|
The mixed use tower offers infinite design possibilities, as each floor will rotate independently at different speeds, resulting in a unique and ever evolving structure that introduces that fourth dimension to architecture – Time.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and Vice president of the United Arab Emirates, is considered to be a true visionary of the future, Dr. Fisher’s dreams for the Dynamic Tower in Dubai were inspired by His Highness who once said “Do not wait for the future to come to you. Face the future”.
In facing the future, the architect insists “The Dynamic Tower heralds a new era of architecture: I suggest the buildings in motion will challenge traditional architecture, they will become the symbol of a new philosophy that will change the look of our cities and the concept of living”.
When complete, in 2010, the mixed-use tower will incorporate offices in the first 20 of its floors, from there to the 35th floor will be included a five-star hotel, while floors 36 to 70 will be residential apartments. The top ten floors will be luxury villas, all complete with a car parking space inside the apartments.
While the design on its own is bold, so are the other concepts involved in its construction. This will be the first skyscraper to be entirely constructed from prefabricated parts manufactured in a factory. It will require only 600 people in the assembly facility and only 80 technicians on the construction site instead of the typical 2,000 workers on a similar sized traditional construction site.
Since the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids little has changed in the world of building construction where workers continue to place a brick on a brick, a stone on a stone. In 1889 the use of steel was introduced to architecture in the design and building of Paris’ Eiffel Tower, and from 1905 reinforced concrete has been used. Whilst the late 1700’s saw the arrival of Europe’s Industrial Revolution, the technique of mass-production or prefabrication have not been widely used in the construction industry. Essentially building techniques are the same as they have been for 4,000 years. It appears that The Dynamic Tower is making a pitch to change this on a major scale.
The environment was also a major consideration in Dr Fisher’s design. “The Dynamic Tower is environmentally friendly,” he says, “and will be the first commercial building to be self-powered. It will have the ability to generate its own electricity, as well as for other nearby buildings. It achieves this feat with wind turbines fitted between each rotating floor, the 80-storey building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant” he concluded.
Another environmentally ‘green’ element of the tower is the array of photovoltaic cells that will be placed on the roof of each rotating floor to produce solar-derived energy. Approximately 20% of each roof will be exposed to the sun, so a rotating building such as this which effectively has 80 roofs will equal the roofing space of 10 similar sized buildings.
In addition, natural and recyclable materials including stone, marble, glass and wood will be used for the interior finishing.
Dr Fisher has the final words, in summing up his concept he says, “Today’s life is dynamic, so the space we are living in should be dynamic as well, adjustable to our needs that change continuously, to our concept of design and to our mood, buildings will follow the rhythms of nature, they will change direction and shape from spring to summer, from sunrise to sunset, and adjust themselves to the weather. Buildings will be alive”.
First published in Men's Passion issue #6 September 2008 |
|
|
