Shard / London Bridge Tower | Southwark | 309m | 72 fl

[Marky_boy]

Originally Posted by Octoman

I suppose I might as well post this here too (from a discussion in the skybar about whether the shard is too tall).



It certainly has the soar factor and is pretty dominant. So much for its light fooprint on the london skyline, blending into the surroundings.

Its epic and in everyone's face. And if I am honest it looks a bit ridiculous. But as a structure I am a big fan. Its a fantastic building. I reckon it will look better if some other taller buildings can be built around it - perhaps the size of Swiss re - to act as an anchor.

Seeing the impact of the shard I hope we enforce its height as a maximum on any future buildings. At least for a couple of decades to allow a better density of talls to built up. Anything taller than the shard right now would be a major mistake.

You must despise the Eiffel Tower.

[Nightjar]

Poor Octo.

[Octoman]

Originally Posted by potto

I am actually surprised as to how little impact it has, sure it is dominant from certain positions and views, but no more dominant than the bell tower when standing outside a church.

You might as well argue that there is no point going to see Mount Everest because it has the same visual impact as laying on the floor with your eye close to a rock.

Of course it has a major impact. Human beings have depth perception and the brain can naturally distinguish between a giant mass in the distance from a smaller object close by. Cities located near mountains would have a different feel if the mountains were not there. They are an ever present part of the character of the city and dont merely appear and disappear as the mover navigates the streets.

I like the shard. It is a great building. In its current location and with the current surroundings it is hugely dominant IMO. It wouldnt be if built in Manhattan and that is the point I am getting at. Until we bulk up our skyline I dont think London needs taller and taller buildings screaming for attention. There are plenty of middle east cities doing that and the result is patchy at best and in some cases downright ugly.

So I disagree that the 2,000 ft skytree would look great in London. It would bloody awful. Aside from the fact that it has the worst spire on top I have ever seen.

The Eiffel tower, like the CN tower and even the Blackpool tower work because there are one of a kind and designed to be look at me. Would Paris look better with 50 Eiffel towers? Or with 50 buildings each a little bit taller than the Eiffel tower dotted around? Of course not.

[Sprogbot]

I'm a strict believer in taller the better.
I think we should be seriously looking at several 400 meter or 500 meter supertall towers in the near future. This would keep London close to the top of the world height rankings.
It's simple, If you wanna get noticed, you have to build tall!

[anthonySE1]

[Schmeek]

Originally Posted by Sprogbot

I'm a strict believer in taller the better.
I think we should be seriously looking at several 400 meter or 500 meter supertall towers in the near future. This would keep London close to the top of the world height rankings.
It's simple, If you wanna get noticed, you have to build tall!

I wasn't sure if your post was serious or not for a while, but after reading it a few times I presume it is.
Why would london want/need to get noticed? Or to be anywhere near the top out the world height rankings?

[Sprogbot]

Originally Posted by Schmeek

I wasn't sure if your post was serious or not for a while, but after reading it a few times I presume it is.
Why would london want/need to get noticed? Or to be anywhere near the top out the world height rankings?

Because London is a world class city!!! Therefore we need world class skyscrapers and that means tall skyscrapers!
The Shard and the pinnacle are truly fabulous buildings, we just need more of them.

[Skrapadude]

I bet your really looking forward to seeing whats happening with Avia then!

[Edvvc]

How will the windows above the BMU in anthonySE1's photo be cleaned? I haven't seen any suitable hardware yet.

[Edvvc]

image hosted on flickr

Piece of Shard by edvvc, on Flickr
image hosted on flickr

Holding area by edvvc, on Flickr
image hosted on flickr

White Cube by edvvc, on Flickr

[siberian dreamer]

The sky tree would look so ridiculous in London, hah. That shard is just right, really but compare it with super talls nearly twice it's height and you realise London isn't ready for that yet.

[Loyalist.]

Originally Posted by Sprogbot

I'm a strict believer in taller the better.
I think we should be seriously looking at several 400 meter or 500 meter supertall towers in the near future. This would keep London close to the top of the world height rankings.
It's simple, If you wanna get noticed, you have to build tall!

The Shard was originally planned to be 442m! But the Civil Aviation authority imposed a 1,000ft (304.8m) height limit.

The Shard is now 1,016ft. They managed to get away with the extra 16ft because the location is on lower ground.

On the positive side, maybe the Shard would not have been built if it was 442m. For years they struggled to get the financing in place. Maybe if it was taller, the economics would have meant that the project would have been cancelled.

[scalatrava89]

Originally Posted by Edvvc

How will the windows above the BMU in anthonySE1's photo be cleaned? I haven't seen any suitable hardware yet.

I'm sure I remember someone saying there would be a BMU at level 84.

Any nice nighttime pictures for us Edvvc, yours are always first class .

[Edvvc]

Originally Posted by scalatrava89

Any nice nighttime pictures for us Edvvc, yours are always first class .

Thank you Here's one from five minutes ago...

image hosted on flickr

24th November by edvvc, on Flickr

[I am he]

Originally Posted by Sprogbot

I'm a strict believer in taller the better.
I think we should be seriously looking at several 400 meter or 500 meter supertall towers in the near future. This would keep London close to the top of the world height rankings.
It's simple, If you wanna get noticed, you have to build tall!

Im pretty sure London does get noticed...you know, considering it is the worlds largest financial centre and all...

[london lad]

[QUOTE=Edvvc;86002110]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edvvc/6395243413/

Is the building in the left of this pic the one with the hoardings round or does it just look that way from the picture?

[Edvvc]

Originally Posted by london lad

Is the building in the left of this pic the one with the hoardings round or does it just look that way from the picture?

If you mean the hoarding from the Holding Area pic, no, this building is about ten minutes walk away further south.

[london-b]

It's about the right height for London. I mean the skyscrapers of the the city make very little to no impact from many areas of London. It's nice to have a great looking building that you'll be able to see from many points.

[Laszlo Jamf]

Originally Posted by Skydoggy

Bandy, that's not weird at all. These details are what makes a building interesting and elevate it from the merely bland. Everytime I look at The Shard I see something I hadn't noticed before.

IMO this is turning into a truly exceptional building and I am getting really excited about watching it race to it's topping out!

More than just a little detail though—if the kink wasn't there I don't think the 'shard' on the western side would taper to the right point!

Originally Posted by Cranesetc

Originally Posted by potto

[Skyscrapercarazeeee]

Originally Posted by Sprogbot

I'm a strict believer in taller the better.
I think we should be seriously looking at several 400 meter or 500 meter supertall towers in the near future. This would keep London close to the top of the world height rankings.
It's simple, If you wanna get noticed, you have to build tall!

I agree to a point,and you shouldn't be jumped on,just because you air your opinion. I think its rather a nonsense,thinking no building over 1016 feet would look right in London.

I would doubt there'd have been moaning groaning and protests from skyscraper ''enthusiasts'' if the Shard had been given go ahead at 1200-1400 feet ..but we settle for 309 metres,because that is how it is .

Having said that,London is noticed for its beautiful eclectic architecture,and now we have one of the sparkiest scrapers on Earth nearing completion-and maybe a couple more to follow