The Shard: scintillating or a scar?

[Ferretfancy]

I notice that arms deals Andrew is going to be up there with his Saudi pals. Tempting for those of a pushy disposition.

[Northender]

£25 to go up to the viewing platform
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18716658

...and another £100 to come down, presumably!

[MrGongGong]

I notice that arms deals Andrew is going to be up there with his Saudi pals. Tempting for those of a pushy disposition.

along with the LPO

surely it would have been more appropriate to have an evening of Chopin ?

(nothing to do with politics of course )
it does raise the old question (as with Wagner)

I love the building but hate the things that put it there ,

but everything IS connected ................... I remember as a teenager being horrified to discover that the performance of Eight Songs for a Mad King I went to at the Chester festival had been funded by BNFL

[Flosshilde]

I remember as a teenager being horrified to discover that the performance of Eight Songs for a Mad King I went to at the Chester festival had been funded by BNFL

I can't imagine that Max was very thrilled by that, either.

[Flosshilde]

A rather earlier Shard - http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co...minchinhampton & http://www.flickr.com/photos/63821440@N00/209028608/. One that might meet with Prince Charles' approval - especially important as it's virtually on his doorstep.

[Serial_Apologist]

A rather earlier Shard - http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co...minchinhampton & http://www.flickr.com/photos/63821440@N00/209028608/. One that might meet with Prince Charles' approval - especially important as it's virtually on his doorstep.

Seen six miles in the distance from the Heights of Upper Norwood this afternoon, caught in the sunshine, I have to admit that the Shard did look quite impressive.

[umslopogaas]

Does anyone know what Prince Charles thinks of it? I imagine he hates it; hope so, anything that gets up Prince Charles's nose is fine by me.

A question raised earlier was why does London have ever higher buildings? Surely the answer is the astronomical price of land? If you have to pay a million quid per square foot for a building plot, you arent going to put a two story house on it when you can put a two hundred story pile of offices.

I always understood that you couldnt build tall (and thereby heavy) buildings in London because the geological strata werent strong enough - unlike New York, which can have sky scrapers because they are built on solid rock. But now they seem to have found a way around that.

And, no, nothing would persuade me to go up and look at the view, I've no head for heights and the mere thought is pushing me towards a panic attack. And what happens if the lift breaks down?

[DracoM]

It reminds me of Milton's description of Pandaemonium in Paradise Lost as well as an uncanny likeness to JG Ballard's evocations of cityscapes in Cocaine Nights and Supercannes.

[Serial_Apologist]

I always understood that you couldnt build tall (and thereby heavy) buildings in London because the geological strata werent strong enough - unlike New York, which can have sky scrapers because they are built on solid rock. But now they seem to have found a way around that.

Piles have a lot to do with it...

[umslopogaas]

"Piles have a lot to do with it ..."

Those buildings must find sitting on the London shales VERY uncomfortable.

[Flosshilde]

"Piles have a lot to do with it ..."

Those buildings must find sitting on the London shales VERY uncomfortable.

Possibly not as uncomfortable as this would be for Prince Charles -

, anything that gets up Prince Charles's nose is fine by me.