The Shard Tower in London
- Thread starter kyser_soze
- Start date
TitanSound
Mr Beardy Drummer
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Talking of construction techniques, one site I am impressed with is the Prime Knightsbridge development on Knightsbridge, just up the road from No.1 Hyde Park, before the Knightsbridge Appartments. I'm guessing they're using a similar logistics & site layout system to The Shard as there's a whole big girder construction that looks like it's being used for storage, a drop off point for the trucks etc., all being managed on a really tiny site footprint (it's causing considerably less traffic problems than No.1 Hyde Park has whenever I come through on the No 52!)
story
Changing the facts
I can do that, editor.
I didn't mean industrial secrets or details of air conditioning shafts or anything.
I find that I have loads of questions to ask him about what it's like to work up a crane, and since the Shard is so high and all that, people might have specific questions.
Like, did you know that when you look down from a really really high crane, the ground starts to loose colour definition and it all starts to look monochrome, so the slinger saying "the yellow skip" becomes a bit meaningless. (And if the slinger is really good, the crane driver can operate with his eyes closed, just follow the voice and instructions.
)
And on the really high cranes, sometomes crane operators have to sleep up there cos it takes so long to get up and down that a twenty-minute tea break becomes a 60-90 minute break during which the site can't work at full capacity.
And they can see the weather coming in from a lo-o-ong way off so they give more accurate (very) short-range weather forecasts than the BBC.
And I'd like to know about what happens to the Shard when the wind blows, and how it sits in its footprint, and all sorts of other things that I've not thought of yet.
I didn't mean industrial secrets or details of air conditioning shafts or anything. I find that I have loads of questions to ask him about what it's like to work up a crane, and since the Shard is so high and all that, people might have specific questions.
Like, did you know that when you look down from a really really high crane, the ground starts to loose colour definition and it all starts to look monochrome, so the slinger saying "the yellow skip" becomes a bit meaningless. (And if the slinger is really good, the crane driver can operate with his eyes closed, just follow the voice and instructions.
)And on the really high cranes, sometomes crane operators have to sleep up there cos it takes so long to get up and down that a twenty-minute tea break becomes a 60-90 minute break during which the site can't work at full capacity.
And they can see the weather coming in from a lo-o-ong way off so they give more accurate (very) short-range weather forecasts than the BBC.
And I'd like to know about what happens to the Shard when the wind blows, and how it sits in its footprint, and all sorts of other things that I've not thought of yet.
bromley
...isn't as good as Lewisham.
I think he would get thrown off of site if he started taking photos, they have that rule at the Olympics. Only official material is allowed to be seen via the media, very 1984.
What I want to know is, if it's raining and the ladder is very slippery, how does he get down?
What I want to know is, if it's raining and the ladder is very slippery, how does he get down?
PacificOcean
Unhinged User
That's pretty big - what used to be there?
My memory is a little hazy, but after coming out of London Bridge; there was a Mc Donalds, some Georgian houses (surely they were Grade II?), and then the hospital.
How have they squeezed it in?
My memory is a little hazy, but after coming out of London Bridge; there was a Mc Donalds, some Georgian houses (surely they were Grade II?), and then the hospital.
How have they squeezed it in?
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
It's being built on the old PWC building site. The Georgian houses are hospital residences IIRC...
PacificOcean
Unhinged User
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Barely higher than the Shell building behind it. You get better views from Windows at the Park Lane Hilton & Tower 42
PacificOcean
Unhinged User
So will us great unwashed be able to go to the top of the building?
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Go have a look at The Shard website - there's going to be a shopping mall and hotel halfway up, with a skydeck and restuarant IIRC.
PacificOcean
Unhinged User
Yes
I assume only on guided tours every few months.
I can't imagine them letting me in at random. I would stop off at the 14th floor, nick all the pens and rearrange someone's desk.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
Yep, and then a dedicated viewing platform above the apartments, at about 250m.
It'll be like the Empire State, a special lift that only goes to the viewing deck, that you buy tickets for.
bromley
...isn't as good as Lewisham.
cybertect
It's grim up north (London)
The Millbank Tower opened an observation deck to the public in August this year - Altitude 360°. It costs a tenner; you get a comedian-led tour [
] and a glass of champagne thrown in.There's a slew of them on the way. The Bishopsgate Tower (to be the tallest building in The City when it's finished) will have one, as will Rafael Vinoly's Walkie Talkie building on Fenchurch Street, which will have good views of the Thames. The project has been on hold for a year or so, but there are recent signs of activity suggesting it's under way again.
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
I was about to take issue with the tallest building comment, when I saw your qualifier.
Must have been a bummer for the developers when Air Traffic Control said the original design was too high cos it's on a City Airport descent corridor.
Must have been a bummer for the developers when Air Traffic Control said the original design was too high cos it's on a City Airport descent corridor.
spitfire
Walty McWaltface
The Millbank Tower opened an observation deck to the public in August this year - Altitude 360°. It costs a tenner; you get a comedian-led tour [
There's a slew of them on the way. The Bishopsgate Tower (to be the tallest building in The City when it's finished) will have one, as will Rafael Vinoly's Walkie Talkie building on Fenchurch Street, which will have good views of the Thames. The project has been on hold for a year or so, but there are recent signs of activity suggesting it's under way again.
Not forgetting Paramount at Centre Point: http://www.paramount.uk.net/
no longer a members club although I think you have to reserve a table for access. You may be able to go in for a drink, i'm not sure. Definitely phone ahead if you fancy it.
Excellent views as you are slap bang in the middle of London, hence the name. Centre Point.
cybertect
It's grim up north (London)
Indeed. I visited with a member in June - didn't know it was open to non-members on their own which was why I didn't mention it.
North West from Centre Point by cybertect, on Flickr
East is East by cybertect, on Flickr
Orion House by cybertect, on Flickr
cybertect
It's grim up north (London)
hipipol
Peckham Wry
You can see how the Shard is going to dominate London's skyline in this sarf London view.
London is almost comically lo-rise compared to NYC.
Damn cool view from that hill......
We are low rise compared to Manhatten or Hong Kong as we are not an city on an island - we had room to spread out.
A wonderful side effect is we have LOADS more parks
Av good thing, an all that
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
That, and the ground in Manhattan and Hong Kong is more amenable to building high, whereas London's combination of clay & sand isn't.
hipipol
Peckham Wry
I suspect even if had been sand, were it a small space and the land got expensive enough, it would have happened
