General Chat

Dizzi that must have been fascinating - to see it progress.
I am currently doing an art project photographing the construction of a new housing development from above every day. Originally I was going to blog it but I think instead I will put it into a stop frame animation (a bit like those flick books we made as children but in a digital way) so that I can condense a few months of work into a minute or so.

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING IT GROW WHILE WAITING FOR A TRAIN EVERY OTHER WEEK,
IT IS AN AMAZING BUILDING

lol if that is the case then at least he GAVE money to whoever rather than TAKE it from his subjects - the royals are costing us more and more even though this was supposed to be stopped relatively recently. Latest figures show that the royal family is costing us more in real terms. I wouldn't mind if the queen claimed to give her fortune away and gave it to the rest of the family to stop them sponging off the rest of us. But instead we are subsidising them heavily

Al Rajhi gave his fortune away to his family not his subjects.....

I think appreciation of artform be it architecture, portraiture, ballet etc is down to the individual - that is what makes us great as a human race.
Personally I think it is a beautiful and fascinating building.

Al Rajhi nevertheless made the decision to give his fortune away. A shame we cannot say that about our own "beloved" royal family who in fact are costing us even more now according to figures just released.

Emley Moor tower is the tallest unsupported structure, but is not a building as is the Shard..........which is more out of place than the Gherkin


is it called The Shard, because it looks like a piece of broken glass?

Sheikh Al Rajhi pledged to give money to his own charity @ home,think most of it has been given to his family.

I don't think the building is ugly as such...I just think it looks out of place and would look better in Qatar...my opinion :-)

Lesley I would invite you back but we hardly know each other and I have run out of coffee and hobnobs

:-D @ Lesley.....Well I think if it gives employment to so many people and is also a thing of beauty, then it can't be so bad :-D

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

Or even better live in one :-D

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

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

Vera

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

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

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

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

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

jude :-)

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

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

I think the tickets are about £25