Tall Building: Okhta Tower
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-shuh
n] to keep tabs on new projects like the Nakheel Harbour and Tower, Bahrain WTC, Honeycomb Skyscraper, Burj 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.
United Arab Emirates isn't the only place throwing their oil money into construction. I mean, look at the mile-high tower in Canada. Check out the 200-story tower shooting up in Mexico. Wait... a... minute.... Those aren't true. No one uses their cash like the city of Dubai does.
Russians have been flaunting their oil money a bit, but mainly individuals, and mainly on real estate outside of Russia. But now Russia's using their petrol money to build something on their soil. (If they do it 200 times over, they'll match Dubai.) HAWTaction readers, I present, the Okhta Tower:
I've received criticism over using the term "oil-money" with regards to the construction in Dubai ("There is other business in UAE, John!"), but this is squarely pegged to oil money. How do I know? That's the Okhta Tower, the future headquarters of Gazprom. Gazprom is the largest company in Russia, the third largest corporation on the planet. It is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world. That, my friends, is oil money.
These corporate headquarters are planned in St. Petersburg, Russia, but building it might change the entire city... way beyond a simple, gas-flame-shaped tower. This is a key example of how a Tall Building can impact a city.
n] to keep tabs on new projects like the Nakheel Harbour and Tower, Bahrain WTC, Honeycomb Skyscraper, Burj 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.United Arab Emirates isn't the only place throwing their oil money into construction. I mean, look at the mile-high tower in Canada. Check out the 200-story tower shooting up in Mexico. Wait... a... minute.... Those aren't true. No one uses their cash like the city of Dubai does.
Russians have been flaunting their oil money a bit, but mainly individuals, and mainly on real estate outside of Russia. But now Russia's using their petrol money to build something on their soil. (If they do it 200 times over, they'll match Dubai.) HAWTaction readers, I present, the Okhta Tower:
I've received criticism over using the term "oil-money" with regards to the construction in Dubai ("There is other business in UAE, John!"), but this is squarely pegged to oil money. How do I know? That's the Okhta Tower, the future headquarters of Gazprom. Gazprom is the largest company in Russia, the third largest corporation on the planet. It is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world. That, my friends, is oil money. These corporate headquarters are planned in St. Petersburg, Russia, but building it might change the entire city... way beyond a simple, gas-flame-shaped tower. This is a key example of how a Tall Building can impact a city.
First, about the building. Later, about its impact.
Designed by UK-based architectural firm RMJM, this bad boy will shoot up 396 meters (1,299 feet). (This is the first time RMJM is featured on HAWT.) Not only will Okhta be the tallest building in Europe, but it's also expected to be the greenest, thanks to its glass enclosure. Glass enclosure? Haven't I seen this before? Well... how about double glass enclosure?
Above you see an atrium around the building's periphery. It will act as a buffer to the insane Russian winter temperatures, so heating these atriums will keep the core of the building shielded from the cold. Just heat the atriums to heat the entire building. (Save the cheerleader, save the world.) Genius. The architects are comparing it to a "fur coat," and if it works anything like the sea otter's, they are going to save an incredible amount of energy. In addition, the design allows a lot of natural light to enter the building, saving on lighting costs. Brilliant!
I think the building looks like a gas flame, but RMJM describes it so:
Whatever. Gas flame.
Like any turning building, it has a concrete core. The frame is made of steel, with stainless steel cladding. Originally, the design had 1,200 different glass shapes in its shell, and that would have been an environmental burden they were trying to avoid with this building. (And a financial burden, incidentally.) RMJM hired facade specialists Newtecnic and created seven standard panels, which eased financial and environmental impact of construction.
Beyond just a towering spiral with office buildings, the Okhta Tower will also have a concert hall, a museum, a sporting arena and public green areas. It's going to be quite a complex. According to RMJM's press release:
Sassy, all in all. The problem with this Tall Building? It is to be built in St. Petersburg, Russia, which is such an architectural gem that the entire city is considered a world heritage site by Unesco. The city has barely changed course after it became an extraordinary urban project, in 1703, for Peter the Great.
Clearly this building wouldn't fit in with Peter's great scheme. Of course, the city residents are furious and protesting the construction, but the Kremlin, who owns a majority in Gazprom, is pushing its influence to get it built right next to the 18th century Smolney Cathedral:
Holy moly. Would St. Petersburg risk it's status with Unesco for corporate headquarters? What does HAWT say? Recommend changing St. Petersburg? Or realizing that St. Petersburg can't stay "pure" forever...
We look at the Okhta Tower and we say... Come up with another building. Height doesn't have to be the answer.
Designed by UK-based architectural firm RMJM, this bad boy will shoot up 396 meters (1,299 feet). (This is the first time RMJM is featured on HAWT.) Not only will Okhta be the tallest building in Europe, but it's also expected to be the greenest, thanks to its glass enclosure. Glass enclosure? Haven't I seen this before? Well... how about double glass enclosure?
Above you see an atrium around the building's periphery. It will act as a buffer to the insane Russian winter temperatures, so heating these atriums will keep the core of the building shielded from the cold. Just heat the atriums to heat the entire building. (Save the cheerleader, save the world.) Genius. The architects are comparing it to a "fur coat," and if it works anything like the sea otter's, they are going to save an incredible amount of energy. In addition, the design allows a lot of natural light to enter the building, saving on lighting costs. Brilliant!I think the building looks like a gas flame, but RMJM describes it so:
"Built on the city's main waterway, the River Nera at a derelict industrial site, the pentagonal tower will be made of glass that will reflect the movement of the water. The column twists up from the ground, and as the light hits it at different angles at different stages throughout the day the tower will give the appearance of changing colour."
Whatever. Gas flame.Like any turning building, it has a concrete core. The frame is made of steel, with stainless steel cladding. Originally, the design had 1,200 different glass shapes in its shell, and that would have been an environmental burden they were trying to avoid with this building. (And a financial burden, incidentally.) RMJM hired facade specialists Newtecnic and created seven standard panels, which eased financial and environmental impact of construction.
Beyond just a towering spiral with office buildings, the Okhta Tower will also have a concert hall, a museum, a sporting arena and public green areas. It's going to be quite a complex. According to RMJM's press release:
"The office floor plans will also feature a large number of social spaces and green zones that will allow the workers to access leisure areas without wasting energy by using elevators for vertical transportation. Lastly, Cartwright mentioned that the project’s intelligent facade, specialized water, heating and ventilation solutions will help make it an exemplary high rise project that other design firms will hopefully follow."
Sassy, all in all. The problem with this Tall Building? It is to be built in St. Petersburg, Russia, which is such an architectural gem that the entire city is considered a world heritage site by Unesco. The city has barely changed course after it became an extraordinary urban project, in 1703, for Peter the Great. Clearly this building wouldn't fit in with Peter's great scheme. Of course, the city residents are furious and protesting the construction, but the Kremlin, who owns a majority in Gazprom, is pushing its influence to get it built right next to the 18th century Smolney Cathedral:
Holy moly. Would St. Petersburg risk it's status with Unesco for corporate headquarters? What does HAWT say? Recommend changing St. Petersburg? Or realizing that St. Petersburg can't stay "pure" forever... We look at the Okhta Tower and we say... Come up with another building. Height doesn't have to be the answer.
Join the HAWTaction reader group on Facebook.
No way they should ruin St. Petersberg with this one. How about something a bit more... classic?
I'm the best blogger, ever.
- JLF