Going straight up toward the sky seems to be the unfashionable thing to do for skyscrapers these days. Dezeen released renderings of Swiss watchmaker Rolex’s new office tower in Dallas, which just started construction.
Architect Kengo Kuma’s design for the tower twists upward, a typology that is currently a trend, as seen in SOM’s design for towers in Sweden and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Studio Jeanne Gang’s proposed tower in San Francisco, MVRDV’s tower design for Vienna, and BIG’s “surprise-in-the-middle” tower designed for Frankfurt, Germany. Then, of course, there's Santiago Calatrava's Turning Torso tower in Malmö, Sweden, which recently won CTBUH's 10 Year Award.
In Kengo Kuma’s scheme, the plates of each floor are placed gradually rotating, allowing for planted terraces on every level.
The architect is working with landscape architect Sadafumi Uchiyama for the office building’s gardens, which Dezeen reports will feature “rampart stone walls, reflecting pools, and cascading waterfalls.”
Harwood International, the project’s developer, says that the Rolex tower will open late 2016, and will be the ninth completed project in the master plan for the 18-block area in Dallas’ Uptown neighborhood.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Sep 3, 2015
Rafael Viñoly's 'Walkie-Talkie' tower named U.K.'s worst new building
The curved, glass tower at 20 Fenchurch Street in London has been known to reflect intense heat onto the streets below (in one instance damaging a car) and cause severe wind gusts.
High-rise Construction | Sep 2, 2015
Nashville officials and residents weigh the pros and cons of taller, thinner skyscrapers
One developer proposes building a 38-story tower on a half-acre of land.
Retail Centers | Aug 31, 2015
Urban developers add supermarkets to the mixes
Several high-rise projects include street-level Whole Foods Markets.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 27, 2015
Architects propose shipping container tower to replace slums
The firm says approximately 2,500 containers would be needed to complete the design, which aims to accommodate as many as 5,000 people.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 25, 2015
London multifamily building to have transparent swimming pool designed by Arup
Residents and visitors will be able to swim 10 stories above ground, and see views of London.
High-rise Construction | Aug 14, 2015
Pei Cobb Freed designs ‘glass sail’ tower for Shenzhen
The 29-story tower won’t be the tallest in the city, but it will set itself apart from surrounding, glimmering towers with gently curved façades, resembling sails blown by the wind.
High-rise Construction | Aug 11, 2015
Calatrava's Turning Torso wins CTBUH's 10 Year Award
The 623-foot, 57-story tower was the world's first twisting skyscraper. Completed in 2005, the building, designed by Santiago Calatrava, rotates 90 degrees along its height.
High-rise Construction | Aug 7, 2015
Tribute tower to cricket world champs will be Sri Lanka’s tallest
The 1996 Iconic Tower will be a tribute to the country’s cricket team, which won the World Cup in 1996.
Vertical Transportation | Aug 5, 2015
ThyssenKrupp’s maglev elevator test tower almost ready
The 761-foot concrete tower will enable the manufacturer to test its maglev elevator prototypes. The new elevators will be moved by magnets, allowing for vertical and horizontal movement of multiple cars in one shaft.
High-rise Construction | Aug 4, 2015
Construction of Vietnam’s tallest building commences in Ho Chi Minh City
A 1,509-foot skyscraper broke ground on the banks of the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.