He designed many famous landmarks including the pompidou centre, harvard art museums, and the shard. At the peak of pianos spire a nod to the london steeples and. For all its height, the shard would be an elegant spire in contrast to the bulky highrises of the past. View a detailed profile of the structure 101995 including further data and descriptions in the emporis database. Renzo piano offers new bridge design for hometown genoa after tragedy 2 min read file photo. The 1,016 ft high skyscraper will provide the mixed use density the city needs, as it incorporates apartments, office space, a spa. The spire the spire is the 60m tall pinnacle at top of the tower, containing the public viewing gallery. The lead architect and designer of the shard was renzo piano. The skill and collaboration of the engineers, architects. Construction started in may 2009 and the external completion was marked in. The shard tower has about 54,000 cubic metric tons. Renzo piano is an italian designer known as the hightech architect.
The shard will be a sensor of london rowan moore the designer of the shard talks about his tower, his love for an old architectural flame and boatbuilding. Fundamental to piano s vision of the building was the idea of lightness and transparency. Sellar, to be built on the land occupied by southwark. Gallery of the shard renzo piano building workshop 24. The shard was designed in 2000 by architect renzo piano, he drew his initial design on the back of a napkin. In london, renzo piano s socalled shardette to rise next to socalled shard by henry melcher. The concrete core stops at level 72 and continues as a steel mast. This arrangement of functions also allows the tower to taper off and disappear into the sky a particularly important detail for renzo piano building workshop given the buildings prominence on. The shard, also referred to as the shard of glass, shard london bridge and formerly london bridge tower, is a 95storey supertall skyscraper, designed by the. Italian architect renzo piano poses at his workshop in paris, france may 7, 2015. The shard s archtect renzo piano designed the spirelike sculpture emerging from the river thames. This project was a response to the urban vision of london mayor ken livingstone and to his policy of encouraging highdensity development at key transport. The shard was conceived in 2000 by renzo piano at the behest of.
Quarter, irvine sellar and renzo piano set out a vision of a new, architecturallyoutstanding building designed to feature highquality commercial, residential and public spaces. Renzo piano the architectural genius behind the world renowned shard in london and his team at renzo piano building workshop, are busy working on a. The shard 10 most interesting facts a guide to london city. Also known as the shard, the recently opened london bridge tower, designed by renzo piano, is the centrepiece of the redevelopment of the area around london bridge station, one of londons key transport nodes, whose trains, busses and underground rail lines carry 200 thousand passengers a day. Opening vents in the gaps or fractures between the shards, provide natural ventilation to winter gardens. The inspiration for the design came from the railway lines next to the site near london bridge station, the london spires depicted by the 18th century venetian painter canaletto and the sailing ship masts. As the shard nears completion in london, here is the transcript of an interview conducted with architect renzo piano before work started. Renzo piano has recalled of his first thoughts about the building that would become the shard, in central london. Renzo piano offers new bridge design for hometown genoa. Renzo piano s shard is quickly climbing up londons skyline. The shard is a 73story skyscraper in london, england, united kingdom.