The Shard

The Shard is a 309.7 meter high skyscraper, designed by Renzo Piano and built in 2012 in London. It's the tallest building in the United Kingdom and in the European Union. It has 72 habitable floors, luxurious restaurant, five star hotel, modern office rooms and observation deck on open air, at a height of 244 meters. On a clear day, the view from it reaches 64 kilometers.

In literal translation, the name of a skyscraper means a shard of glass, which very well reflects the appearance of the building's body and its sharp point. The architect explains the unusual shape of the building with reference to the mast of the historic freighter or soaring tower, which were an inseparable element of the panorama of old London.

Angled glass panes intended to reflect sunlight and the sky above, so that the appearance of the building will change according to the weather and seasons. The building was constructed so that it's stable in various conditions, with concrete, multilayer floors and pillars. It has been also equipped with the latest ecological solutions. Its facade consists of two glass panes, which are thermal buffer. Internal ventilation will keep the temperature constant and reduce the building's energy consumption by 30% in comparison to buildings of this height.

The Shard won first place at the Emporis Skyscraper Awards in 2014. The judges hailed the building as "a skyscraper that is recognized immediately and which is already considered London's new emblem" (CNN Staff (20 May 2014). "World's best new skyscraper is ..." CNN. Retrieved 20 May 2014).

Shangri-La Hotel At The Shard London

REFERENCES

1. Renzo Piano - The Art of Making Buildings (2018). London. 15 September 2018 - 20 January 2019

2. Michał Kalinowski © 2005 - 2019; Available at: http://www.londyn.webd.pl/Shard_113.html

3. 2018 Guardian News and Media Limited; Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/05/shard-apartments-empty-flats-london-market

4. Pressland SA (2012); Available at: http://www.bryla.pl/bryla/1,85298,11604693,Shard___najwyzszy_wiezowiec_Europy.html

5. Rick McEvoy Photography (2016); Available at: https://rickmcevoyphotography.com/blog/2016/4/8/nik-software-the-london-shard-versions

6. © 1996–2019 Booking.com™; Available at: https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/shangri-la-at-the-shard-london.pl.html