From 1 December, the UK’s tallest building will transform into London’s highest Advent calendar, bringing a new festive spectacle to the capital’s skyline every evening in the countdown to Christmas.
Starting at 16:00 each evening, a giant illuminated Advent number will appear on The Shard’s iconic spire before a door of light opens to reveal that day’s festive artwork. The sequence will repeat every 15 minutes, alongside bespoke animations featuring scenes from Father Christmas to the northern lights.
At the heart of this year’s display is a celebration of The Shard’s community. People who work within the landmark, together with their families, have contributed festive ideas and designs. Children worked alongside contemporary abstract artist Kinga Szulakowska, who is also Director of Housekeeping at Shangri-La The Shard, London, to bring their imaginations to life through the artwork and animations that will illuminate London’s skyline.
Kinga Szulakowska said: “It has been a real pleasure bringing the ideas of the children to life. We encouraged them to explore simple shapes, bold colours and what Christmas means to them, and it has been wonderful to see their imaginations transformed into artwork that will illuminate The Shard. Knowing that something created by our own community will be seen by people across London makes this project particularly special.”
From 25th December to 5th January, spanning the Twelve Days of Christmas, the main festive animation will continue without the Advent countdown, extending the display through the holiday period.
The display uses energy-efficient LED units positioned across The Shard’s top 20 storeys and will be visible from across London and up to 40 miles away.
The festive celebrations will also extend online, with an interactive Advent calendar launching on 1 December at www.the-shard.com/shard-lights/. Visitors can open a new window each day in the countdown to Christmas for the chance to win exclusive prizes from The Shard.
Michael Baker, CEO of Real Estate Management (UK) Ltd, asset manager of The Shard, said: “The Shard is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, and this Christmas we wanted to create something that the whole city can enjoy. Transforming our spire into a giant Advent calendar brings a new moment of festive excitement to the skyline each evening, made even more special by the fact that the designs have been inspired by the people who work here and their families. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate both our community and the city we’re proud to be part of.”
