Innovative Architecture of the HSB Turning Torso

Turning Torso

Santiago Calatrava, one the world's most forward thinking and experimental architects today, has put Sweden on the architectural map. In Malmö, Calatrava designed the HSB Turning Torso, a tower comprised of business and meeting space interspersed with mostly residential apartments. Consisting of nine twisting steel cubes, the gleaming building (based on a sculpture of the same name) spirals into the air offering unparalleled views for all it's residents, whether they prefer the waterfront or the surrounding city. Motion, of course, is the chief inspiration of the Turning Torso; and one cannot help but view the structure as an almost living thing that is freely moving in the open air. Moreover, the aforementioned sculpture on which the building is based was, in fact, also designed by Calatrava. Both, art piece and structure, are influenced by the twisting human body, an image that breaths further life into the building.

Turning Torso 2

Given the much needed trend of the growing concern with environmentally sound architecture, Calatrava designed the building with conservation in mind. The tower is powered by 100% locally produced renewable energy through a wind-power park and solar cells, and waste is managed through individual organic waste grinders that sends the material to a decomposition plant where it is turned into "biogas" (which is basically a refined substance derived from organic waste). These biogas can then be used instead of natural gas for things such as gas cookers, fuel for vehicles, or production of district heating.

Turning Torso 3

It's hard to look at the Turning Torso and not question its construction, which was so complicated it was featured on Discovery Channel's "Extreme Engineering." Constructed of almost 40 very large "steel cigars," the curvature of the building was the most obvious challenge. The façade is made of 2,800 aluminum panels and 2,250 glass windows that each merit special fabrication in order to make the building as structurally sound as possible. In order to follow the turning of the building, each panel leans either inward (on the west side of the building) or outward (on the east side) from a range of 0 to 7 degrees. And, if window washing is your concern, don't fret. Included in the rent is a window washing service that uses a state of the art crane to keep the outside nicely polished. What a deal.

Calatrava's next project is the Fordham Spire in Chicago which is set to become the tallest structure in the world. And, if the Turning Torso is any indication, Chicago's downtown image, like Malmö, should receive a refreshing burst of revitalization that will once again showcase the astonishing talent of Santiago Calatrava.

If you find yourself still curious about the complete construction of the Turning Torso, click the link to go to the Turning Torso website where every stage of the buildings construction is detailed.

http://inventorspot.com/hsb_turning_torso

Coop Himmelb(l)au designs the BMW Headquarters in Munich

The BMW Group is planning in close proximity to their headquarters and the Olympiapark in Munich a center for brand experience and vehicle delivery. The main element of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU design proposal is a large, permeable hall with a sculptural roof and the double cone which emerges in relation to the existing headquarters complex. The hall is a marketplace for differentiated and changing uses and an unmistakable sign for the BMW Group. The interior topography creates differentiated spatial densities and fluid subspaces. The heart of the building is the "Premiere" vehicle delivery area. Hanging above this space are the customer lounges which allow views through the event space and toward the BMW headquarters.

World Architecture News

Iris Bay, Dubai, UAE

ATKINS Design Studio

Atkins has been commissioned as lead consultants for architecture, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering design and project management for the entire development of Iris Bay which comprises a 170m high, 32-storey tower located on the south west corner of Dubai’s burgeoning business district known as Business Bay near Sheikh Zayed Road.

atkins-me.com

Durrat Al Bahrain, Bahrain

ATKINS Design Studio

The development is striking and comprises six distinct elements. An aerial view shows a crescent island facing away from the mainland and towards a central hotel. Linked to this crescent is an arc of five petal Islands, each with its own water frontage and private beach for ladies. An arc of six atolls forms an outer fringe, each atoll comprising 172 villas and beach facilities. An 18-hole golf course and a five-star hotel have been built on the mainland and 400-boat marina put the finishing touches to the development. All six elements are interlinked by a total of 13 bridges which are now in the process of being erected.

The Durrat al Bahrain Resort development is intended to be a world-class residential, leisure and tourist destination and will be unrivalled by anything elsewhere in the Middle East.

atkins-me.com

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE

Atkins Design Studio

The Burj Al Arab, is renowned as the most luxurious hotel in the world and, at 321m, is the tallest en suite hotel. It forms the centrepiece of the Chicago Beach Resort Development that encompasses the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the 15 acre themed Wild Wadi Aquapark.

Atkins' was commissioned to provide architectural, engineering and complete construction management services for this building, which stands on its own manmade Island, and is now an icon for the United Arab Emirates. By constructing the hotel on its own Island, not only was considerable space freed up for the construction of the hotel and the theme park but it also lent emphasis to the nautical theme of the design.

The hotel comprises breathtaking water features in the lobby, 202 super lavish suites each with an impressive floor area of 169sqm and state of the art technology on each floor.

atkins-me.com

Beehive

Beehive

Culver City, California

The Beehive is a new office building and conference center that was inserted into an existing fabric of warehouses. An existing two-story, wood building was removed and a new two-story structure was designed over the same footprint. The site is captured on three sides by existing buildings, leaving only approximately 35 feet of public street façade. The project is an exercise in creating a public image for the building that is capable of communicating its presence in a limited area along a busy street. The front portion of the building, referred to as The Beehive, was the solution to this problem.

The tenant, Medschool.com, needed the majority of the building to be flexible, open work areas with some private offices. Because of the building’s orientation, natural light is brought in through clerestories and a skylight in the center of the building. A hole is cut in the second floor that allows the natural light to be transmitted to the first floor. The front piece of the building is directly connected with the rear portion of the building on both levels. The ground floor of the Beehive is the main entrance and reception area for Medschool.com.

The shape of the Beehive was dictated by programmatic requirements and the constraints of the site. The varying shape responds to the different internal functions and the act of attaching to an existing group of buildings. The structure is in essence, four columns that are wrapped horizontally by tubular steel at four-foot intervals that provides the framework for the exterior cladding. Had nothing else been done to the structure, the final shape would have been a cylinder. However, the four columns were manipulated by both leaning in different directions and breaking or changing direction to accommodate the larger square footage needed on the second fl oor conference room.

Eric Owen Moss Architects