flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

World's tallest pair of towers to serve as 'environmental catalyst' for China

World's tallest pair of towers to serve as 'environmental catalyst' for China

The Phoenix Towers are expected to reach 1 km, the same height as Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill's Kingdom Tower, but would set a record for multiple towers in one development.


By BD+C Staff | June 17, 2014
Renderings: courtesy Chetwood Architects
Renderings: courtesy Chetwood Architects

U.K.-based Chetwoods Architects has revealed plans for a pair of skyscrapers that will be the tallest in the world when completed. The Phoenix Towers are expected to reach 1 km, the same height as Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill's Kingdom Tower, but would set a record for multiple towers in a single development, inhabitat reports.

The towers will be built on a 47-hectare island within a lake in Wuhan, China, the most populous city in central China. They are the focal point of Chetwood's four-pronged master plan for projects in China. 

Outfitted with wind turbines, solar panels, thermal chimneys, and rainwater harvesting systems, the architects said that the towers will act as an "environmental catalyst" for the rest of the city.

On the towers' name and inspiration, the firm cites the traditional Chinese phoenix, which involves two birds: the male Feng and the female Huang.

 

 

"The plan was generated from yin-yang form to represent perfectly balanced union. Symbiotic: the Feng tower uses cutting edge technology to feed the Huang tower with renewable power," Chetwood Architects said in a statement.

More from the architects:
Arching bridge-like over the surrounding boulevards, each tower will have a unique personality and attributes: the Feng tower will lean towards the commercial zone, the Huang tower towards the cultural and recreational zone.

The project’s key emphasis is on the harmonious combination of 21st century Western technological know-how and experience with Chinese tradition and culture. In response to the Client’s wish to develop a new style of architecture that emphasizes Chinese identity, the use of a pair of towers reflects the dualist elements of Chinese culture in contrast to a more Western monolithic form.

 

 

The scheme will provide the environmental catalyst to re-invigorate the city, actively avoiding the disastrous consequences of developments elsewhere in China. It will form the nucleus of a wider green strategy linking Wuhan’s lakes environmentally and socially with the region’s landmark destinations and lake district along a 20km Green Wall of China to a new lakeside cultural tourist destination.

This landmark project will showcase social, economic and environmental sustainability within China, providing an entertaining and instructive experience for local people and visitors.

Structural features: Steel superstructure; concrete core with ‘hat’ truss; trussed structure at base; out-riggered for lateral stability; concrete buttresses.

 

Related Stories

Architects | Mar 9, 2018

Designing healthier buildings: Fitwel certification system

The Fitwel certification system is relatively simple and involves registering a building on a custom scorecard.

Architects | Mar 7, 2018

Balkrishna Doshi named 2018 Pritzker Laureate

Over the course of 70 years, Doshi was instrumental in shaping the discourse of architecture throughout India, from low-cost housing for thousands to landmark projects like the Indian Institute of Management.

Architects | Feb 27, 2018

But first, let me take a selfie: Designing sharable moments

The concept of “selfie walls” has been around for years, but with their growing popularity they have begun to evolve and take on a life of their own.

Market Data | Feb 27, 2018

AIA small firm report: Half of employees have ownership stake in their firm

The American Institute of Architects has released its first-ever Small Firm Compensation Report.

Museums | Feb 26, 2018

*UPDATED* Design team unveils plans for the renovated and expanded Gateway Arch Museum

The goal of the project is to create closer and more robust connections between the Gateway Arch Museum and the landscape of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

Architects | Feb 23, 2018

AIA elevates 152 members and two international architects to the College of Fellows

AIA Fellowship recognizes significant contributions to profession of architecture and society.  

Airports | Feb 21, 2018

Terminal Modernization: Why Bother? Part II

This is the second post in our series examining why airport operators should bother to upgrade their facilities, even if capacity isn’t forcing the issue.

Urban Planning | Feb 21, 2018

Leading communities in the Second Machine Age

What exactly is the Second Machine Age? The name refers to a book by MIT researchers Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee.

Retail Centers | Feb 20, 2018

Is there a future in retail banking? Part II

It is critical to not view the physical branch as just another sales channel, but as an important touchpoint along a customer’s journey.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Great Solutions

41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors

AI ChatBots, ambient computing, floating MRIs, low-carbon cement, sunshine on demand, next-generation top-down construction. These and 35 other innovations make up our 2024 Great Solutions Report, which highlights fresh ideas and innovations from leading architecture, engineering, and construction firms.

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