Soaring Through

The Skies

It all began when Irvine Sellar, the Shard’s developer and joint owner, had an ambitious vision to create an architecturally striking vertical city incorporating retail, offices, hotel, apartments, restaurants and a public viewing gallery. His idea was to build a diverse vibrant community, and provide multiple areas within which the public could experience the building and its magnificent views.

Designed and styled by world renown architect Renzo Piano, the Shard musters the original vision of a “Vertical City” with multiple and different occupiers. All source of inspiration was attained from London’s old churches and masts of tall ships found in 18th-century Venetian painter Canaletto, the Shard is positioned and executed in a way that appears to be a phenomenal structure emerging from the Thames River.

In order to ensure a perfect blend of modernity amongst heritage structures and buildings, Piano gave the shard a slender pyramidal design form, in which it gave the Shard an elegant spire in contrast to other brutalist-like buildings.

Piano’s sophisticated use of extra white glass, with these expressive facade gives the tower a lightness and a sensitivity to the changing sky around it, The Shard’s colour and mood are constantly changing according to the weather and seasons. Notable features and tenants located in the Shard are Shangri-La Hotel, London’s top restaurants and bars, and the country’s highest viewing deck.

Being the UK’s tallest freestanding structure, the Shard’s exclusive residential apartments, which is situated on 53 to 65, offers an unparalleled view of the city. Equipped with the utmost furnishings that is finished with the best materials, it matches the Shard’s ultra-modern image by blending in both classic and futuristic designs. Got £50million to spare? Then do check it out.

Apart from that, guests patronising the Shard will be able to experience the country’s first Shangri-La hotel. Due to the Shard’s unique design, each rooms are entitled to special furnishings and views out. It combines a seamless fusion of refined materials, such as marble and silk, are blended with contemporary light wood, completing the urban cityscape.

High-end technology sits comfortably alongside subtle luxury with features including automatic climate control that complements the building’s integrated sun-shielding and the patented, body-contouring Shangri-La Bed. Guests living in the Suites will get a complimentary personal butler service.

Living in the Shard

Workspaces

Inspiration surrounds workforces in The Shard, from the beauty of the building itself and the views across the world's greatest city to the ultra-modern workspaces and irresistible buzz of the vibrant London Bridge Quarter area.

Every element inside the Shard has been considered and scrutinised — from its silhouette on the skyline, to the position of electrical outlets. Nothing has been assumed, and the result is an inspiring work environment that helps to boost productivity, well-being and creativity. Even the slightest details such as electrical outlets, sofas, meeting tables and water coolers are designed and placed at specific areas to ensure the ease of navigability that is added in with a touch of flair.

Even at the entrance, the double-height lobby uses a good mix of glass, steel and marble that portrays a majestic and yet conceptual feel while entering the Shard. Each office floor features three winter gardens that enables tenants to stress away in the atmosphere. The full glass facade of the Shard will also bring in natural light from every direction.

Connectivity

Besides that, the Shard is also strategically situated near the historical London Bridge. All modes of connectivity are within a stone throw away as the Tube of Bank station is located about a minute away, six minutes to Canary Wharf, five minutes to Old Street and four minutes to Westminster. For those living and working in the Shard, getting around will soon be easier in the near future as it is apace to the London Bridge Station redevelopment — which is slated to include a new hub that is capable of handling 75 million passengers a year, and to be a part of the prestigious £6.5billion integrated Thameslink Project.

The Shard
Overall Cost: £1.2billion
Height: 310-meters
Floors: 95 (72 habitable floors)
Architect: Renzo Piano
Developer: Sellar Property Group