The Shard Of Reflections

August 2013

The Shard uses an advanced type of glass with a low iron content that means it is completely clear, rather than having the greenish tinge of most architectural glass. "If you use low iron glass you end up with something that really is like a crystal, it will not look like a massive glass meteorite – choom! – as many towers do. It's going to be more vibrant and changing. So depending on the day, the light and the position of the sun, the building will look different" comments Renzo Piano, architect of the Shard. There are 11,000 glass panels in The Shard.