The Shard, London 9 Mar 2025

The Shard, London

London"s skyline has had its fair share of famous landmarks, but none quite like The Shard. Rising 310 metres above England"s capital, this glass-clad giant is not just the tallest building in the United Kingdom but also a symbol of modern London. It was designed by Renzo Piano, an Italian architect known for making a statement with high-tech, lightweight and functional designs. Inspired by church spires and ship masts, he envisioned a sleek, tapering structure that would reflect the changing sky. Construction began in 2009, and by 2012, it had officially claimed its title as Western Europe"s tallest skyscraper.

© Dennis Fischer Photography/Moment/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A rainbow that’s worth the rainfall
9 Mar 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico, USA

More Desktop Wallpapers:

A labyrinth of luxury
When life imitates art
22 Jan 2025Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Angel of the sea
9 May 2024Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye
20 Mar 2024Spring equinox
24 May 2024European Day of Parks
Kings of the north
Chilling out on an ice floe
21 Nov 2025World Hello Day
To the infinite and back
1 Jun 2024Pride Month
In a world of their own
17 Jul 2024Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany
9 Dec 2025Guanaco, Punta Norte, Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
Were halfway there
21 Aug 2024Wolf Island, Galápagos, Ecuador
2 Jan 2024Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
1 Jul 2024Canada Day
22 Jun 2025World Rainforest Day
23 Apr 2025Saint Georges Day
13 Jul 2025International Rock Day
Babbling on and on
13 Nov 2023Serra de Tramuntana, Balearic Islands, Majorca, Spain
An oasis in a sea of sand
24 Sep 2023World Rivers Day
Rides above the tide
17 Sep 2024Mid-Autumn Festival
International Mountain Day
18 Jun 2025Pollinator Week