!

Sorry if anybody has mentioned this before... but... did you see Children of Men? I'm pretty sure you can spot the Shard in that movie.

Sorry if anybody has mentioned this before... but... did you see Children of Men? I'm pretty sure you can spot the Shard in that movie.

is it REALLY IN THERE?

i didn't notice it... ahh.

Yep, it's featured in one of the first scenes, just before the bomb goes off in that shop. The view is from Fleet Street, I think. Which doesn't make sense, because LBT won't be visible from Fleet Street. :) But anyway... this is the trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwsgkurfCjE

You can't really see it here though, you need the DVD or big screen version to see it properly.

I can't wait to see that film. This will make it even better!

Great skyscraper for London!

Beautiful building! Fell in love with it since I saw the renders for the first time in 2003.
Can't wait to see it rise :D

Simply magnificent!!!!...Got updates?!?!?

Got updates?!?!?

See the first post of this thread. Demolition in July/August 2007, construction in 2008.

This is the current building on site -


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/245SouthwarkTowers_pic2.jpg


http://www.willfox.com/images/london/4/32.jpg

Hello!

That are great pictures of the London Bridge Tower (http://www.fitforeurope.com/great-britain/london/).

Greetings :)

this is a sexy ass building man.

Holy shite! Best proposal I've seen in a looong time. Congrats, foggy London town.

thanx wjfox...wow just look at the difference between this ugly looking building with the beautiful new building...Wonderful news!!!

Well, I can't believe it's taken so long just to reach this stage. The delay has been ludicrous.

What would you call Arena Central's delay then? :)

It will set a new standard for highrise architecture in Europe. Can't believe work is actually going to start in 7 months time.

I hope for that new standard together with you!

Will both scrapers be pulled down, or just the other one?

wooooo!!!! nice !:cheers:
.

Of of the large three Southwark towers will go to my knowledge - the maroon one for LBT and the grey coloured one for the "Baby Shard". Guy's Hospital (the tallest in the world) will stay however.

Of of the large three Southwark towers will go to my knowledge - the maroon one for LBT and the grey coloured one for the "Baby Shard". Guy's Hospital (the tallest in the world) will stay however.

Correct, although as far as I'm aware its not that London Bridge House will be coming down at the same time as Southwark Towers or anything. Peversely Guy's is by far the ugliest of the three, but being a public hospital isn't going to be changing anytime soon. Please god they find concrete cancer in it and need to demolish it... It may the tallest hospital in the world, but its also got to be the ugliest.

Well my sister (who is now 33) was born there so I'd rather it wasn't destroyed.

A bit of a touch up could do wonders.

Well my sister (who is now 33) was born there so I'd rather it wasn't destroyed.

A bit of a touch up could do wonders.

Maybe a decent reclad a la Stock Exchange Tower, but I'm sure this is beyond the public purse. Even with a reclad there's the weird concrete 'head' bit at the top... I have no idea how this could be hidden. Perhaps if anything a slight height increase combined with a glass and steel reclad to hide the monstrous concrete and scary camel-head crown.

can i have a cup of tea

A statement tower for London. However, why havent they built it in the City, to form a skyscraper cluster, instead of spreading the tall towers across the city?

A statement tower for London. However, why havent they built it in the City, to form a skyscraper cluster, instead of spreading the tall towers across the city?

It is pretty close, being just on the opposite bank of the Thames, and its joining a mini-cluster of three (one of which its replacing). More to the point I think its better placed more independently than as a part of a dense cluster as it makes its statement better this way. London already has towers pretty randomly dotted about anyway, its not got a cohesive skyline like Paris or Frankfurt.

can i have a cup of tea

No, get on your horse and drink your coffee, probably with milk

^^ Get it right, "Non-dairy creamer"

I love this building but another year before construction begins. This is taking longer than the Freedom Tower it seems. It will be great though when it's finally finished.

congratulations... great new tower for London

Used one of the Shards renders (The towers should blend in better with the actual light too:)

http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool00/54/48/6F/30/77/16/11/DA/85/15/20/23/52/27/29/83/oma/10/EB1EF3B08ACB11DB83C5889252273AB1.jpg

Bit smaller:)

http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool00/54/48/6F/30/77/16/11/DA/85/15/20/23/52/27/29/83/oma/10/EB1EF3B08ACB11DBA17775E852273AB1.jpg

Keep in mind this is missing 3 150m+ buildings, and probably more in the future

^ Nice renders there mate :cheers:

it looks fantastic

Wow. Simply put, this is an amazing design. It is the pinnacle of tomorrow's london.

^ Nice renders there mate :cheers:

Thanks:)

I tried adding Heron too, but I couldnt find a pic of it that looked good enough/the right colour:(

Do you think Tower 42 and Swiss Re will accept their future family members?

Tower 42 ;)

lol! it's an easy mistake to make really:)

Great! London,
I lived just north of Tower Bridge at Wentsworth when I studied at London 18years ago.

lookin good..

can't wait for it to start

good job, newcastle guy, congrat.

^^Thanks Jef:) I tried to add heron too, but I couldn't find a render that fitted with the colour/angle:(

Fantastic renders!

Possibly the best looking tower in the world!

WOW! This tower is awesome :D

Look at the state of those groundscrapers though.....christ grrrr :bash:

Heres a good view of the overall relationship between the Shard and the City

http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/7766/img08078wy.jpg

And I adore this rendering...

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8092/200ns9.jpg

^^
Oh God yes!!!

What's that between Heron and DIFA? Is that the proposed 180m tower?

its is the GPE proposed tower that will not start construction before 2011.

Heron looks beautiful in that renderoid

I can't believe what I'm reading in the UK forum this morning.

It sounds like this project is in danger of being cancelled. :cry:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=11267810&postcount=357

From the Independent. The final paragraph gives some hope -


UN threatens to put Tower of London on danger list

By Terry Kirby, Chief Reporter

Unesco is threatening to place the Tower of London on its list of endangered World Heritage Sites because of the number of skyscrapers being planned for the surrounding area.

The fortress, which William the Conqueror started building in 1078 to dominate London, would be the only building in the developed world on the endangered list.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has got until the end of the month to demonstrate to the UN agency's World Heritage Committee why the Tower of London should not be included on the list. It is expected to say that the correct planning procedures were followed for the proposed developments.

