The Shard

The Shard is a skyscraper in central London and also the tallest building in Great Britain. It is located in one of the busiest parts of London. Originally, it was named after nearby London Bridge and carried the name London Bridge Tower, though eventually it became known as The Shard, because many critics likened it to a piece of glass stuck into the heart of London.

According to the project, the building was meant to be 400 meters tall, however, it was finally constructed with a height of only 310 meters. The reconstruction of the original office complex Southwark Towers in 1975 cost 450 million pounds and took three years to complete. It was finished in 2012, according to the project of Renzo Piano from Italy. The Shard has the shape of a tapering cone and its 87 floors are used for multiple functions. The first two floors house shops, cafes and restaurants. The 16th floor houses the news agency Al Jazeera English, and the floor above is home to Warwick Business School. The space up until the 28th floor is occupied by offices. On the 31st floor, diners can appreciate luxurious restaurants like Hutong, Oblix and Aqua Shard. A few floors above, there is a 5-star hotel, the Shangri–La. Further up, there are apartments and the Observatory. On the 72nd floor, visitors can enjoy The View from The Shard, which offers panoramic views of the city.