Who designed the Shard in London?

Renzo Piano designed The Shard in London.

The Shard is a mixed-use skyscraper beside London Bridge station on the south bank of the River Thames. Italian architect Renzo Piano developed its slender, tapering form as a shard-like spire emerging from the city. He drew inspiration from nearby railway lines, sailing-ship masts, and the church spires shown in Canaletto's eighteenth-century views of London.

Construction began in 2009, and the building was completed in 2012. At 309.6 metres, it became the tallest building in the United Kingdom and remains one of London's most recognizable landmarks. Its angled glass façades were designed to reflect changing light, sky, and weather rather than present one static appearance.

The nickname “The Shard” arose after English Heritage criticized the proposal as a shard of glass through the heart of historic London. The project was also known as London Bridge Tower during development. Unlike a conventional office-only skyscraper, it contains offices, restaurants, a hotel, residences, and public viewing spaces.