These include the 306-metre-high "Shard of Glass" tower planned for London Bridge, which will be Britain's tallest building. Although plans for a second tower, the 200-metre Minerva building, have been scaled down, two other proposed buildings, a 324-metre high Bishopsgate tower and a 209-metre building at 20 Fenchurch Street, have also raised alarm at Unesco.

The World Heritage Committee said last year that it noted "with great concern" the proposed developments which failed to respect the significance of the site and "deeply regretted" that the Government had not yet examined the impact of such developments on the Tower. It also suggested that the developments would have a wider impact, affecting other World Heritage Sites, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

A joint team from the World Heritage Centre and the independent International Council on Monuments and Sites subsequently visited the site. The Government has been asked to respond to the criticisms by the end of this month, and give a timetable for "corrective action".

A culture department spokesman has admitted it would not be possible to "row back" on permission for the Shard of Glass. He stressed that permission for the development was granted after a public inquiry which considered the environmental impact, adding: "Our response to these criticisms will be that our planning controls are among the most sophisticated in the world. As a result we are pretty confident we will not be placed on the danger list."

Unesco will make a final decision in June.

Im utterly confused. Please can someone explain how a World Alpha city should not build tall buildings simply because it has a castle in it. Please explain because I am fucking livid with UNESCO for even bringing this up.

No you can't build that building because those NIMBYS object to it. NO you can't build it because some friggin shit authority will say it will impact (what the fuck does that fucking mean) the tower of London/Tower bridge /St Pauls..

No you can't build that because of sightlines....because it will blocks views of......oh im sick of hearing it all now. No you can't build that because people may see it from a fucking park !!! How the fuck does New York fucking cope then. Fuck off.

It'll be a fucking joke if this is cancelled. Some people need to realise this is the 21st century and stop being so fucking scared of progress. This would potentially be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and people are trying to stop it happening. Why? Get a fucking life. The Tower of London will still be there! If this doesn't go ahead I'm going to lose faith in a large portion of the world's ability to move forward. So many people are stuck in the past. London can't just sit back and rest on it's (fantastic) past. It needs to step up and create landmarks for this era. LBT would've been the perfect start. I'll be truly devastated if this doesn't go ahead.

I can't believe what I'm reading in the UK forum this morning.

It sounds like this project is in danger of being cancelled. :cry:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=11267810&postcount=357

What Jef meant was, that Ken is under pressure to cancel the TFL letting from the conservatives, greens, UNESCO etc...

LOL do you really think HE of all people would do that though?

I think it'll be OK, it's just the court case left to go now before we focus on getting PWC out of Southwark towers

LBT would've been the perfect start. I'll be truly devastated if this doesn't go ahead.

And it still will be:)

And it still will be:)

Yeah maybe we're getting a little carried away and jumping the gun a bit. But it was looking like a certainty to be built, now it seems much more 50/50.

^^ Indeed. I agree that this has cast some doubt over it, but some people here act as though it has just been cancelled.

Its the same thing like in Cologne !

Th unesco said if they build the announced skyscrapers the "Kölner Dom" will not be a UNESCO building anymore.

The unesco is such a f****** shit !

Im utterly confused. Please can someone explain how a World Alpha city should not build tall buildings simply because it has a castle in it. Please explain because I am fucking livid with UNESCO for even bringing this up.

No you can't build that building because those NIMBYS object to it. NO you can't build it because some friggin shit authority will say it will impact (what the fuck does that fucking mean) the tower of London/Tower bridge /St Pauls..

No you can't build that because of sightlines....because it will blocks views of......oh im sick of hearing it all now. No you can't build that because people may see it from a fucking park !!! How the fuck does New York fucking cope then. Fuck off.

The UNESCO can't cancel that building. But it can remove the ToL from it's world heritage list.

The UNESCO can't cancel that building. But it can remove the ToL from it's world heritage list.

This raises the question: what is the cost of defying UNESCO? It would be madness to remove the ToL from their heritage list, and it is hardly the most powerful lobbying group in the world. Is there a grant received from UNESCO for upkeep? Hardly likely! Given ToL is in such a wealthy city.
So UNESCO is getting involved. So What?

It would be fun if you people took the piss.

Its the same thing like in Cologne !

Th unesco said if they build the announced skyscrapers the "Kölner Dom" will not be a UNESCO building anymore.

The unesco is such a f****** shit !

Protecting cultural environments is not "f****** shit !", you will thank them in 30 years. You can always build skyscrapers to another place but try to move Kölner Dom...

It would be madness to remove the ToL from their heritage list,


Why?Would The Tower disapear if removed from heritage list?

Frankly, I think there full of crap as well, but they DID put an 'official' finger on something that a lot of people think about London:
it has build and still builds anything anywhere!!
London, however cool and great and blablabla (I agree with most of it), London is such an architectural mess!
A beautiful Victorian monument can be squeezed between a big glassy tower on one side and a shitty kebab restaurant on the other!
If you look at the skyline, it speaks for itself. We could almost start a bet about when they will build a 200 m skyscraper just in front of Big Ben.

I'm not saying UNESCO is right, and I'm not saying London should go for a Paris-style law (nothing taller than 37 meters inside the historical city), but I do hope their message it going to be heard in the future. For the sake of the London's monuments. Although it's a bit late if you ask me. Just look at St Paul's surroundings...

Canary Warf is fine! Why do they have to cram the city with new clusters everywhere?
And London is NOT like New York.

London is such an architectural mess!

That's the whole point.

Why shouldn't a city mix up all its architecture and dare to place modern next to old?

London is such an architectural mess!

Of course it is, and as DarJoLe says, that's the whole point. This is what gives the city its character, and makes it such a fascinating place to explore and photograph - you're never quite sure what's around the next corner. London has an almost unrivalled variety of styles, shapes, colours, materials and designs, spanning nearly a thousand years. This creates some amazing juxtapositions and contrasts. London is a photographer's paradise.

it doesn't make a city more worth living though

That's the whole point.

Why shouldn't a city mix up all its architecture and dare to place modern next to old?



It's a point of view some people will defend.
I think it's fine if a city gathers different neighbourhoods, but mixing them all up...
I don't know. I see it more as the formation of a big gray mass, or even the 'swallowing' of certain cultures by others, more than an effective way to promote ALL those cultures.

I guess we just see cultural enhancement for a city a different way.

I think it's fine if a city gathers different neighbourhoods, but mixing them all up...I see it more as the formation of a big gray mass, or even the 'swallowing' of certain cultures by others, more than an effective way to promote ALL those cultures.

