The architect responsible for The Shard says he doesn’t remember why it is so tall and he doesn’t really care. In an interview with the BBC’s Hardtalk Renzo Piano also dismisses criticism of the building and reveals that he doesn’t trust the judgement of Prince Charles.
Speaking to Sarah Montague, Piano said he didn’t set out to design the tallest building in London and that this simply ‘happened by chance.’ In fact The Shard was originally intended to be 400 metres tall but was scaled down to 310 metres following advice from aeronautics experts that it would interfere with the flight of airplanes. He believes this is why the building looks as though it is ‘desiring to go higher.’
“Many people still believe it is unfinished and this idea is part of the game in some way,” he said.
Piano admitted that he never knows whether a building will work or not until it’s finished and says he only stopped crossing his fingers about the outcome a few months ago.
“I think it (The Shard) is fine…You do everything you can to make it right but the truth is that you only understand at the end when it is built if it is right or wrong,” he said.
Responding to criticism that The Shard is a ‘monument to wealth’ that is out of proportion with its surroundings, Piano points out that there was a public inquiry lasting two years prior to the development. He also dismisses suggestions by, among others, Prince Charles that The Shard is the type of fashionable building that frequently faces demolition within a few decades.
“I don’t trust Prince Charles’ judgement,” Piano said. “If you live in the 21st century you have to belong to the 21st century.”
The 75 year old architect also insisted he was not worried that The Shard is still not fully let, saying the hotel is scheduled to open in June and that discussions with prospective tenants for the extensive office space were underway. He is confident that eventually 10,000 people will be using the property every day.
Piano agreed with Montague that the £25 entrance price for the public viewing platform is too expensive and that he has raised this with the owners. But despite his intervention he appeared resigned to the price, saying that everything in London is expensive and pointing out that it costs more to go to the top of the Empire State Building.
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