Future of an Icon: Ponte Tower in South Africa

Courtesy of Philip Bloom

Ponte Tower is a residential high-rise in Johannesburg, South Africa with a unique history, and now a promising future. The crime-ridden and derelict tower, once a symbol of extreme wealth, but now inhabited by very low-income families, has received attention from investors interested in transforming it into a decent and desirable place to live.

Designed by architect Manfred Hermer in the 1970s to be one of the most desirable place to live in the city, the building has fallen into disrepair and has become an icon of poverty and indifference in the city.

Source: CTBUH

Spectacular beam breaks through clouds to bring cloudy day to life

This is the spectacular moment a bright beam of sunlight illuminated a skyscraper - while leaving the rest of the city in complete cloudy darkness. The extraordinary moment took place in West Kowloon, Hong Kong, and brought to life the 1,588ft tall, 108-floor International Commerce Centre (ICC).  

In this real-life shot the ICC, which is the tallest building in Hong Kong, as well as being the world's second tallest building by floors, was caught on camera by keen Russian photographer Pavel Kiselev. 

Source: mail online

The Tallest 20 in 2020: Entering the Era of the Megatall

courtesy of CTBUH

The projected world’s tallest 20 skyscrapers in the year 2020

Source: CTBUH

The World Green Building Council’s Government Leadership Award for New York City

New York City has been named a recipient of the World Green Building Council‘s Government Leadership Awards for Excellence in City Policy for Green Buildings. The award acknowledges that New York City, as well as fellow recipient San Francisco, has made important advances in sustainable building and has innovative city-level government policies in place to help reduce carbon emissions and move us toward a greener future. 

"Reading Between the Lines", Transparent Church in Belgium

This is a church in Limburg, Belgium, completed by the Belgian designer Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh. They constructed a transparent, see-through church in the Belgian region of Haspengouw. The  structure is made of 100 stacked layers and 2000 columns of steel plates.As this 10 meters high church with a special architectural structure, whether people in the building or outside the building can be seen through walls, for whom it’s a fantastic feeling.

Plans Change Again for World's Most Expensive Building

From left, artist's impressions of Triple One, DMC Landmark Tower, and Lotte Super Tower

The developers of the Yongsan Landmark Tower have hastily altered the plans to make it Korea's tallest building. The skyscraper in the downtown Seoul business district was originally intended to be 100 stories and 500 m high, but the developers have decided to add 11 more stories and 120 m to make it the tallest building in Korea. 

The developers also decided to change the name from Landmark Tower to Triple One standing for 111 the ostensible number of floors. There are three other skyscrapers being built in Seoul that will be more than 100 stories high -- the Lotte Super Tower in Jamsil, Global Business Center next to Seoul Forest and the DMC Landmark Tower in Sangam in northwestern Seoul, which was expected to be the tallest building in Korea at 133 stories and 640 m. But the developers of the DMC Landmark Tower are scaling back their plans citing high construction costs and a low occupancy rate due to the economic slump.

CTBUH 2011 Competition Results: Why Tall?

1st prize

2nd prize

3rd pr

Images courtesy of CTBUH

The First Annual CTBUH International Student Design Competition picked up on the 2011 CTBUH Seoul Conference themes, seeking to find innovative ideas to shed new light on the meaning and value of tall buildings in modern society from the themes of green, safety, and humanity.

The Competition saw over 200 submissions from all over the world. In total, teams participated from 49 different countries. 32 Finalists were selected through a first-round judging process.  The six member second-round jury, led by Mr. Pedersen, reviewed the exhibition and scored the panels individually based on four areas: Creative Approach, Response to Site, Sustainability, and Functionality. Winners and Honorable Mentions were then determined through discussion among the jurors.

1st Prize - Entry 370: "MultipliCITY"

2nd Prize - Entry 809: "Cloud Skyscraper"

3rd Prize - Entry 628: "Vertical Neighborhood"

Source: CTBUH

CTBUH 2011 International Competition Proposal by Hoxha, Vathi, Millona

Courtesy of Ajmona Hoxha, Elis Vathi, Klodiana Millona

The project proposal for the first CTBUH international student design competition by Ajmona Hoxha, Elis Vathi, Klodiana Millona aims to redefine the gap created between the two extreme social classes of India as the widening income gap between the rich and the poor over the years has raised fears of a social backlash.
The site of the proposal is situated purposely in front of the tallest building in New Delhi.The project examines a possible redirection of social organization by new environment, in which the Tallness of the building influences the change of the skyline by giving “power” to the poor.

“Theatre of the Public Realm” by Moshe Safdie

The new Kauffman Center for Performing Arts designed by Moshe Safdie & Associates, with BNIM Associates, Associate Architects, aims to reaffirm the role of the arts in public life, and to give Kansas City, Mo., a pair of world-class performance venues.

Safdie Architects was hired 12 years ago by Julia Irene Kauffman, a prominent Kansas City philanthropist whose mother first proposed the idea, and provided the initial funding. From the beginning, Safdie was enthusiastic about the site: 13 acres crowning a slope that extends south into the city’s Crossroads Arts District. 

It was the prominence and visibility of the site that allowed him to conceive the project as an exercise in “urban extroversion,” a move to connect the performing arts to the city, and the city to the celebrating public.