London is the most multicultural city in the world. All manner of cultures, languages, religion and creed live side by side all over the city in harmony, bouncing ideas and skills off each other like a global village that spans thousands of years of history.

Why shouldn't its architecture be any different?

I don't get why they're fussing over the shard and bishopsgate tower. I think they're fantastic and do everything to enhance. I'd be much more worried about that walkie-talkie tower that just looms over everything

Frankly, I think there full of crap as well, but they DID put an 'official' finger on something that a lot of people think about London:
it has build and still builds anything anywhere!!
London, however cool and great and blablabla (I agree with most of it), London is such an architectural mess!
A beautiful Victorian monument can be squeezed between a big glassy tower on one side and a shitty kebab restaurant on the other!
If you look at the skyline, it speaks for itself. We could almost start a bet about when they will build a 200 m skyscraper just in front of Big Ben.

I'm not saying UNESCO is right, and I'm not saying London should go for a Paris-style law (nothing taller than 37 meters inside the historical city), but I do hope their message it going to be heard in the future. For the sake of the London's monuments. Although it's a bit late if you ask me. Just look at St Paul's surroundings...

Canary Warf is fine! Why do they have to cram the city with new clusters everywhere?
And London is NOT like New York.

You cant just build anything anywhere in London. One of the reasons skyscrapers in particular have such a hard time getting through the planning process is because there are protected conservation areas & protected sightlines for buildings such as St Pauls. Large areas of central London will never have skyscrapers due to this.

However where most of these new skyscrapers are planned & approved are in what has been designated a highrise area for the city of London. Out of the current skyscrapers approved or planned they are replacing post war buildings & not one Victorian building will be lost.

I'm not saying London should go for a Paris-style law (nothing taller than 37 meters inside the historical city).
There is no law in Paris saying that nothing taller than 37 meters should be built in the historical city. What the law says is that buildings shorter than 37 meters go through the usual building permit application, whereas buildings taller than 37 meters require special authorization. The current mayor of Paris has hinted many times that he would authorize towers in central Paris if the projects proposed to him were meeting very high quality standards. There have been leaks that the mayor was currently considering authorizing the construction of a 246 m (807 ft) skyscraper, the so-called Hypergreen Tower by architect Jacques Ferrier, on the Avenue de France in the 13th arrondissement of the city proper.

Anyway, back to the topic, it is only natural that building a 300-meter skyscraper just across the Thames from the Tower of London would create a controversy. I'm actually surprised the controversy didn't happen earlier. Just imagine if the mayor of Paris had authorized a 300-m skyscraper just across the Seine from the Louvre Museum. It would have created a world uproar, with nasty editorials in the New York Times and the Washington Post. Americans have this fascination for the old Paris...

Building Paris supertalls in La Défense or Moscow supertalls in "Moscow-City", i.e. far enough from the historical centers, is safe in terms of controversies, and I think London should have built its own supertalls in Canary Wharf to avoid such controversies. Perhaps Ken Livingston was a bit too bold on this, but only time will tell.

The tower of london has all ready been surrounded by modern structures -- its ridiculous to think that the LBT would be more detrimental just because it is tall...these UNESCO people don't seem to consider architectural quality at all, just height, that is a joke! Its not as if the City of London is a preserved meideval or "old" city at all anyway, given the bombing, the many concrete structures from the 1960's, etc... Crazy how cities can be bullied by these organizations...Cologne was crazy for bowing to them, setting a horrible precedent of cowardice.......I'd be extremely dissapointed if London capitulates.

I'd be extremely dissapointed if London capitulates.

Perhaps a bit further away from the original site but overall, I couldn't agree more.
This tower IS a beauty. No doubt.

Better to wait a long time and see a building as special as the London Bridge Tower rather than the whole planning process taking no time at all and seeing a load of crap being built.

Yes, we keep being told "it's worth the wait". The trouble is, some of us have been waiting nearly 7 years already and the current site hasn't even been vacated yet. There comes a point where you begin losing the will to live. If this tower doesn't start soon, it won't be finished in time for the Olympics.

Having visited London recently, UNESCO (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO) are recommending that LBT be cancelled, or the Tower of London (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London) could lose its "World Heritage" status. Please sign this petition to the Mayor of London -

http://www.petitiononline.com/ldntower/petition.html

The petition has 70 signatures at the moment, we need lots more:)

Please help support London:)

Petition signed (#83).

^^ Thanks:)

We have gone over 90 now, but we need alot more

Signed.

I have voted, now at 137, but there are some worrying comments from some of the signee's, such as

"Shard of Glass and the Bishopsgate Tower = Good. Nimbyism = Bad"

and also "Die labour voters"

Hope these sorts of comments don't risk what we're trying to achieve here.

but there are some worrying comments from some of the signee's, such as

"Shard of Glass and the Bishopsgate Tower = Good. Nimbyism = Bad"


Er... what's so worrying about that?

Er... what's so worrying about that?


where can i vote? :nuts:

sry i´m new

see signature

We need your support planet earth!!!!

Er... what's so worrying about that?

Well we're not going to be taken seriously with such coments.

An updated development programme has appeared on the official website (http://www.shardlondonbridge.com/). Confirms that demolition will start this year.


http://i9.tinypic.com/2ez4lj7.jpg

A rendering I did recently, showing the view from East London -


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

Yes and if it was the Paris skyscrapers under threat you would say exactly the same thing.

UNESCO have no actual power, just power of persuasion. If we show Ken etc... that we support him, and are aganst UNESCO, then it will help him stick to his guns.

Learn the facts before you go blabbing mate.

Excatly! :)

anyway loads of us have allready written letters straight to the majors office.

Petition Signed. I'm #660.

Good luck with this one chaps. I wholeheartedly wish London finally gets this brilliant structure. :)

Thank you:) We need all the signatures we can get

I signed number 676.GO the shard and go bishopsgate get BUILT

that a nice architecture! Go LONDON! Go OLYMPICS 2012!!

Two things I like about the building are the height and the glass. Overall though I do not like this building because, from certian angles, it looks like it is leaning to one side and unsymmetrical. At the top, it looks as though the building is coming apart. I think it would look much better if the triangular pattern would continue and culminate into a spire. This building will look better when some of the proposals that have interesting geometric shapes are built in London. It looks like it will at least fit well in within the context of London's future skyline.

Overall though I do not like this building because, from certian angles, it looks like it is leaning to one side and unsymmetrical. At the top, it looks as though the building is coming apart. I think it would look much better if the triangular pattern would continue and culminate into a spire.

