---

10x10, an annual event run by charity Article 25, asks architects, designers and artists to depict an area of London with the famous Shard skyscraper at its centre

---

Main picture: Norman Ackroyd

Designed by Renzo Piano, The Shard is London's tallest building by some considerable margin. And, like most skyscrapers, it divides opinion: to some it's a glorious symbol of a city that embraces the future while also respecting its history; to others it's a shine to capitalist excess, a monstrous folly that has no place in London's skyline.

Bill Hanway

Whatever you think it of, though, The Shard is an everyday sight for most Londoners, its shimmering surfaces of steel and glass reflecting London's famously capricious weather.

Angela Brady

Now, a charity project has asked leading architects, designers and photographers including Norman Foster, Will Alsop, Roger Fitzgerald and Morley von Sternberg to create artwork depicting the area of London that has the Shard at its centre.

Called 10x10, this is the flagship fundraising event for charity Article 25's, raising vital funds to support the charity's work on building projects for some of the world's most vulnerable communities.

Ian Ritchie

The event takes its name from the grid of 100 squares laid over an area of the city, which this year has The Shard at its centre. Each of the participants is allocated a square of the grid and donates an original artwork inspired by the buildings and public space within their square.

Roger Fitzgerald

Article 25 has just released some of the first completed artworks, the rest of which will be auctioned to raise money for charity
This year's 10x10 Auction will be held at The Shard on the evening of the 27th of November at an invitation-only event, hosted by Robert Elms of BBC London. Irvine Sellar, developer and joint owner of The Shard will give a welcoming address. The panoramic views from The Shard will provide a spectacular backdrop to the display of 100 works of art created by some of the UK's leading architects, designers and artists. Online bidding will run from Tuesday the 4th to Tuesday the 25th of November atwww.10x10London.com.

Last year the 10x10 Auction raised £90,000 which was used to design and build best practice Street Children's Centres across Africa. This year Article 25 is aiming to raise over £100,000 to support essential healthcare building projects in the developing world.

Celia Birtwell

Tim Makower