The Cost and Controversy of the Shard
The Shard building is now the most imposing presence on the skyline of any Western European city. It stands 301 metres tall and is made up of mostly habitable floors (as per the regulations for record-breaking skyscrapers). It would not have been possible without heavy investment from Qatar. It’s estimated that Qatar has invested roughly £20bn in the UK over the past few years. Other Qatari owned or part-owned entities include the Olympic Village and Barclays Bank. The Shard has been criticised by some for changing the skyline of London forever. The building is encased in what the designers refer to as ‘extra white glass’, a feature which allows the windows of the building to reflect the weather more than most. The effect is tha the top levels of the building dissappear into the weather at times. The name ‘the Shard’ actually emerged from criticisms by the English Heritage commission and was eventually adopted as the name of the building. Yet the Shard remains steadfast against criticism. Check out how it compares to other London landmarks in this cool infographic.
Infographic by pay day bank
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