Well, the previous design was just how you describe... that's why they changed it! By breaking up the spire, it creates the "shard of glass" effect which gives the building its name, making it appear lighter and more delicate, less contrived.


Previous design -

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46LondonBridgeTower_pic7.jpg


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46LondonBridgeTower_pic10.jpg


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/46LondonBridgeTower_pic9.jpg

Wonderful Buildings in London! I love the way they build tall buildings in this city. The buildings are very artistic.

The current design is much better

When you say Britian it is not just London, Leeds/Manchester/Birmingham/Liverpool/Glasgow are also following trend with some fantastic highrise proposals, you've also hit a point as Britian has some pretty stricht planning rules when it comes to building tall.

Really can't wait for this one to rise.

what's the latest with Unesco on this, it's been a week or a bit since we heard from them? BTW I apologise for asking my previous question, that might have drifted to topic away a bit and unintetionally heated the situation, I'll shut up now!

Very modern and beautiful tower!




Wow...wjfox2002 what an awesome picture you got as your avatar! Where can i download it in full size??

Preliminary works on site are imminent. This is an extract from an email, sent today, to employees in the current building -

It has been agreed between PwC and Mace - the building contractors for the Shard of Glass - that Mace will be allowed access to the Level 1 partners' car park for preliminary exploration of the site. Once access is granted, we will no longer be able to use the Level 1 car park. Although we are awaiting confirmation of the exact date, the closure to PwC of the car park is imminent.



http://www.willfox.com/images/london/5/37.jpg

They are only closing a car park! I think "Preliminary works on site are imminent" is a tad farfetched lol. Until I see at least a wrecking ball or dynamite on site I won't believe a word of it! :nuts:

Anybody seen this new update-Development Progamme Seems to be getting longer and longer.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u50/ah786/shardlondon.jpg

god the way that development programme is coming along is seriously starting to make it look more and more doubtful this thing is gonna be finished by 2012, god imagine an olympic flyby of the london skyline and seeing a huge half finished building sticking out like a sore thumb

god the way that development programme is coming along is seriously starting to make it look more and more doubtful this thing is gonna be finished by 2012, god imagine an olympic flyby of the london skyline and seeing a huge half finished building sticking out like a sore thumb

Bear in mind that generally buildings, especially one this size, will be externally complete up to a year before they're actually 'finished', so to all intents and purposes it should at least look finished by 2012.

Dunno how impressed Shangri-La would be about this though!

They must have updated it a 3rd time, the last time they did it, which was about a month ago, had the information about residential and hotel fitting out times. Of which the hotel fitting out was complete by Q2 2010, so Shangri-La need not worry

There is limited activity on site. I wouldn't call it construction, more enabling works for demolition for construction!

can u take a pic?

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/cranesetcphotos/shard3.jpg

can u take a pic?

Here you go. Not terribly exciting, but it confirms that work is underway. :)


http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/cranesetcphotos/shard1.jpg

cool, i guess we have to start somewhere!

kinda annoying how long this building has been in planning and how long its still going to be, still at least it seems likely to happen

It's insane how long it takes things to get built in London. But in such a historic city, with so much to protect, and so many things to consider - strict planning laws, myriad specialists to coordinate, site ownership, leasing expiry dates, relocations, utilities, underground tunnels, demolition in urban areas; I could go on and on - it's actually a bit of a miracle that anything gets built at all.

I share your frustration, but here's looking forward to a very special end product!

thank you very much Wjfox 2002 :)

I heard this will be the most complex building project ever under taken (in respect to building a tower of this size). There are many complications, can you imagine something like this being built over 100 year old underground station! i'm no engineer but its obvious there are many obstacles to get through and will be very challenging.

wow, this tower looks so gorgeous..

I don't really like the top, but overall the building looks pretty darn good.

For me, the weird top is fine, though I don't like the side of the tower. Hmm, isn't it like an onion?

For me, the weird top is fine, though I don't like the side of the tower. Hmm, isn't it like an onion?

Onion? :crazy:

Hasn't the proposal been lowered from 310 meters? I thought it was no longer going to be a supertall.
What is the current proposed height? I hope it will be built at original 310 meters.

310m / 1,017 ft

87 storeys including plant floors.

Perhaps you're getting confused with the Bishopsgate Tower, which was reduced in height from 307m to 288m because of protestations from the Civil Aviation Authority. The original London Bridge Tower (of a completely unrecognisable design) was intended to be 366m.

310m / 1,017 ft

87 storeys including plant floors.

It's listed at Emporis as 306m/1003ft with 66 floors.

^^Now it has 71 floors + 16 plant floors. :blahblah:

It's listed at Emporis as 306m/1003ft with 66 floors.

Guess what! That's wrong.

SSN Article (http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=46)

310m pinnacle height

As are most things on emporis.

emporis shows the roof height, but not the pinnacle height... and then of course rounds the roof height too. 82 floors minus 16 plant floors = 66 occupiable floors which is what emporis lists. its right but its not quite the whole picture.

For me, the weird top is fine, though I don't like the side of the tower. Hmm, isn't it like an onion?

We have a lot of weird nicknames for London skyscrapers, but i must say the shard as 'The Onion' is definately not one that I can see catching on Like an onion how??

actually i think AM Putra got the idea form the architect Renzo Piano himself - somewhere he descibed the multiple layering of the facade treatment with the analogy of an onion (dont ask me why?!)

Well... if anybody has seen Shrek... here you go (from imdb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126029/quotes)):

Shrek: Ogres are like onions.
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes. No.
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.
Shrek: No.
Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin' little white hairs.
Shrek: NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
[sighs]
Donkey: Oh, you both have layers. Oh. You know, not everybody like onions.

:lol:

I sort of see what you are getting at...but still...not exactly that onion like.

I said I wouldn't post in the World Forums anymore because there are too many immature piss-takers around here.

However... this new rendering is so good that I couldn't resist showing it.

Currently on display outside the station -


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/3-7.jpg

I love Renzo Piano!!!!!!

I just noticed that Renzo Piano is the architect. For London's sake, I sure hope this turns out better than the New York Times Tower. IMO, that is one of the ugliest buildings I have ever seen. I suppose the design is so different between the two as Shard has a glass exterior that it would be hard to go wrong with it. I'd still be nervous though.

Wifox, that rendering looks great.

awesome rendering, cant wait for seeing this one with my own eyes

I just noticed that Renzo Piano is the architect. For London's sake, I sure hope this turns out better than the New York Times Tower. IMO, that is one of the ugliest buildings I have ever seen. I suppose the design is so different between the two as Shard has a glass exterior that it would be hard to go wrong with it. I'd still be nervous though.

