How was the shard documentary built?

Filmed over four years, The Tallest Tower: Building the Shard provides exclusive behind-the-scenes access to this architectural journey, and the story of one man’s desire to leave a lasting mark on the capital.

How did they build the top of the Shard?

With the perimeter wall built and the ground floor slab cast, concrete piles were sunk to support the building, the largest piles being underneath the core and extended down as far as 53 m. Massive steel plunge columns were then embedded in the top of the piles, rising up to above B2 level.

Who constructed the shard?

architect Renzo Piano
The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 72-storey skyscraper, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, in Southwark, London, that forms part of the Shard Quarter development….

The Shard
Architect Renzo Piano
Developer Sellar Property Group

What is the architectural style of the Shard?

Modern architecture
Neo-futurism
The Shard/Architectural styles

How much concrete was used in The Shard?

around 5,500m3
At around 5,500m3, the concrete pour to create the raft foundation to support the Shard was among the largest undertaken on a UK building, if not Europe. As such, a conventional concrete mix would not do.

Why does The Shard look incomplete?

In an interview with Dezeen just before work on The Shard started, Renzo Piano explained that the jagged appearance came about from sketching. He said: “I picked up in the workshop a shard – not of glass but of wood. A splinter… I picked up a pencil and I started sketching.

How much did it cost to build The Shard?

It cost £1.2bn to build and it literally towers over London’s skyline. So why are most of the 72 storeys of the Shard, the tallest building in Europe, still empty?

How long did it take to build The Shard?

three years
How long did it take to build The Shard? The building work started in March 2009 and was completed on July 5 2012, taking just over three years to build.

How long did it take to construct The Shard?

How deep are the foundations for The Shard?

The foundations comprise up to 60m deep 1.8m diameter bored piles founded in the underlying Thanet Sand.

Does The Shard have a 13th floor?

The Shard comprises 26 floors of high specification office space, three floors of restaurants, the 19-floor five-star Shangri-La Hotel, 13 floors of residential apartments and London’s highest public viewing gallery.