Architect David Fisher has taken the charming notion of revolving floor penthouse restaurants and turned it into something much, much bigger: a skyscraper in which every floor revolves, resulting in the first building which constantly changes its architectural shape.
The first two such skyscrapers are planned for Dubai and Moscow. The Dubai building already has 1000 reservation requests.
The building isn't just compelling because it looks really cool, either: it is an environmentally revolutionary concept.
The Dynamic Tower, the world’s first building in motion, takes the concept of green buildings to the next level: the Dynamic Tower will generate electricity for itself as well as other buildings nearby, making it the first skyscraper designed to be self-powered.
The building generates electricity from wind turbines mounted horizontally between each floor. For example, an 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant. While traditional vertical wind turbines have some environmental negative impact, including obstruction of views and the need for roads to build and maintain them, The Dynamic Tower’s wind turbines are practically invisible. The Dynamic Tower turbines are also extremely quiet due to their special shape and the carbon fiber material they are constructed from.
Another environmentally green element of the Dynamic Tower is the photovoltaic cells that will be placed on the roof of each rotating floor to produce solar energy. At any time of the day, approximately 20 percent of each roof will be exposed to the sun, so a building that has 80 floors will equal the roofing area of 10 similar sized buildings.
In addition, natural, recyclable materials including stone, marble, glass and wood will be used for the interior finishing. To further improve the energy efficiency of the Dynamic Tower, insulated glass and structural insulating panels will be employed.
Article courtesy : Michele Lerner
McAslan, AHMM and BDP top shortlist for BD’s Architect of the Year Awards
The finalists for BD’s Architect of the Year Awards 2008 have been announced, with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, BDP and John McAslan & Partners all gaining four nominations.
Maccreanor Lavington and Shedkm are nominated in two of the 14 categories, both competing with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris for Private Housing Architect of the Year (over 14 units).
The winners will be announced on October 30 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
BD’s Architect of the Year Awards 2008 shortlist
Affordable Housing Architect of the Year
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Jestico & Whiles
Levitt Bernstein Associates
Maccreanor Lavington
Stock Woolstencroft
Private Housing Architect of the Year (over 14 units)
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Broadway Malyan
Maccreanor Lavington
Richard Murphy Architects
Shedkm
Private Housing Architect of the Year (one to 14 units)
Alison Brooks Architects
Julian Cowie Architects
Shedkm
Simon Conder Associates
Education Architect of the Year
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
DSDHA
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
John McAslan & Partners
Penoyre & Prasad
Wright & Wright Architects
Healthcare Architect of the Year
BDP
Buschow Henley
David Morley Architects
Toh Shimazaki Architecture
Interiors Architect of the Year
Adjaye Associates
BDP
Bennett Interior
David Archer Architects
Pringle Brandon
Masterplanning Architect of the Year
BDP
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
John McAslan & Partners
Stephen Taylor Architects
Office Architect of the Year
Atkins
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Make
Shedkm
Public Buildings Architect of the Year
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Denton Corker Marshall
Gareth Hoskins Architects
Keith Williams Architects
Marks Barfield Architects
Retail Architect of the Year
3DReid
Adjaye Associates
BDP
Foreign Office Architects
John McAslan & Partners
Sport & Leisure Architect of the Year
David Morley Architects
Dyer
EPR Architects
HOK Sport Architecture
Hopkins Architects
Transport Architect of the Year
3DReid
Grimshaw
John McAslan & Partners
Pascall & Watson Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects
Maccreanor Lavington and Shedkm are nominated in two of the 14 categories, both competing with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris for Private Housing Architect of the Year (over 14 units).
The winners will be announced on October 30 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
BD’s Architect of the Year Awards 2008 shortlist
Affordable Housing Architect of the Year
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Jestico & Whiles
Levitt Bernstein Associates
Maccreanor Lavington
Stock Woolstencroft
Private Housing Architect of the Year (over 14 units)
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Broadway Malyan
Maccreanor Lavington
Richard Murphy Architects
Shedkm
Private Housing Architect of the Year (one to 14 units)
Alison Brooks Architects
Julian Cowie Architects
Shedkm
Simon Conder Associates
Education Architect of the Year
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
DSDHA
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
John McAslan & Partners
Penoyre & Prasad
Wright & Wright Architects
Healthcare Architect of the Year
BDP
Buschow Henley
David Morley Architects
Toh Shimazaki Architecture
Interiors Architect of the Year
Adjaye Associates
BDP
Bennett Interior
David Archer Architects
Pringle Brandon
Masterplanning Architect of the Year
BDP
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
John McAslan & Partners
Stephen Taylor Architects
Office Architect of the Year
Atkins
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Make
Shedkm
Public Buildings Architect of the Year
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Denton Corker Marshall
Gareth Hoskins Architects
Keith Williams Architects
Marks Barfield Architects
Retail Architect of the Year
3DReid
Adjaye Associates
BDP
Foreign Office Architects
John McAslan & Partners
Sport & Leisure Architect of the Year
David Morley Architects
Dyer
EPR Architects
HOK Sport Architecture
Hopkins Architects
Transport Architect of the Year
3DReid
Grimshaw
John McAslan & Partners
Pascall & Watson Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects
Accordia wins the Stirling Prize
Accordia in Cambridge by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Alison Brooks Architects and Maccreanor Lavington has won the 2008 Stirling Prize.
