In Pictures: The Shard Laser Show

Andy Thornley
By Andy Thornley Last edited 140 months ago
In Pictures: The Shard Laser Show
Red lights up the Shard. Photo / Peter Stean
Red lights up the Shard. Photo / Peter Stean
The view from the riverside. Photo / nolionsinengland
The view from the riverside. Photo / nolionsinengland
The best sign of the night. Photo / mykreve
The best sign of the night. Photo / mykreve
The Shard reflected in the Thames
The Shard reflected in the Thames. Photo / Andy Thornley
A man takes a photo of the shard
You couldn't move for cameras along the Thames. Photo / Andy Thornley
The top of the Shard.
The peak of Western Europe's tallest building. Photo / Andy Thornley

Last night a laser show marked the completion of external building work on the Shard, western Europe’s tallest building. Green lasers were fired from various points of the building aimed at various London landmarks including the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe), Tate Modern and Canary Wharf.

The light show – featuring 12 high-powered green lasers and 30 search lights – was arranged to music played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with the lighting arranged from a temporary structure on the opposite bank of the Thames.

Reaction to the show was mixed, with many on Twitter expressing disappointment that it didn't look much like the widely-seen CGI image released last week. Some were even taken to recreating their own Shard light show at home.

The building will be a mix of commercial, hotel, retail and residential with the costliest apartment priced at £50m. Although the first tenant has already moved into the building, it will not officially open to the general public until February 2013 when the viewing platform opens, tickets for which are on sale from today.

So, were you dazzled or dismayed by the laser show?

Thanks to Peter Stean, nolionsinengland and mykreve for their photographs.

Last Updated 06 July 2012