Wifox, that rendering looks great.

If the renderings are to be believed...this should turn out to be one of the most beautiful skyscrapers in Europe...trust me

^^ Nice vision

That's the rendering?!! I think that's a photo!!

Touched up version, by Medo:

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2803/newrenderingapril20072gn9.jpg

So its approved, i missed that when is construction scheduled to start?

Hoardings have recently gone around the site, small works are starting, and PWC who occupy the current building are scheduled to move in a couple of months:)

Great. This developement will provide yet another reason to visit/live in London. Also i cant help contemplating about how spectacular it would be to have a football stadium with a lower tier on one side towards the skyscrapers in London, what a view, and what stadium for football that would be :D. That is one thing i like about american stadiums/cities.

So its approved, i missed that when is construction scheduled to start?

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u50/ah786/shardlondon.jpg

Just wondering if anyone knows why it seems like I saw renders where the building was leaning to one side (non-symmetrical) but now it seems like all the renders are symmetrical? Has the design changed? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

Looks good

Would be nice to get the better render

Just wondering if anyone knows why it seems like I saw renders where the building was leaning to one side (non-symmetrical) but now it seems like all the renders are symmetrical? Has the design changed? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

There have been a number of design changes, some of the older renders did make it appear to be asymmetrical.

There have been a number of design changes, some of the older renders did make it appear to be asymmetrical.I really like this newer symmetrical design. I didn't like the top before but it has grown on me. Overall, it looks like it will be a beauty. Congrats London!

BTW, thanks Munch

fantanstic building for London!

just re-noticed guys tower in the picture there, haha, the planners here in clifford estates are designing the next phase of the clifford hospital scheme to be taller than guys and take the title of worlds tallest hospital, clifford hospital already should be in the top 50 tallest hospitals with 20 floors but since clifford is so unheard of outside guangzhou it hasnt gotten much notice

i like this building.. is very "London"! cant wait to see it rise!

just re-noticed guys tower in the picture there, haha, the planners here in clifford estates are designing the next phase of the clifford hospital scheme to be taller than guys and take the title of worlds tallest hospital, clifford hospital already should be in the top 50 tallest hospitals with 20 floors but since clifford is so unheard of outside guangzhou it hasnt gotten much notice


Trust me, I don't think anyone gives a toss whether Guy's is the tallest hospital in the world or not, its universally detested as an eyesore here.

September 2007-Febuary 2009
Thats 18 months to demolish the Southwark towers seems a long time:ohno:

congrats London, very nice tower!

looks great! :D

The area around London Bridge Station will look even better once this is done :D

I like it....and I'm shure it will be build...:cheers:

Me Too!

I think this building is fantastic, and should be built. It will be such an icon tower for London! :) You people from the UK should be happy, this is an amazing building. :)

^^Don't worry, I'm sure it will be. (Built:))

What is happening with the London Shard? I have no idea... are they going to build it or not??

Stelly

^^ Guess not, they really have no news about the project, looks like it has been canceled but I can be wrong :lol:

^^ Not canceled, just slow in starting.

^^ Guess not, they really have no news about the project, looks like it has been canceled but I can be wrong :lol:

Construction won't start until the 100m building on site is demolished. There is already ground-testing underway and people are due to be leaving this building in September. Timescale:
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/cranesetcphotos/shard3.jpg

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2803/newrenderingapril20072gn9.jpg

^^ Guess not, they really have no news about the project, looks like it has been canceled but I can be wrong :lol:

Work has started on site for the 100m building to be demolished, current occupiers are on site.

Why do you not like The Shard or London? Seriously, if you don't explain why, instead of just sniping every now and then. Because that is the impression I get from you.

Looks like giant glass pyramid.
it should be named.....GLaPY ...

^^ Guess not, they really have no news about the project, looks like it has been canceled but I can be wrong :lol:

Do you think you could bring yourself to actually read the thread before posting silly comments?

We are awaiting the current highrise on the site to be vacated (Southwark Towers) such that it can be demolished... This is abundantly clear if you bothered reading the thread properly.

:lol: indeed...

wow It's a good knews.
According to the timescale LBT will be built before the Russia Tower :)

I cant wait to be honest, being an SE1 lad this will be amazing for the area...although I really am disliking the baby shard with every time I clap my eyes on it, it gets worse kinda ruins it a wee bit....oh yeah and I hope they dont fook up Borough Market, they want to make a Tesco style entrance for it yuk!

looks better every day!

very impressive design....i always respect designers and developers that favour a bit of the design and sacrifice the maximum area boxy shapes designs.

Reminds me a little of that one building in the movie IRobot. It's very futuristic and cosmopolitan.

VERY NICE BUILDING, WHAT A GLASSY CONE

An absolute masterpiece

this is the most excting building atm

it will take some time until this tower ....makes his first step....until then..other towers will make vawes.....:) but it's a good disign.....

COOL!!! isnt it

London is going to look so good by 2012 when the games get under way

I love this tower, brilliant design.

Man this is such a great looking building, but I can't believe how long it takes for London to get started on a project! They won't even get the people out of the old building until September?!

I love this building it wiil stick out when its complete in a few years

its definately one of the top 3 pyramid shaped triangular building in London at the moment

it will be great

its definately one of the top 3 pyramid shaped triangular building in London at the moment

it will be great

Uh . . . I wasn't aware there were even two other pyramidal buildings in London.

its definately one of the top 3 pyramid shaped triangular building in London at the moment

it will be great

:lol:

I just Can't stand hat london is turning into.... all these tall buildings! it just seems to out of character! Skyscrapers are for modern american cities not classical, beautiful european ones! I would like this tower almost anywhere else in the world... but this is real estate and its all about location, location. so i just can't bring myself to even appreciate the architecture without thinking of how much it doesn't belong.

Damn that one is hot, in London again that is great!

HOT HOT HOT & HOT!!!

London skyline is becoming great!

For sure my current "under-construction" favorite.

I take it from your use of the :bash: smilie you're jealous of a superior design? ;)

You´re right but its unfair saying that because they are from different ages...

HOT HOT HOT & HOT!!!

London skyline is becoming great!

For sure my current "under-construction" favorite.

this one isn't uc ;)

this one isn't uc ;)


I think the works have already begun.

