The £1bn “Skinny Shard”: Why is this London skyscraper getting so much hate?

It’s been called “ugly”, “phallic” and an “ego trip” – London’s tallest skyscaper, the Shard, has had truckloads of criticism.

No wonder London getting another version of the marmite skyscraper is angering a lot of people.

Renzo Piano, the architect of the Shard, is designing the “Paddington Place”, a scheme that will include a 72-story tower, hundreds of homes, office and retail space, and a new public plaza.

Nicknamed the “Skinny Shard or “Paddington Pole”, the building is being strongly opposed by local residents and campaigners including the Skyline Campaign.

Barbara Weiss, co-founder of The Skyline Campaign, told the Standard: “Boroughs are waking up to how much money they can make from these huge developments. But residents are up in arms because they feel it is a totally undemocratic way of transforming their neighbourhoods.”

The other big critic of the development is iconic architect and Paddington resident Sir Terry Farrell who wrote a 1,500-word letter to Westminster Council opposing the development.

He wrote: “There is a real need for a comprehensive scheme that doesn’t miss this opportunity to make a greater difference, both to the station and to the run-down area around this part of Praed Street.”

“I have been a local resident for 15 years and have had my office here at the same local address for over 30 years. I feel passionately about improving our local mainline station and its environment in a much more comprehensive way than is shown in these proposals.”

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