The Shard is a "sparkling spire", says Piano
Architect was speaking at inauguration of Europe’s tallest building
Renzo Piano has described The Shard is a “sparkling spire flirting with the weather” and not a symbol of arrogance and power.
The architect was speaking at a ceremony to mark the external completion of the building this week, also attended by developer Irvine Sellar and his Qatari backers.
He said that the lengthy planning process required to secure permission for The Shard revealed the true nature of the building. “We had a public inquiry that lasted about two years and at the inquiry we went through all the aspects,” he said.
Piano also refused to justify his design, which has been met with criticism for its dominance of the London skyline, but admitted that architects hold a lot of responsibility.
“You have to be good,” he said. “We do a very dangerous job as architects – if you make a mistake it lasts a long time.”
Irvine Sellar, the building’s developer, claimed that the height of the building was never the priority in the design process. “The fact that we happen to be the tallest building in Western Europe is a by-product of what we wanted,” he said. “We wanted a multitude of uses and a design which we think is pretty spectacular.”
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Readers' comments (16)
How arrogant.
"I'm just so wonderful", says Piano.
Next?
The usual cynical and negative comments from the 2 people above. It's easy to criticise architects who have achieved something from the sidelines. Large projects are often controversial, but the Shard is well on the way to cement its place in the heart of Londoners. Tonight's laser show promises to be spectacular!
“We do a very dangerous job as architects – if you make a mistake it lasts a long time.”
Not really arrogant is it? More that you have to be conscious and willing to make an effort to achieve something of quality and that is something that negativism will never achieve.
Just wait for all the crap towers as high as the Shard that will soon begin sprouting all along the south bank of the Thames.
Piano's job was to break through the height restrictions so that the way would be opened for all the other developers.
All the rest you hear about the Shard is hype. Some people fall for it. Some come in here to perpetrate it.
i agree sceptical. lambeth and southwark are going to change beyond recognition in the next 10 years
I must say, the Shard has grown on me now it's complete. I like the fact that it's open to the public, thus engaging the building with its local community. I also like its historical reference to London's cathedral spires. However, its harsh edges, shiny exterior and massive height is reminiscent of the many thousands of corporate phalluses around the world.
Zecks whats wrong with change?
There are lots of things to feel queasy about and I don't like the Shard (see my blog) or tall buildings outside of high density nodes (eg NYC) - but these developer chaps were going to build tall whatever so its better someone like Piano does an ok/good job making something acceptable rather than some other practice doing some monster.
I long for someone - doing some proper high density but low rise urbanism - to sort the city out so it becomes a better place to live, work, rest and play.
To those who think that this will open the floodgates for high towers on the South Bank, surely the fact is that the Shard got the green light because it's sited at a main transport hub - and apart from Waterloo where else in the area would fit the bill?
I'm kind of neutral on the Shard, it's ok, at the end of the day its just ok. Now those small Victorian building at the base of it in the picture above are absolutely cracking architecture, the Shard just cannot compete with them no matter how tall it is.