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| Photo credits: Mark A Paulda, Flickr |
It's one of the most famous names in the world, up there with the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. But now London's Big Ben clock tower is to be renamed Elizabeth Tower to mark the queen's 60th year on the British throne. The announcement followed the four days of celebrations earlier this June to mark 86-year-old Queen's Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. The landmark, part of Britain's Houses of Parliament, is officially called the Clock Tower but is commonly known as Big Ben, the name of the giant bell in the tower that chimes the famous bongs in the capital. Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the name change. "The renaming of the Clock Tower to the Elizabeth Tower is a fitting recognition of the Queen's 60 years of service. This is an exceptional tribute to an exceptional monarch," he said.
In NBCNEWS.com
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| Photo credit: Jason Hawkes |
The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, was formally opened on 5 July 2012 by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, in a ceremony attended by Prince Andrew, Duke of York. The opening ceremony featured a large laser light show, comprising twelve lasers and 30 searchlights, which illuminated the building on the London skyline. The Shard was designed with an irregular pyramidal shape from the base to the top, and is clad entirely in glass. Its structure was completed in April 2012. The tower is scheduled to open to the public in February 2013. Its crystalline façade is transforming the London's skyline with a mixed-use 310 m (1,016 ft) vertical city of high-quality offices, world-renowned restaurants, the 5 star Shangri-La hotel, exclusive residential apartments and the capital's highest viewing gallery offering 360° views.
In The Shard,
abridged and slightly adapted
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| Photo credits: Jason Hawkes |
With less than 10 days to go to the Olympic Games, London 2012 Sustainability Ambassador and TV presenter Kevin McCloud pays a visit to London’s new Olympic Park and talks about how sustainability is embedded into all aspects of the project. 'When we bid to host the 2012 Games, we made a radical proposal to the International Organising Committee. We weren’t only going to put on the biggest sporting event in the world; we were going to hold the world’s first truly sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games, leaving a legacy far beyond the departure of the Olympic Flame.'
Last, but not least, from 21 July to 10 September, seven of London’s most famous bridges will light up in a dazzling display of colour to celebrate the 50 evenings of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. These spectacular light displays will last from 9.30pm until 5am, with a special moment taking place on the hour, every hour at: Golden Jubilee footbridge, Waterloo Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Southwark Bridge, London Bridge and Tower Bridge. The lighting will bring the Games to life with searchlights and illustrations of Olympic and Paralympic sports.
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| The Millenium Bridge by GLA/LMC 2012 |
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On the Olympic Park with Kevin McCloud
On the Olympic Park with Kevin McCloud
