In one of Shaun Osher’s recent posts on architecture, he referenced that no matter one’s architectural preferences, fundamentally speaking, there is either good design or bad design. One of the most recent examples of “good design” (in our opinion) is The Shard, which officially opened to the public last month.
Located in London’s historic district, The Shard is a glass-clad, 95-story tower designed by Italian architect, Renzo Piano. The building has become the newest addition to the London skyline and although it received a fair amount of hesitation from critics, it has been embraced as an iconic building that will, in many respects, influence future large-scale projects in the city. In addition to its unique, spire-like design, The Shard hosts an interesting range of spaces including offices, residential units, a hotel, various restaurants, and five indoor and outdoor public viewing galleries.
Although visiting The Shard is worth the trip, New Yorkers will soon be treated with a new Renzo Piano project in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, where he will once again be responsible for shaping another city’s skyline. The new Whitney Museum, which is currently under construction, is set to be completed in 2015.