Just in time for the Olympics, London Thursday inaugurated its newest landmark - a 310-metre high glass-panelled tower that lays claim to being the tallest building in western Europe. The Shard, as it is known because of its shape, houses a luxury hotel, expensive shops, offices, restaurants, exclusive flats and a public observation platform affording breathtaking views over the capital.
It was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and cost 1.5 billion pounds (2.3-billion-dollars) to build. The Shard is owned jointly by the state of Qatar and the Sellar Property Group, and was funded by the Qatar National Bank.