flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

SOM's twisting tower wins design competition for Sweden's tallest skyscraper

SOM's twisting tower wins design competition for Sweden's tallest skyscraper

The 230-meter tower scheme beat out four other finalists, including Zaha Hadid.


By BD+C Staff | June 18, 2014
The tower, called Polstjrnan, or "The Pole Star," is to be built in Gothenburg,
The tower, called Polstjrnan, or "The Pole Star," is to be built in Gothenburg, Sweden. Renderings courtesy SOM

The winner of Serneke's competition to design Sweden's tallest skyscraper has been announced. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill beat out four other finalists, including Zaha Hadid. 

The skyscraper, which will reach 230 meters and is named Polstjärnan, or "The Pole Star," is to be built in Gothenburg, Sweden.

With a 32,000-sm master plan, it will be wholly residential. At its apex, the tower will have four connected prisms, which twist 90 degrees, Arch Daily reports.

When discussing why the design won, the jury cited the plan's harmony with the larger city, calling SOM's design “an identity-building proposal that takes a smart holistic approach to both the skyscraper and the urban environment."

In addition, the jury stated the the project simply made sense economically, while providing comfortable living spaces: "The repetitive structure makes the building easy to produce cost-effectively. The homes are well-composed, with good views and good outdoor spaces in all directions. Overall, the proposal is successful in its endeavor to create an attractive urban setting and a visually striking superstructure." You can read the jury's full statement here.

The high-rise building is expected to be completed by 2019 and is the centerpiece of a new, 200,000-sm mixed-use city due to be fully completed in 2012, to celebrate Gothenburg's 400th anniversary.

All renderings courtesy SOM.

 

 

The jury consisted of:

Björn Siesjö, architect SAR/MSA City Architect Stadsbyggnadskontoret Göteborg
Anders Svensson, architect SAR/MSA, the Älvstad Project Stadsbyggnadskontoret Göteborg
Olle Lindkvist, Älvstranden Utvecklings AB
Erica Bengtsson, Environmental Strategist, Älvstranden Utvecklings AB
Ola Serneke, VD Serneke AB
Alban Herlitz, Project Development Manager Serneke AB
Louise Masreliez, architect SAR/MSA appointed by Sveriges Arkitekter
Christer Malmström, architect SAR/MSA appointed by Sveriges Arkitekter

Related Stories

| Nov 2, 2011

Mega deals drive 28% increase in global engineering and construction merger and acquisition value

Financial investors lead mega deal activity, China most active country in global domestic deals.

| Nov 2, 2011

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. breaks ground on Alexandria Center in Cambridge, Mass.

307,000-sf building to be house to executive offices of Biogen Idec.

| Nov 2, 2011

CRSI’s Manual of Standard Practice now available

This resource contains information on recommended industry practices for estimating, detailing, fabricating, and placing reinforcing steel for reinforced concrete construction. 

| Nov 2, 2011

John W. Baumgarten Architect, P.C, wins AIA Long Island Chapter‘s Healthcare Award for Renovation

The two-story lobby features inlaid marble floors and wood-paneled wainscoting that pays homage to the building’s history.

| Nov 2, 2011

Jacobs announces acquisition of KlingStubbins

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. announced that it has acquired KlingStubbins. Officials did not disclose the terms of the agreement. Jacobs' acquisition of KlingStubbins, which has approximately 500 employees located in the United States and Asia, particularly enhances the Company's capabilities in design. KlingStubbins provides professional services in planning, architecture, engineering and interiors.

| Nov 1, 2011

Perkins Eastman opens office in San Francisco

Located at 23 Geary Street in the One Kearny building, the 8,100 sf office will accommodate a growing staff of 45.

| Nov 1, 2011

Sasaki expands national sports design studio

Sasaki has also added Stephen Sefton to the sports design studio as senior associate. 

| Nov 1, 2011

Holcim awards winners for North America announced

A socio-architectural project to create regional food-gathering nodes and a logistics network in Canada's high arctic territory won the top prize for North America of $100,000.

| Oct 27, 2011

iProspect selects VLK Architects for new office design

Company growth prompted iProspect to make the decision to move to a new space.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021