CTBUH 10th Annual Awards Symposium

The CTBUH 2011 award winners will be recognized and awards conferred at the CTBUH 10th Annual Awards Ceremony & Dinner on November 3rd, 2011 at Illinois Institute of Technology. All of the winning projects and finalists will be celebrated at this gala event. Additionally from the four regional best tall building winners, one "Worldwide" winner will be chosen and announced to close out the Dinner event.

More Information: CTBUH

World's Most Expensive Building Being Built in S. Korea

It is more expensive than the Burj Khalifa, which cost around W11.5 million per 3.3 sq.m and costs 40 percent more than the Samsung Group headquarters in Seocho-dong, which cost W8.5 million per 3.3 sq.m.

The skyscraper will be packed with cutting-edge equipment and facilities. The structure was designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, who created the Pompidou Center in Paris and London Bridge Tower.

Samsung Corporation, which also served as the main contractor on the Burj Khalifa and Taipei 101 (101 stories, 508 m), the latter in Taiwan, will build the new architectural landmark in Yongsan.

Scheduled to be built inside the international business district in Yongsan, the tower will not quite measure up to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (162 stories, 828 m) or the Lotte Super Tower being built in Jamsil (123 stories, 555 m), but it will be the most expensive building per square unit.

OODA's Twisted Cubic for Taipei City Museum of Art Harvests Rain and Sun

The Portuguese design firm enables the cubic building to harvest both rainwater and sunshine. And further demonstrating their commitment to sustainability, they intend to plant a mini forest around the museum in Taiwan in order to offset their anticipated carbon footprint.  Read more: OODA's Twisted Cubic Taipei City Museum of Art Harvests Rain and Sun.

Source: INHABITAT

THE NEXT GENERATION ® 2011 DESIGN IDEAS COMPETITION

Winning Design to be Awarded $10,000; Entry Deadline is January 31, 2011

Metropolis, the leading magazine for architecture and design professionals, announces the theme for its annual Next Generation® Design Competition, in partnership with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The challenge is to take an ordinary GSA office building in Los Angeles, apply immense skill and creative energy, and GET ZERO - Zero Environmental Impact. 

Casalgrande Ceramic Cloud by Kengo Kuma, Italy

This wonderful project of architecture designed by the Japanese master Kengo Kuma, a ceramic tile structure called "Casalgrande Ceramic Cloud". The monument is situated in front of the tile manufacturing headquarters in Padana, Italy.

Choi+Shine Wins BSA Unbuilt Architecture Award For ‘Land of Giants’

© 2010 Choi+Shine Architects, LLC

 Brookline, MA-based Jin Choi & Thomas Shine of Choi+Shine recently received the 2010 Boston Society of Architects Unbuilt Architecture Award for their “Land of Giants” project. The project was originally submitted for an Icelandic pylon competition, where it received an honorable mention. The competition was to find a new typology for Iceland’s high voltage power lines and pylons.

© 2010 Choi+Shine Architects, LLC

LAMP LIGHTING SOLUTIONS AWARDS ‘11

LAMP LIGHTING SOLUTIONS values the creativity, innovation and sustainability of the lighting projects, regardless of the manufacturer or the brand of lights used in the project.

The awards are divided into 4 categories:

1. Architectural Exterior Lighting
Lighting projects for exterior illumination such as: facades, sport facilities, monuments, canopies, etc.
2. Interior Lighting
Lighting projects for interior illumination such as: shops, restaurants, museums, exhibition halls, single buildings, offices, etc.
3. Urban and Landscape Lighting
Lighting projects for urban illumination such as: squares, roundabouts, avenues, streets, parks, bridges, etc.
4. Students Proposals

CTBUH 9th Annual Awards, 2010

 

"The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is pleased to announce the winners of its annual “Best Tall Building” awards for 2010. These awards recognize outstanding tall buildings from each of four geographical regions, and this year are awarded to: Bank of America Tower, New York (Americas); The Pinnacle @ Duxton, Singapore (Asia & Australasia); Broadcasting Place, Leeds (Europe); and Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Middle East & Africa). These buildings were selected for their design and technical innovations, sustainable attributes, and the enhancement they provide to both the cities and the lives of their inhabitants."

Follow the Award Ceremony to find out  "Best Tall Building 2010 Overall".

 

Source: CTBUH 

House MC1

This residential project is located in the Pacific ocean on the island Costa Rica, near the national park Manuel Antionio in Quepos. The concept was created in compliance with neighboring nature. No tree was cut. The house fully respects natural environment and minimizes the impact on the living environment and inhabitants, seeking to join the local climate.

World’s Largest and Most Expensive Family Home Completed

 "The “Greenest of All Buildings” was recently completed in Mumbai, India and we couldn’t be more appalled. The Antilia house which unveiled its first renderings just over two-years ago  has become a frightening reality, egregiously boasting 27 stories at 568 feet high, with a total area of over 398,000 square feet of living space.

"Bridge of the Future", Awesome Design in South Korea

 Many iconic bridges were built in the last century - the Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and Sydney Harbour Bridge, just to name a few. But what will bridges look like in the future? Seoul-based architecture firm, Planning Korea, gives us the answer...