The UK's most prestigious prize for new buildings, the Riba Stirling Prize, will be awarded TODAY and the London Bridge Tower (The Shard), designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop is one of the frontrunners on the shortlist of six iconic buildings in the UK.

At 72 storeys, The Shard, or London Bridge Tower as it is also known, is the UK's tallest building and the second highest in Europe. It is a vertical town made up of restaurants, offices, a health clinic and apartments.

Eight "shards" of transparent, reflective glass make up the exterior and are dinted and angled to reflect the movement of the sky thus, enhancing light internally. It has become a key feature of the capital's skyline..

Architect William Matthews of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, says the slim, pyramid shape of The Shard was inspired by a church spire. "It's a very elegant solution as to how to build a tall building against the sky," he says. "An elegant form and the idea of a spire came to us very early on."

The Riba Stirling Prize winner, will be announced later today....