General Chat

The opening of this fantastic building will feature a light show tonight at 10.15 which should be pretty spectacular and you can watch it online at...

http://the-shard.com/inauguration/

Thanks for that. I'll take a look. Had a recent next door neighbour who worked on the site and my brother was just saying last night how magnificient it is having been that way at the time of the Jubilee.

I wonder how much those Glaziers and Crane Men got paid.

Vera

You should see the pictures of the window cleaners!
They abseil - rather them than me.

Great chaps. Mind the glaziers in one country (can't remember which)
don't even where harnesses). Not to be recommended.

According to my newspaper its the tallest occupied building in Europe but not the tallest in the UK. That's a TV tower in Yorkshire.

Vera

My healthy respect for gravity would prevent me from applying for that job.

Yes, it is the tallest building in Europe ie one that is inhabited - the one you are referring to I think is the Emley Moor TV tower

What a wonderful building Dont know if I could go up to the look out floor next year when it opens though, bit high for me.

A tad expensive too!

You can apply for tickets for the viewing level. I think they are on sale tomorrow for next year. Would love to do it but not sure if I could cope with the height. Have ducked out of a trip on the London Eye.

Vera

I think this is a beatiful building. See it every morning (4am) when I take OH to work. He hates it. And we both love the Gherkin, hate the Testicle (City Hall).

I love the view of it when seen from Tower Bridge (north to south) it is spectacular.

My only gripe is that it is in totally the wrong place.

I think architecturally it is a wonderful masterpiece and puts many other recent/modern structures to shame.

I think the tickets are about £25

Aren't you lucky Piglets Pal to see it every day. I must admit I'm a biit confused as to where it is. I always thought it was south of the river at London Bridge but I thought I saw it on the other side on the TV for the Jubilee.

Where would you like it to be?

Vera

I think you are right Vera - my understanding is that it is just south of the river at London Bridge

Sorry me no like:( why was it built anyways??

jude :-)

Jude - apart from anything else it demonstrates what we can do even in the height of recession - sort of two fingers up even if it was part financed by Arabian states. But that just goes to show they still have faith in the UK as a country worth investing in

Beautiful building and 'Made in Britain'........tallest in Europe (for a little while)......The Shard financed by Qatar,owners of Harrods and large shareholders in Barclays but what is The Shard for exactly?.... offices, restaurants,hotels = another playground for the rich imho

Wouldn't it be nice if the rich sheiks gave some of their enormous wealth to help poor unfortunates across the world?

Mau

Its very pleasing to think that tax payers have'nt contributed and agree with Mau really, whats it for.
Maybe the money could have been used in other ways!!

jude

hmmm I disagree - by investing in this building they helped create around 10,000 jobs and helped to reassert confidence in the UK.
And last year Sheikh Al Rajhi pledged to give the majroity of his 6 billion dollar fortune to charity.
So what if it is a playground for the rich - it helps the economy and creates local jobs and pride

For me. Just to look at and it kept my previous neighbour in work.

Vera

Absolutely Vera - a wonderful feat of engineering and testament to our skills

I would like to take a peek at one of the apartments ;-)

Or even better live in one :-D