Last week saw Europe’s tallest commercial property building in central London revealed to the public with a spectacular laser light show.
The Shard, the city’s newest and highest skyscraper, standing at a record-breaking 1016ft above London, shot light beams from its summit to officially mark the completion of its exterior.
An assortment of 12 lasers and 30 search lights fired rays from the 95-storey commercial property building to city icons’ including Tower Bridge, The Gherkin and the London eye, with the show culminating in the illumination of the Shard itself and the whole ceremony was streamed worldwide on the internet.
The show was accompanied by two pieces of well-known classical music performed live by the London Philharmonic Orchestra: Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and the Finale from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.
However some felt let down by the grand opening ceremony and took to Twitter to vent their frustration, with many describing the display as a ‘huge disappointment’ and ‘underwhelming’.
Debbie Lemon, who tried to watch the show in Honor Oak Park, south-east London, said: “That was bitterly disappointing. We were expecting a light show and saw fairy lights twinkling in the distance-nothing out of the ordinary.”
Further disappointment may spark from people looking to buy tickets to the Shard off the official website. Residents and tourists can buy tickets from the ‘The View from The Shard’, a new, first-class visitor experience that offers spectacular 40 mile, 360 degree views of the city, 800ft above London.
Over 17,500 people had registered their interest before the tickets went on sale. Yet the website was experiencing technical difficulties less than an hour after opening.
Opening its doors on February 1, 2013, the new viewing platform is the highest vantage point from any commercial property building in Western Europe and almost twice as high as any other viewing point in London.
However, there has been criticism over the hefty price tag. It will cost over £87 for a family of four to visit the commercial property skyscraper. Advance tickets cost £24.95 for adults and £18.95 for children.
By contrast, an adult ticket to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris would only set you back 14 Euros-just over £11.
Russell Gray of the Bermondsey Village Action Group was quoted by the BBC saying: “It does sound pretty exorbitant. I don’t think many local people will be going up to the viewing platform at that price.”
The commercial property building allegedly cost around £1.5 billion and took 12 years to complete.
It was at first only nicknamed The Shard after Mr Piano described the commercial property as a ‘shard of glass’ in the planning stages, however the name stuck.
Designed by Master Architect Renzo Piano, the buildings tapered design and glass panelling will ensure it is seen as a dynamic symbol of the capital, identifiable throughout the world.
Italian Architect Renzo Piano said: “Up until now the building was ours. Now the building is yours.”
The Shard’s spot at the top of the European commercial property skyscraper chart is likely to be short-lived, as the 1,089ft Mercury City Tower in Russia is set to be finished by the end of the year.
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