Before anyone could even think about digging, the mastermind behind The Shard, architect Renzo Piano, had to fight. He wanted a spire that would “pierce the heavens,” but London’s planners were like, “No way, mate.”
For seven years, from 2000 to 2007, the project sat in limbo. There were public inquiries, protests, and even a lawsuit from heritage groups who said it would block the view of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Spoiler: The Shard won. (And St. Paul’s is still standing, by the way. Crisis averted.)
So, if you count all that drama, the total time from idea to ribbon-cutting was a whopping 12 years. But let’s be honest—nobody wants to brag about the paperwork phase. We all care about the actual building.
