• Bompas & Parr have worked with composers, perfumers and academics in the quest to create the most romantic place in the world, at the top of The Shard
• The View from The Shard will be transformed for winter with super-scaled crystals, gem-studded snow dunes, an iridescent grotto and carolling plants
• Tickets from £25.95 per adult, available from 23 November 2015 - 31 January 2016
• Available to purchase: Snow White Hot Chocolate, Mulled Champagne, and Christmas Candy Floss created especially for the attraction by Bompas & Parr
• For images contact: Erris De Stacpoole erris@bompasandparr.com
• Press Preview: Monday 23 November, 08:30 AM, RSVP to press@theviewfromtheshard.com

Opening Monday 23 November, London's own summit, The Shard, will be transformed by Bompas & Parr into an enchanting winter experience until 31 January 2016.

Just as the natural phenomenon of a snow and frost have the ability to transform an everyday view into something magical, the sensory installation will evoke the playfulness and romance of the season. Expect super-scaled crystals, gem-studded snow dunes, glowing crystal benches, a touch-responsive iridescent grotto and carolling plants, to further enhance the unique feeling of standing at the top of Western Europe's tallest building.

Bompas & Parr has also added the studio's signature touch, with the creation of evocative edible treats available to purchase on The View from The Shard's Level 72 Skydeck; Snow White Hot Chocolate, Mulled Champagne and Christmas Candy Floss.

The innovative design is inspired by research and collaborations with perfumers, composers, psychologists and professors of visual culture on a quest to create the most (scientifically-proven) romantic destination in the world. 

Sam Bompas, Director said; “We are delighted to unveil The View from The Shard as the most romantic place in the world. By combining adventure, risk and of course crystals we have created an installation whereby everyone can dream and connect with each other against the romantic canvas of winter wonder.” 

Drawing on their findings, the installation aims to stimulate the senses, with the heroic, exhilarating (and slightly unnerving) feeling of standing at an altitude of 800ft. To kick off the project, Bompas & Parr asked top academics to offer their insights and writings in response to the question 'can setting, architecture and design be used to provoke a romantic response?'

Creativevents is delighted to partner with The View From The Shard in delivering a café bar on Level 72. A leading caterer within culture and heritage venues, exhibition venues and at outdoor events, Creativevents relishes the experience of taking their catering to new heights by serving seasonal food and drink in the most romantic place in the world.

Richard J Williams, Professor of Contemporary Visual Culture at University of Edinburgh said “There are few things so reliable at producing the frisson essential to romance as the view from a tall building. The View from The Shard is crucial here: it alone activates many if the feelings we associate with romance … There has to be a sensuousness about the place, activating touch, or taste, or smell as well as sight and hearing. And there has to be – somewhere, however slight – a sense of danger that throws two people upon each other for safety.”

Guests can experience the installation with standard entry to the visitor attraction until 31 January 2016. Tickets for The View from The Shard are priced from £25.95 per adult, available to book online at www.theviewfromtheshard.com

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The View from The Shard is the premium attraction at the top of The Shard, London's newest landmark. The View from The Shard is the highest vantage point in Western Europe and the only place where it is possible to see all of London all at once.

Stacey Wright, PR and Social Media Manager: staceywright@theviewfromtheshard.com / 020 3437 3227

Press Office: press@theviewfromtheshard.com 

Images: Erris De Stacpoole erris@bompasandparr.com

About Bompas & Parr 

Bompas & Parr leads in flavour-based experience design, culinary research, architectural installations and contemporary food design.

The studio first came to prominence through its expertise in jelly-making, but has since gone on to create immersive flavour-based experiences ranging from an inhabitable cloud of gin and tonic, the world's first multi-sensory fireworks and a Taste Experience for the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, officially the best place to taste Guinness in the world. 

The studio now consists of a team of creatives, cooks, designers, specialised technicians and architects. With Sam Bompas and Harry Parr the team works to experiment, develop, produce and install projects, artworks, jellies and exhibitions, as well as archiving, communicating, and contextualising the work. Bompas & Parr also collaborates with specialist technicians, engineers, artists, scientists, musicians and many other disciplines to create wondrous events.

Bompas & Parr has written five books, the most recent in late 2014 which saw the studio republish Memoirs of a Stomach, a lost-and-forgotten 18th century tome brought up to date with visuals from inside the digestive tract of food writer, pop-up chef and Sunday Times columnist Gizzi Erskine.

The studio works with some of the biggest companies and the world's foremost cultural institutions to give people emotionally compelling or inspiring experiences.

Bompas & Parr has exhibited at Barbican Art Gallery, Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, Salon del Mobile, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Serpentine Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum and the Wellcome Collection and collaborated with such firms as Diageo, Cargill, Selfridges, Disney, Louis Vuitton, Unilever, Vodafone, Kraft Foods, Heinz and Mercedes-Benz.

END TO ALL