The topic of many conversations amongst not only those who pass it only a daily basis, but also amongst many people across the United Kingdom, The Shard was finally opened on July 5 2012. A record-breaking structure, it has since been hailed in some sections as one of the most exciting pieces of commercial property in London.
Located on 32 London Bridge Street and estimated to have cost around ?450 million, The Shard was constructed on the former site of the Southwark Towers. Another piece of commercial property in London, the Southwark Towers measured 24-storeys and were originally constructed in 1975. However, The Shard, in size, is colossal when compared to the Southwark Towers. It features an unprecedented 72 storeys.
The Shard isn't just the tallest piece of commercial property in London; it also happens to be the tallest completed property in Europe. Although hard to believe, this position was at one point at threat as the Bishopsgate Tower was proposed to rival the height of The Shard. The proposed height of the Bishopsgate Tower was eventually reduced though after the Civil Aviation Authority raised safety concerns - leading its height to be scaled down somewhat.
As the tallest piece of commercial property in London construction work on The Shard took years of planning and only commenced in February of 2009. It also has to be remembered that work could not begin on The Shard until the Southwark Towers had been demolished.
The project was also hit by uncertainty regarding funding - something that was exacerbated by the global financial crisis - and was almost cancelled, until a Qatari consortium invested in the project and took control of the scheme.
Although this piece of property looks incredibly futuristic - boasting an innovative design - the blueprints for The Shard were drawn up at the turn of the millennium by renowned Italian architect, Renzo Piano - selected as one of TIME magazine's hundred most influential people in 2006.
Its height coupled with its striking appearance - an irregularly shaped pyramid, fitted out entirely with glass - it isn't too difficult to see why The Shard has become one of the most talked about pieces of commercial property in London.
Innovative design is something that isn't just limited to the way that The Shard looks. As one would probably expect from a new piece of property, The Shard has been designed to operate in a more fuel efficient manner. In order to achieve a greater fuel efficiency level, the building features a CHP plant (combined heat and power), which is powered by natural gas. Whilst the gas is used to generate electricity - which powers the building - the heat that is produced as a by-product during the process is recovered and used to provide the building's hot water.
A spectacular sight that dominates the London skyline at night, The Shard is an exciting piece of commercial property in London that is widely expected to become one of most popular office buildings in the city over the next few years.

Finally completed in 2012, The Shard is widely considered to be one of the most exciting pieces of commercial property in London. This article examines the project's history.