Shard, London (2012)

Crystalline architecture is synonymous with high-rises. Mies Van der Rohe’s sketch for the Friedrichstrasse (1921) contributed to a powerful vision that was to become a monument to the potential of technology. ²¹ The London Bridge Tower, better known as the Shard, was the tallest building in the EU at the time of its completion, a response to London’s policy of encouraging high-density development at key transport nodes in the city. Urban high-rises were meant to increase local densities, reducing transport congestion by discouraging private transport ownership. ²²