2009 will be construction start i believe

I just Can't stand hat london is turning into.... all these tall buildings! it just seems to out of character! Skyscrapers are for modern american cities not classical, beautiful european ones! I would like this tower almost anywhere else in the world... but this is real estate and its all about location, location. so i just can't bring myself to even appreciate the architecture without thinking of how much it doesn't belong.

Would you rather we ply into our wonderful countryside with flat boring buildings rather than make use of the space in the city with efficient, interesting, elegant skyscrapers? ;)

I just Can't stand hat london is turning into.... all these tall buildings! it just seems to out of character! Skyscrapers are for modern american cities not classical, beautiful european ones!

London has had tall buildings throughout all of its history.

And London certainly isn't a 'classical' city. It has buildings of just about every architectural era.

People need to realise, London isn't just a historical city. It's an extremely modern, cutting-edge place too.

I've said this a million times before - but the mixture of historical and modern thrown together is what makes London "London". If you can't see that, you obviously don't understand the place. Just have a walk around the City or the West End and you'll see countless examples of old and new architecture working together.

Besides, 300m isn't that tall. It's not like we're building the Burj Dubai or the Tower of Russia. And the building will taper to a thin spire, reducing its impact somewhat.

I totally agree with the above, people (mostly from America/Canada, not all) seem to have this stereotypical image of London or Britain as a whole as a society still belonging in the 15th century still building castles/cathedrals (if only we could build as efficiently as we did then) and assume we all speak in a posh english accent and drink tea :lol: , they really haven't a clue about London and its culture and moving forward, think London might be a bit of a culture shock for some of our friends over the pond. If English heritage/Unesco and any other opposing NIMBY organisation don't have thier way, you're looking at a metropolis with quite simply one of the best promising skylines in the world with quality.

London gets the worlds finest buildings.

I just Can't stand hat london is turning into.... all these tall buildings! it just seems to out of character! Skyscrapers are for modern american cities not classical, beautiful european ones! I would like this tower almost anywhere else in the world... but this is real estate and its all about location, location. so i just can't bring myself to even appreciate the architecture without thinking of how much it doesn't belong.

Thats your opinion, which is fine

However, London is many things, but being realistic, its far from being a 'classical, beautiful european city'. The area where The Shard is due to be built is nothing but a mess of large roads, ugly railway arches and buildings from the 60's/70's and 80's, It really is a very unpleasant and unwelcoming area to walk around - the shard will go a long way to making the place desirable.

Also, London is building its skyscrapers in the City, Canary Wharf and Southwark which are very far from the stereotypically beautiful areas of the West End - London is a large, sprawling metropolis - not a quaint little backwater. Its arguably the most important city for finance in the world, and has always been lead by trade, industry and redevelopment.

London can easily accomodate Skyscrapers and retain its historic buildings and charm

I was in Italy over the weekend and caught a chat show interview with architect Renzo Piano on Saturday night.

It was amusing to note the amount of airtime given to the interviewer's incredulity over the lack of car parking spaces in the Shard design.

Latest news is that PricewaterhouseCoopers have just announced their timetable for vacating Southwark Towers, the current building on site. A series of moves over 7 weekends are planned, commencing 2 June 2007 and completing 13 August 2007, demolition starting almost immediately afterwards. It will be the tallest demolition ever done in the UK.

Sorry, but this one doesn´t fit into that "all squared" and boring building. I think it adds a lot to the city. London is not prague, where all the buildings have the same height and the same architecture. London has to evolve if it wants keep representing england´s power. Thus, it is not THAT high. It doesn´t shock. And London deald with that st mary axe dildo, so anything after that is a sweet.

Latest news is that PricewaterhouseCoopers have just announced their timetable for vacating Southwark Towers, the current building on site. A series of moves over 7 weekends are planned, commencing 2 June 2007 and completing 13 August 2007, demolition starting almost immediately afterwards. It will be the tallest demolition ever done in the UK.

Bring it on.
Going to Watch Tour de France in mid July so im gonna have a good nose round all the construction sites.

LBT:
- best skyscraper in the world?
- Perfect backdrop for LDN 2012?

I think so on both counts :)

Will - thanks for the update about PriceWaterHouseCoopers moving out.

Demolition will START THIS AUGUST!!! :) :) :)

fingers crossed until LBT completion.

...So, about the tower...
It looks vaguely like this tower they had in the movie I, Robot which was supposed to take place in Chicago. It looked quite similar except for the cladding... anyone else notice this?

do u have a film (movie) still? (a frame from the film pic)

No I don't, I'll go try and find one and post it.

It's not looking good: they are having major problems funding the tower.

:doh:, i've the feeling that tower ill be never build!

i love the tower...i wish it could be in Paris or Maontreal ;) Congrats Brits! (is that ok to say???)
Nyway, it will be to ba dif they can't fund it...
Perhaps SSC should fud Skyscrapers! lol jk
Or perhaps build our own skyscraper!!! lol
back on track.

What i like about it its not the design, cuz it snice, but not the nicest...but at least it fits so wellll in London, which is more important then having the nicest tower. I find that this tower relly changes the london skyline.

So good luck London!!

I like the new renders on the first page

Any news about the funding problems???

btw...i don't think it looks like in I,Robot.... i have the movie, so maybe tommorow i iwll take a snapshot....

As I said earlier, recent news has been slightly worrying. They are having some problems funding the tower. Basically, it's a joint venture between 3 investors who each have a stake - Irvine Sellar, the main man behind the tower, then there's CLS Holdings, and Simon Halabi.

Simon Halabi is pulling out of the project and selling his share onto somebody else, we don't know who.

In addition, the construction costs are starting to soar. They recently had talks with banks to raise £500 million, in addition to the £175 million loan facility they secured last year. This would bring the total cost to a whopping £700 million, nearly twice the initial estimate.

The tower has already secured tenants for the hotel though, and a large section of the office space too. The residential apartments haven't been marketed yet, but with some of the best views in London and an unbeatable location they'll no doubt sell for tens of millions of pounds each.

Enabling works are already getting underway at London Bridge station - they are preparing the site for demolition. Occupants of the current building will be vacating next month, then demolition work starts a month or two after that. It will be over a year before proper construction can then begin.

Personally, I think this project has come too far now to be cancelled, despite these financial problems. They might have to redesign the internal space or something, but otherwise it should still go ahead.

As I said earlier, recent news has been slightly worrying. They are having some problems funding the tower. Basically, it's a joint venture between 3 investors who each have a stake - Irvine Sellar, the main man behind the tower, then there's CLS Holdings, and Simon Halabi.

