{"id":15413,"date":"2014-09-23T12:45:45","date_gmt":"2014-09-23T11:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/?p=15413"},"modified":"2014-09-23T13:01:45","modified_gmt":"2014-09-23T12:01:45","slug":"views-from-the-shard-skyscraper-shangri-la-hotel-london-landscapes-and-a-high-tech-toilet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/views-from-the-shard-skyscraper-shangri-la-hotel-london-landscapes-and-a-high-tech-toilet\/","title":{"rendered":"Views from The Shard skyscraper: Shangri-la hotel, London landscapes and a high tech toilet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-01.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Last week I took another trip up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/view-from-the-shard-a-trip-to-the-top-of-the-tallest-building-in-europe\/\">the Shard skyscraper<\/a>\u00a0in London Bridge, this time courtesy of a tech press launch I was invited to.<\/p>\n<p>The launch took place in the\u00a0ultra-plush environs of the Shangri-La Hotel, which occupies floors 34\u00a0to\u00a052 of the tallest building in the European Union.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-02.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We were whisked up in a super fast lift from the main, marble-clad lobby area\u00a0to the\u00a0Shard\u2019s 35th floor in just 28 seconds and were rewarded with fantastic sunset views over the capital.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-03.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The hotel has\u00a0202 guestrooms and suites, with 17 coming with a\u00a0personal butler service for the severely loaded (and lazy).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-04.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Inside, the fittings and furnishings were suitably luxurious.<\/p>\n<p>With\u00a0&#8216;entry-level&#8217; rates at the hotel starting at \u00a3450 per night\u00a0(excluding breakfast), this isn&#8217;t a place for oiks to tarry.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-05.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-06.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking north, with the view dominated by the controversial lines of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/walkie-talkie-tower-fenchurch-st-crackles-into-life\/\">Walkie Talkie building<\/a>, which hit the headlines on account of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/developers-unveil-plans-to-stop-the-walkie-talkie-towers-car-melting-rays\/\">car melting heat rays<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-07.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking west over central London.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-08.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>River Thames view.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-09.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking down to London Bridge station.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-10.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Bridges across the Thames.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-12.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Despite the relentless enthusiasm of the guy hosting the event, there really isn&#8217;t that much scope for excitement at the\u00a0launch of a portable scanner.<\/p>\n<p>Even an invitation\u00a0to compare and admire the updated circuit board and hold the all-new, \u00a0improved battery failed to uplift spirits, but happily the free drink and tasty snacks on offer\u00a0pleased the assembled journalists.<\/p>\n<p>The guy to the right was particularly fond of the pudding, wolfing down no less than four portions in swift succession.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-13.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skycraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With the presentation over, all eyes looked\u00a0out from our lofty perch to admire the lights of London below us.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-14.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-15.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-16.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The star of the show for me wasn&#8217;t the scanner but this ridiculously high tech Japanese <a href=\"http:\/\/gb.toto.com\/products\/product-single-view\/Product\/show\/WASHLET_GL\/\" target=\"_blank\">Washlet GL<\/a> toilet that came with a preheated seat and a\u00a0built-in\u00a0phone charging station &#8211; and that wasn&#8217;t all.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-17.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Attached to the wall was an\u00a0<em>electronic control panel<\/em>\u00a0for the toilet, which let you choose a rear or front burst of \u00a0hot water, with the option to adjust the power or even go for an ambitious oscillating pattern.<\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;re finished, a power deodorizer ensures that your botty is the sweetest smelling thing in town.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-18.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The lobby area.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-20.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>More views over London.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-21.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skycraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-22.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Taking photos.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-23.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/shard-views-london-24.jpg\" alt=\"Views from the Shard skyscraper and the Shangri-la hotel, London Bridge, London\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking down.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week I took another trip up the Shard skyscraper\u00a0in London Bridge, this time courtesy of a tech press launch I was invited to. The launch took place in the\u00a0ultra-plush &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[194,17,193],"tags":[10,358,351,591],"class_list":["post-15413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-london-features","category-photos","category-places","tag-london","tag-shard","tag-skyscraper","tag-the-shard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/shard-views-london-011.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pQI7P-40B","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15413"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15424,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15413\/revisions\/15424"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}