This is the fifth volume of a series of monographs
dedicated to iconic buildings designed by Renzo Piano.
London Bridge Tower, also known as the "Shard", was
completed in July 2012, though it is not open to public
yet. With his 306 m 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. The volume is an account
of the story of this astonishing project, from its first
design hypothesis and inception, to the amazing building
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. Just
like the previous books, the materials are mostly
unpublished, retrieved thanks to the process of saved
catalogues from the archives of Renzo Piano Foundation.
The story of the project evolves from the first visit to
the site at the inauguration, through sketches,
drawings, models, notes and memories of Renzo Piano. It
becomes a sort of travel journal, immediate and
powerful.
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