Simon Halabi is pulling out of the project and selling his share onto somebody else, we don't know who.

In addition, the construction costs are starting to soar. They recently had talks with banks to raise £500 million, in addition to the £175 million loan facility they secured last year. This would bring the total cost to a whopping £700 million, nearly twice the initial estimate.

The tower has already secured tenants for the hotel though, and a large section of the office space too. The residential apartments haven't been marketed yet, but with some of the best views in London and an unbeatable location they'll no doubt sell for tens of millions of pounds each.

Enabling works are already getting underway at London Bridge station - they are preparing the site for demolition. Occupants of the current building will be vacating next month, then demolition work starts a month or two after that. It will be over a year before proper construction can then begin.

Personally, I think this project has come too far now to be cancelled, despite these financial problems. They might have to redesign the internal space or something, but otherwise it should still go ahead.

OMG that doesnt sound like good news to me!

Nothing that can't eventually be overcome though. Not the first time a financier has pulled out of a project only to be replaced by another. Just means more time is needed.

Thanks foxy.

I,m pretty sure they will find asomething to repair the problem....
Nyway, lets wait for more news.....

london's skyline definitely needs this tower!

I was looking forward to this tower... Hope they get their funding secured.

I'm pretty certain they will be able to secure the 500million, considering HSBC's 200m HQ in Canary Wharf recently sold for more than double that.

A rendering from the south, which includes all the City proposals.

Full version here, which includes Canary Wharf -
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=489244


2007

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/LBT/lbt2007.jpg




2012

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/wjfox2005/London_general/LBT/lbt2012.jpg

so if (and it's a big if) this gets built

will it be ready for 2012?

Didn't realise leadenhall would look so big on the skyline.

:cheers:

so if (and it's a big if) this gets built

will it be ready for 2012?

It should be completed in 2011 with internal fitout completed in July 2012

sleek, elegant, powerful.

i like it!

20 fen looks horrific in that render, i'm guessing that it's accurate. 20 fen will ruin the dynamics of the skyline, where as the Shard looks magnificent!

so if (and it's a big if) this gets built

will it be ready for 2012?

yes and there is no "if" Shard IS going to be built.

I'd imagine once the shard is topped out along with the Pinnacle, some random person will ask a dumbfounded question like ''So, is this and the Bishopsgate tower going to get built or not!'' just to annoy.

Looks like the funding issues are sorted...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Credit Suisse and Hypo Real Estate to fund Shard
Jane Roberts 25/06/2007 13:00

Credit Suisse and Hypo Real Estate Bank are set to finance Europe’s tallest building, the Shard of Glass at London Bridge, writes Estates Gazette sister title EG Capital.

The 1,016ft skyscraper designed by Renzo Piano is to be built at an estimated value of more than £1bn.

Developers Sellar Property, CLS and Simon Halabi’s Buckingham Securities started talks last February with a number of potential banks to provide development finance for the 72-storey tower.

It is thought the development loan arranged with Credit Suisse and Hypo will include a large junior debt slice to reflect the project’s risk.

The two banks are likely to syndicate the debt.

The developers already have a £196m, two-year interim bridging facility with Nationwide and Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, used to buy the site, pay the site’s tenant PricewaterhouseCoopers, to move, and to pay consultants.

Looks like the funding issues are sorted...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Credit Suisse and Hypo Real Estate to fund Shard
Jane Roberts 25/06/2007 13:00

Credit Suisse and Hypo Real Estate Bank are set to finance Europe’s tallest building, the Shard of Glass at London Bridge, writes Estates Gazette sister title EG Capital.

The 1,016ft skyscraper designed by Renzo Piano is to be built at an estimated value of more than £1bn.

Developers Sellar Property, CLS and Simon Halabi’s Buckingham Securities started talks last February with a number of potential banks to provide development finance for the 72-storey tower.

It is thought the development loan arranged with Credit Suisse and Hypo will include a large junior debt slice to reflect the project’s risk.

The two banks are likely to syndicate the debt.

The developers already have a £196m, two-year interim bridging facility with Nationwide and Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, used to buy the site, pay the site’s tenant PricewaterhouseCoopers, to move, and to pay consultants.

Oh yes!

It gets closer.......

It gets ALOT closer more like:)

This is the last major hurdle if I'm not mistaken... PWC are in the process of vacating Southwark Towers... demolition starts in 2 months... test pile rigs are on site... SO CLOSE NOW!

bout bloody time. 310m is 1m higher then our tallest in sydney (sydney tower).
should be awesome on the London skyline.
renzo is an great architect.

I love this tower.. but as much as i love london :)

What next for the Shard?

06.07.07

A project run by a dysfunctional trio arguing over the spoils, or a happy band of visionaries keen to develop Europe’s tallest tower?

By Deirdre Hipwell

Angry meetings, larger-than-life characters and an uncertain future: not scenes from Channel 4’s reality show, Big Brother, but the drama unfolding in the development of one of the UK’s most important schemes.

The rich but unlikely mix of entrepreneurs behind the Renzo Piano-designed Shard describe the £1bn-plus tower as a vision for a new London. But market observers are increasingly seeing the struggle to develop the 87-storey skyscraper next to London Bridge station as a cat fight that could end up leaving no one happy.

Fashion retailer-turned-property developer Irvine Sellar dreamed up the scheme with backing from the secretive Syrian investor Simon Halabi’s family trust and Swedish company CLS Holdings.

As the project enters a crucial phase, the parties seem to have patched up their differences.

But it is by no means certain who will end up developing the Shard, and whose money will be used to finance it. The industry wonders if the developers will be able to overcome a weakening market and the huge construction challenges ahead.

Teighmore, the partnership behind the tower, had a triumphant 2006, securing high-profile tenants and initial funding. It says there is no doubt that the project will start on site this December.

’Of course it’s going to be built, otherwise we have a lot of people doing a lot of work for nothing,’ says James Sellar, the son of Irvine and director at Teighmore. ‘There are very few sites in London where you could build such a scheme as this.’

He is backed by his head of property, Barry Ostle. ‘People keep saying that nothing is happening,’ he says on a tour of the proposed Shard location. ‘But look, we have started. Those are hard hats down there.’ He points to a truck and two contractors in the car park behind London Bridge who are carrying out enabling works on the site.

