Tall Building(s): Teardrop and Tree

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I'm way into big buildings.  They do a lot more for a city's character and future than most people recognize.  So, I think it's HAWTaction [hot ak-shuhn] to keep tabs on new projects like the Nakheel Harbour and Tower, Bahrain WTC, Honeycomb SkyscraperBurj Dubai... in Dubai... in Pictures, CCTV and TVCC Towers, Tokyo Sky Tree, Burj Dubai (Revisited), Dancing Towers, Dynamic Tower, Dubai Towers, The Lighthouse (Paris), The Lighthouse (Dubai), Antilla, London's Super Tower, Eiffel Tower, Shuffle Tower, Full Moon, Caspian Bay, Chicago Spire, Chicago's Aqua Tower, Infinity Tower, Teardrop, Christmas Tree or the Burj Dubai.

As I promised, this installment of Tall Building is not in Dubai or Chicago.  In fact, I've got two of 'em for you.  Enjoy.

The Teardrop, coming 2016.  South Korea.

Korea's Yongsan.jpgSeoul is throwing $31 billion (yes, that's a lot of money) into its Yongsan business district to build... well... the future.  Essentially, in 8 years, this part of Seoul will look like a sci fi set.  Details on the complex are sparse, but I count over 20 buildings crouching under the giant teardrop that will hit 152 stories and be one of the tallest buildings in the world.  There are no names for the buildings, yet, but the big one's been nicknamed "The Teardrop," which seems appropriate.  That is some skyline.  My lordie.  Get the bulldozers over there already.
The Tree, 2012-2013 (but probably coming a few minutes after never).  Moscow.

crystal_island.jpg
First look at the insane photo of that glow-sticks smooshed into a funnel.  It's called the Crystal Island.  What is it, though?  I can't even see where the building begins and where it ends.  I mean, is there anything even in there?  Apparently so, as it'll be the largest building in the world (not tallest, but biggest): 27 million square feet.  900 apartments.  3,000 hotel rooms.  A school for 500 students.  Viewing platforms 1,000 feet up.  Cinemas.  Theater.  Sports complex.  More.

If plans move ahead, this could be a reality in 2012 or 2013, but the plans haven't won over Moscow like architect Sir Norman' Foster thought it would.  If made, it will stand 1,500 feet tall and cost $4 billion. 

Like any other new, giant building, the developers are being friendly to the environment.  Solar panels and wind turbines will generate electricity.  More importantly, the transparency of the structure--coupled with Star-Wars-like, operable panels--will allow sunlight deep into "the Tree" to cut down on lighting and heating.  (People have nicknamed this building the Christmas Tree.  I think that's funny.  So there.)

To be honest, HAWT readers?  This Crystal Island might be an eyesore I could get used to.  Check out another angle on this beast.

crystal_island-2.jpg

3 Comments

Luke said:

Where did you find the picture of the Teardrop, or any of the info? I've been looking around and coming up short.

I don't remember the exact source for the Teardrop post, Luke, but it was something like this:

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/2335/yongsan-business-district-in-seoul.html

Enjoy! Thanks for reading.

Luke said:

Thanks for the link; hopefully more turns up in the future.

BTdubs: As much as you and I seem to disagree on literally everything, I can always get along with a guy who looks up and says, "woah."

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This page contains a single entry by John de Guzman published on February 28, 2008 6:30 AM.

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