Shard architect Renzo Piano to design residential tower next door
News: Italian architect Renzo Piano has been commissioned to design a 27-storey residential tower beside his London skyscraper The Shard.
According to the Guardian, developer Sellar Property Group is again working with Renzo Piano to add another building to the site on the south bank of the Thames where his 310-metre glass skyscraper opened less than a year ago.
The architect will redevelop Fielden House, a 1970s office building on London Bridge Street, to create a residential block containing 150 apartments, a roof garden and a series of shops at ground level. Like The Shard, it will be financed by Qatari investors.
"It is intended that this new building will 'float' some 14 metres above the enlarged public realm space on London Bridge Street, opening up new access routes between the two levels and providing views down to Guy's Hospital, Kings College campus and the proposed Science Gallery for the first time," Sellar told the newspaper.
"A new generous staircase and a multi-level retail space will link the two levels, creating a new through route from the public plaza and bus station above to St Thomas Street below, significantly improving pedestrian circulation and quality of the public realm," added the developer.
Photograph of The Shard is courtesy of Shutterstock.