Ostle says the Shard is ‘ahead of most of the other towers in London,’ and, to a certain extent, it is. It has secured the all-important planning consent after an £8.5m public inquiry battle in 2002 that was fought and won by Teighmore’s QC, the renowned Christopher ‘KitKat’ Katkowski. Ostle says it has a 300-strong project team preparing the site for work to begin.

Lagging behind

Meanwhile its rivals in the tall building stakes are still some way off the mark. Land Securities’ ‘Walkie Talkie’ tower at 20 Fenchurch Street has been called in by the secretary of state and Arab Investments’ Pinnacle tower on Bishopsgate has received planning but has yet to secure tenants.

’Although the site was originally bought as a straight investment deal, we soon came aware of the possibility for a tower after the government changed its policies on the density of development around transport nodes,’ says Sellar. ‘It would be a lost opportunity if we didn’t take the advantage of this chance to intensify the site.’

It may well be a lost opportunity for all three partners, which each hold an equal equity share, but that has not stopped them squabbling over the project and its perceived riches. The Teighmore partnership has generated law suits and its fair share of acrimony hardly a happy recipe for success.

In November 2005 Halabi sued Sellar Property Group, CLS and his own family trust’s insurers in the Jersey courts over the project’s ownership, claiming his stake in the tower had been ‘wrongfully reduced’. The case was settled out of court a month later after Sellar and CLS agreed that Halabi would be able co-invest on equal terms in the 600,000 sq ft New London Bridge House next to the Shard.

CLS says: ‘Halabi’s family trust paid £3.2m to CLS and Sellar Property Group to purchase a one-third interest in New London Bridge House. It is believed that Halabi’s trust may have been paid a substantial sum by his trustee’s insurers, however, neither CLS nor SPG had any involvement in that arrangement.’

Then in January this year the old rivalries reared up again with reports that Halabi was ‘incensed’ by Sellar and CLS’s attempts to charge him £28m in project management fees.

So fevered was the speculation that the partnership was headed for a huge row that CLS issued the following statement: ‘The [£28m] figure covers a significantly wider brief and represents the combined development fees to be charged to the consortium by Sellar Property Group and CLS Holdings in their roles as developers of the Shard and New London Bridge House, of which Halabi’s Trust, SPG and CLS will each bear a one-third share.’

Since then, talk of a rift in the partnership has died down, although there are continued rumours that Halabi will sell his stake to the highest bidder.

Sellar says it has ‘been made known a long time ago that Halabi was reconfiguring his portfolio and considering his options’, but that this had no bearing on the workings of the partnership that are healthy.

Additionally, Teighmore has contracted Sellar to develop the scheme and says any change in its shareholder structure will not affect the progress of the Shard.

’We have had disagreements in the past, which have been settled,’ says Sellar. ‘It was part of normal commercial business. We get on together and we have various meetings and steering groups where everybody works well.’

There seems to be more momentum behind the project following the securing of a £196m interim loan from Nationwide and Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander last year.

This enabled Teighmore to finance the initial land purchase and 97-year long leasehold from Network Rail and pay £70m to PricewaterhouseCoopers for the surrender of its long leasehold at Southwark Towers, which was due to expire in 2100.


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Mark Bampton, head of structured property finance at Nationwide Commercial Lending, says: ‘Nationwide Commercial is providing a loan to help cover the refinancing of the initial land acquisition, and compensation for the previous tenants, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Our relationship will end when the development itself starts, with the facility being repaid by the development finance.’the money programme Additional fit-out costs will vary according to the type of use. Ostle estimates that Shell-and-core construction costs could be as high as £416m or £210/sq ft.

A significant cash injection is needed, and none of the parties involved seem willing to provide it themselves. Pressure is beginning to mount as the December demolition start date nears and the two-year window before repayments on its initial Nationwide loan narrows, yet no further development finance has been secured. And banking sources say there is unlikely to be any more without another prelet to ensure the scheme’s success.

James Sellar will not comment on funding ‘It is the partnership’s business ' but says Teighmore has agreed ‘reasonable terms that are subject to us’ on its loan with Nationwide.

He says the scheme’s success has already been assured by its 200,000 sq ft prelet to Transport for London and by landing the first five-star Shangri-La hotel in Europe.

Yet agents and rival developers question whether the scheme is in the right location to attract blue-chip tenants and whether it made the right choice in securing TfL as its debut tenant and letting PricewaterhouseCoopers out of its grasp.

The transport body has a bullet-proof covenant, but it has not set any records with a rent rumoured to be around £38/sq ft on a 30-year term. Nor is it necessarily a tenant that provides a draw for high-profile occupiers that a scheme such as the Shard needs to secure.

James Sellar will brook no argument about its location or the wisdom of the TfL deal. ‘London Bridge has a great blend of uses,’ he says. ‘It is right at the edge of the City but is also within a large residential area with a multitude of cultural uses, from Borough Market and all along the South Bank. TfL is a good covenant and it is in the lower element of the building.’

A more pressing concern may be ensuring that the Shard hits the market at the right time. The scheduled completion date is in 2011 at a time when most market research indicates that oversupply will flood the City market.

But James Sellar is not setting much stock by this research. ‘If you speak to different agents you get different views,’ he says. ‘There is a constant take-up of supply over time in the City, and we will be attracting tenants interested in a high-quality environment.’

Ostle’s hopes are equally high. ‘We want to make a big impact,’ he says. ‘We do not want a building with different uses just stuck together.’

The City of London wants that too. But the partnership developing the Shard has to prove its strength.

Who ultimately ends up developing the scheme, and whether Teighmore’s partners remain together, will be as eagerly watched as any reality TV show.

I really like it. I think that London has some really cutting edge building designs. It does remind me of the TransAmerica Tower in San Francisco.

London skyscrapers: so much talking and so little action :bash: :bash:

^ I agree. If they were just honest and said when demolition was starting, I wouldn't mind as much. But they keep getting our hopes up, and then pushing the schedule further back. This has happened several times now. First it was summer 2005, then the end of 2005, then summer of 2006, then end of 2006, then summer 2007... now it's the end of 2007. No doubt this will change yet again.

I can't understand the problem here. I mean, the building is being vacated right now. It will be empty by next month, so why will it take another 4 months to even begin demolition?

The result of this, is that construction itself (i.e. core/steelwork) won't start until May 2009... that's nearly a whole 2 years away!

Europe’s tallest tower?


:lol:, and what is with moscow?

hmmm moscows russia and russia is more asian then europe.

:lol:, and what is with moscow?


The towers in moscow haven't been compleated yet. So The shard can advertise itself as the tallest.