The Shard: London Bridge Tower (Renzo Piano Monographs) (English and French Edition)

This is the fifth volume of a series of monographs dedicated to iconic buildings designed by Renzo Piano. London Bridge Tower, also know as the Shard, was completed in July 2012, though it opened to the public in 2013. With its 306 meter height, the Shard is Europe's tallest building. Conceived and implemented as a vertical town, the tower is a shimmering, lively presence in London's skyline. This volumne is an account of the story of this astonishing project, from its first design hypothesis and inception, to the amazing duilding site and the final grand opening. The volume presents a wide and exclusive choice of Renzo Piano's sketches, prospects, plans and sections of the building, working models, prototypes and photos from the site, along with direct accounts of those who took part in this extraordinary adventure. A text by Renzo Piano in first person tells the behind the scene story of a building that is already a landmark in the city of London.