The judges commented: “This is high density housing at its very best, demonstrating that volume house-builders can deliver high quality architecture – and that as a result they can improve their own bottom line.
"The whole scheme is about relationships: between architect and developer/contractor/client; between three very different firms of architects – Feilden Clegg Bradley, Maccreanor Lavington and Alison Brooks Architects; and between private and public external spaces, providing a new model for outside-inside life with interior rooftop spaces, internal courtyards and large semi-public community gardens.”
Peter Clegg, senior partner with Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects, told BD: “I predicted all of the other winners but I couldn’t have predicted this one. What we are doing is changing the mould of housing.”
When Accordia was shortlisted, BD Buildings Editor Ellis Woodman said: “By rights, Accordia should have been on last year’s shortlist. However, when the RIBA jury visited the scheme they found that they couldn’t get access to any of the houses so decided that it couldn’t be put forward for an award. The Stirling hasn’t had a great record of recognising quality housing developments. After BedZed, Accordia is only the second housing scheme to be shortlisted in the prize’s history. However, it would make a very worthy winner.
“In a period when the housing sector has become increasingly focussed on the construction of inner-city apartments, Accordia addresses the urgent need to build quality family homes at large scale and a sustainable density.”
The judges’ choice of Accordia will certainly be of relief to the bookmakers. Going into the final day, the Cambridge housing scheme was sixth with odds of 5/1 at William Hill.
RIBA special awards
Also announced on Saturday night were the RIBA special awards:
Manser Medal for the best one-off house or housing scheme: Oxley Woods
Stephen Lawrence Prize for the best example of a building with a construction budget of less than £1 million: The Sackler Crossing in Kew by John Pawson Architects
RIBA CABE Public Space Award which celebrates publicly accessible external space: The Old Market Square, Nottingham by Gustafson Porter
Crown Estate Conservation Award, for the best work of conservation which demonstrates successful restoration or adaptation of an architecturally significant building: St. Pancras International by Alastair Lansley (for Union Railways)
RIBA Sustainability Award: The Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Manchester by Denton Corker Marshall
Sorrell Foundation Schools Award: Westminster Academy at the Naim Dangoor Centre by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.
The judges commented: “This is high density housing at its very best, demonstrating that volume house-builders can deliver high quality architecture – and that as a result they can improve their own bottom line.
"The whole scheme is about relationships: between architect and developer/contractor/client; between three very different firms of architects – Feilden Clegg Bradley, Maccreanor Lavington and Alison Brooks Architects; and between private and public external spaces, providing a new model for outside-inside life with interior rooftop spaces, internal courtyards and large semi-public community gardens.”
Peter Clegg, senior partner with Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects, told BD: “I predicted all of the other winners but I couldn’t have predicted this one. What we are doing is changing the mould of housing.”
When Accordia was shortlisted, BD Buildings Editor Ellis Woodman said: “By rights, Accordia should have been on last year’s shortlist. However, when the RIBA jury visited the scheme they found that they couldn’t get access to any of the houses so decided that it couldn’t be put forward for an award. The Stirling hasn’t had a great record of recognising quality housing developments. After BedZed, Accordia is only the second housing scheme to be shortlisted in the prize’s history. However, it would make a very worthy winner.
“In a period when the housing sector has become increasingly focussed on the construction of inner-city apartments, Accordia addresses the urgent need to build quality family homes at large scale and a sustainable density.”
The judges’ choice of Accordia will certainly be of relief to the bookmakers. Going into the final day, the Cambridge housing scheme was sixth with odds of 5/1 at William Hill.
RIBA special awards
Also announced on Saturday night were the RIBA special awards:
Manser Medal for the best one-off house or housing scheme: Oxley Woods
Stephen Lawrence Prize for the best example of a building with a construction budget of less than £1 million: The Sackler Crossing in Kew by John Pawson Architects
RIBA CABE Public Space Award which celebrates publicly accessible external space: The Old Market Square, Nottingham by Gustafson Porter
Crown Estate Conservation Award, for the best work of conservation which demonstrates successful restoration or adaptation of an architecturally significant building: St. Pancras International by Alastair Lansley (for Union Railways)
RIBA Sustainability Award: The Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Manchester by Denton Corker Marshall
Sorrell Foundation Schools Award: Westminster Academy at the Naim Dangoor Centre by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.
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