'Mirror effect' offers Shard Shangri-La guests an unexpected vista
Guests at the newly-opened Shangri-La Hotel in London’s The Shard are being warned to close the blinds at night as the glass structure’s panels make it sometimes possible to see into other rooms.
Some of the glass surrounding the 1,016ft (310m) building acts as an inadvertent mirror when lights are on, so the advice is being issued to maintain guests’ privacy.
Darren Gearing, the executive vice president and hotel general manager, said: "As a building created largely from glass, all guests can enjoy spectacular views of London from floor-to-ceiling windows.
"In some rooms, due to the unique shape of The Shard, guests may be able to glimpse into a neighbour's room. For this, blinds are available for guest privacy."
Occupying levels 34 to 52 of The Shard, the £450 per night hotel offer views 125m above London’s streets, with ceiling to floor windows in place to maximise the vista.
Blinds were initially fitted to ensure guests weren’t woken at dawn, but are now serving an additional purpose, with guests staying in affected rooms reportedly being warned on check-in.
The hotel, which opened last week, features London’s highest champagne and cocktail bar, and will soon offer a penthouse suite which will cost £16,000 a night to stay in.


Therme appoints UK CEO as £250m Therme Manchester gets planning approval

Construction work to begin on Universal Resort Beijing's second phase 'by 2025'

Sparcstudio gives Center Parcs' Aqua Sana concept an extensive forest-inspired makeover

Studio Apostoli plans wellness oasis in Mongolian national park

Soho House to expand with new properties in UK, North America and Latin America

Art Processors win Fast Co Design Award for Sydney Opera House 50th anniversary synchronised show

September reopening for Britain's oldest lido following £9m transformation

Rixos to open Turkish-inspired beachfront spa resort in Dubai Islands

Rosewood’s second Austrian Asaya spa to open in restored 15th-century castle

1 Hotel Mayfair launches with Bamford Wellness Spa and biophilic design by GA Group

Otherworld Philadelphia is a place where 'anything is possible'

Mandarin Oriental opens first retreat in Greece and announces upcoming Sardinian property and spa

Third Space joins Six Senses at luxury development The Whiteley

GymNation – owned by JD Gyms – opens latest club in Dubai and plans Middle East expansion

Entertainment resort and waterpark planned for Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Plans revealed for US$2bn Oklahoma theme park

Nike gets into the health club market with the launch of group exercise studios

Canyon Ranch receives additional US$150m investment from VICI Properties to fund expansion

Communal bathhouses and self-care inspire LA's upcoming wellness club, Hume

Foster + Partners slated to design Equinox Resort Amaala

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios' Eden Project Dundee will celebrate myth-makers and alchemists

Noa* creates elemental spa for alpine eco-resort in Austria

Meow Wolf opens The Real Unreal psychedelic experience in Grapvine, Texas

Boutique Greek island retreat unveils new spa with waterfall treatment rooms

PLP Architecture's Mandarin Oriental Bankside will be part of UK's first operationally fossil fuel-free mixed-use development

Fletcher Priest creates new design for Therme Manchester

Buro Happold hosts active transport event at World Congress of Architecture in Copenhagen

Aardman Animation and design studio, Katapult, launch new attraction concept

Anotherform and Fluxprojects create immersive fitness concept for Blok in London

FaulknerBrowns delivers new Lee Valley Ice Centre with two Olympic rinks
The Isola delle Rose has a rich history and an enviable location. Matteo Thun knew he had to capitalise on both with the design of the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
From parks designed to mitigate the effects of flooding to warming huts for one of the world’s coldest cities, these projects have been designed for increasingly extreme climates