On Tuesday the 28th of November, London is set to glow as The Shard switches its iconic white spire for three gorgeously festive designs in the month leading up to Christmas.
The Shard is easily one of the most recognisable buildings in the capital, and certainly the tallest, standing at an incredible 310m. This year, its spire turns into a canvas for the London School of Mosaic (LSoM) to become Western Europe’s highest light show.
Silvie Jacobi is a co-founder of the LSoM and worked with students and volunteers at the art school to create the three unique designs which will shine high above the capital.
"an obvious connection to think about The Shard’s spire as a mosaic"
Although Jacobi suggests that, at first glance, “you wouldn’t necessarily consider [The Shard] as public art,” she believes that there is “an obvious connection to think about The Shard’s spire as a mosaic,” due to the 11,000 rectangular glass tiles which scale the 72-floor building. Much like the individual slabs of a mosaic, the glass tiles come together to form a single, cohesive, artistic marvel.
Designed by architect Renzo Piano, the skyscraper is a monument to the diverse culture which can be found on the South Bank of the capital’s river and houses a ‘vertical city,’ complete with apartments, the 5-star Shangri-La hotel, several bars, restaurants, and even a hospital.
Jacobi and her team extended this crucial vision of diversity and created the mosaics keeping in mind an “ethos of bringing people and different pieces of London together.” As the building can be admired from over 40 miles in every direction of the capital, its spire must act as an amicable beacon, brightening the days of local Londoners and visitors alike.
Situated directly on top of London Bridge Station, one of the busiest railway stations in the city, The Shard represents the bustling fusion of traditions and customs that makes London so engaging. In fact, it was this major transport hub which brought the two companies together; a team from The Shard noticed a newly installed mosaic inside the station beneath the building and were so fascinated by the designs and the striking similarities between the coloured tiles and the skyscraper’s glass windows that they got in touch with the piece’s creators, the LSoM.
From there, three cheerful designs have been settled on, featuring a festive pattern, a glowing candle, and a gargantuan snowman. In a modern twist, the patterns have now been animated by Woodroffe Basset Design, a digital lighting design company who have worked with the likes of Adele, The Rolling Stones, and at Glastonbury.
Whilst Piano is said to have preferred the peak being illuminated with the classic white lights, the permanent LED installation across the top 20 floors has enabled the colourful, thematic displays to become an iconic part of the Shard’s instantly recognisable silhouette.
Originally designed to form a complete spire at 400m in height, the spire would have entered the restricted airspace of some commercial flights so had to be redesigned to create the jagged outline that can be seen today. Even at its revised height, a temperature difference of up to 3 °C has been recorded between ground level and the topmost floor.
Make sure to catch the grand opening live on BBC London at 18:45 on Tuesday as The Shard’s lights will be switched on from across the river at the BBC Studio.
Michael, an experienced tour guide at The View From The Shard, recommends enjoying the Christmassy view from The George, a 17th century pub located on Borough Highstreet and only a two-minute walk away from London Bridge Station. The building’s peak can be seen clearly through a gap in the courtyard of the pub’s outdoor space.
Another location offering a stunning perspective of the upcoming spectacle is More London Place, leading from the riverside near Tower Bridge to Tooley Street. With high-rise office buildings lining this pedestrian road, The Shard is symmetrically nestled between two glass walls, making for a glamorous and aesthetically pleasing scene.
Michael's job, apart from knowing “everything there is to know about London,” involves shooting up and down the grandiose building in one of its 36 public lifts as a tour guide for The View From The Shard. These lifts travel at up to 6m/s (13mph, enough to make your ears pop) and allow visitors to scale nearly 70 floors in a matter of seconds. Dressed in a signature tweed suit, Michael is sure to answer any questions posed to him relating the skyscraper and its home city.
“People come for sunsets, people come for evening drinks”
The Shard has attracted millions of visitors since it opened in 2013, with 900,000 reported to have attended within its debut year. Many of these people hope to capture the stunning skyscraper on camera, especially over winter when its glowing spire contrasts strikingly with the deep night sky.
One such photographer is Michal Tomas, who professionally shoots central London in posts his picturesque photographs on his dedicated Instagram account, London Viewpoints.
Giving tips on the best times to visit, Tomas advised that “People come for sunsets, people come for evening drinks,” praising the idyllic golden hour backdrop to the cityscape offered from The Shard's viewing platform. However, for those who would prefer enjoying London from dizzying heights at quieter times, the photographer recommends visiting in the late morning.
Many logistical factors had to be considered when deciding on the festive show. Jasmyn Small, a marketing manager at The Shard, revealed that the display will only show from 5:30 until midnight every evening to reduce light pollution in the city. Having worked in the building for 9 years, she credits the spectacular view from her office as a key reason for her love of the job and even joked that the only downside is that the shining spire cannot be seen from her office directly below.
From an environmental perspective, the festive display will have a minimal impact on the building’s energy consumption. The permanent installation of LED lights is not only energy efficient by design, but also does not need to be switched for every change in colour as they can be programmed to create gorgeous, dynamic patterns. Reducing the time that the lights shine, to 6.5 hours, also reduces the energy needed to power the show.
The Shard’s tremendous height has made it a key figure in London’s cityscape. This winter, its spire will spread seasonal cheer to every corner of the capital as mosaic-inspired designs dance across the glass panes.
