Kohinoor Skyscraper Competition Unveils Two Green Towers
Both of Perkins Eastman’s designs juxtapose modern technological advancements with traditional Indian culture - colorful terracotta stones shine alongside photovoltaic cells. One takes the form of a towering 33 story spire with a two-story retail base, while the other is envisioned as a circular mid-rise topped with a verdant green roof.
As the second most populous country in the world, India has swiftly moved into the central ring of international business and continues to make strides in sustainable development. Globally, large-scale urban centers working with, and not against, the environment are vital to future growth as the 7 billion population mark comes hastily around the corner.
The tower will feature operable windows and suspended gardens at all levels. 18 vertical axis wind turbines, 1,700 sq m of photovoltaic cells, and 600 sq m of solar panels located on the tower’s central spire will provide the structure with a renewable source of energy. The 90,000 sq m (nearly 1 million sq ft ) structure will house various facilities including an auditorium, club lounges, numerous restaurants, and a nursery. With all these auxiliary facilities, the Generali is expected to greatly contribute to the urban renewal of the La Defense business district.
The Generali’s slim silhouette will add a new, green landmark to the Paris skyline, already home to the most skyscrapers of any metropolitan area in the European Union. Coming in at 318 meters tall, the Generali may not unseat the Eiffel Tower’s 324 meters, but the sustainable skyscraper will rule La Defense and be lauded as one of the tallest, and more importantly, greenest buildings in the European Union.
China’s Spiraling Shanghai Tower Breaks Ground
The Shanghai Tower is composed of a set of nine cylindrical buildings stacked on top of each other and surrounded by an inner façade. A triangular outer façade encloses the entire structure, creating room for nine sky gardens, which serve as public spaces. The mixed-use structure will house businesses, restaurants, cafés, coffee shops and convenience stores.
The Shanghai Tower is slated to be completed in 2014, and Art Gensler, Chairman of Gensler has stated: “We hope Shanghai Tower inspires new ideas about what sustainable tall buildings can be . . . We’ve lined the perimeter of the tower, top to bottom, with public spaces, and we’ve integrated strategic environmental thinking into every move. The tower is a stage that comes to life through the presence of people.”
Chilean High Rise Wrapped in a Living Green Wall
Lately we’ve seen some incredible projects that make great use of the insulating and air-purifying benefits of green walls. The latest to strike our eye is this clean-lined office surrounded by the rolling Bío Bío hills in the center of Concepción, Chile. Conceived by Enrique Browne Arquitectos, the building makes extensive use of locally-sourced materials and is enveloped in a leafy green facade overflowing with bougainvillea, jasmine, and plumbago.
Enrique Browne Arquitectos‘ Consorcio headquarters is located on a corner adjacent to the city’s only church dating from the 19th century. The church’s facade was damaged by an earthquake, so part of the project was dedicated to revitalizing the space between the two buildings. A courtyard now joins the structures, adding public space and developing a harmonious link from the past to the present.
Via Arch Daily
The office itself is composed of three elements. A vertical green wall constructed from locally-sourced wood shields the structure from the sun to the North, East, and west, and acts as a “double green skin” that insulates the interior. The structure’s south wall features a high-performance facade constructed from locally-sourced corrugated metal that helps to insulate the interior and render it highly energy efficient. The third element is a cantilevered roof that provides shade to the structure’s top floor balcony.
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