The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has revealed the four winners of its annual Best Tall Building competition. The winners are split into four categories: the Americas, Asia and Australasia, Middle East and Africa, and Europe. From the current winners, just one will be declared the Best Tall Building Worldwide during a ceremony at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, on November 6.
CTBUH received a total of 88 entries from around the world, with the largest number of entries coming from Asia, and a significant number also from Europe. The four winners below are shown below.
The Americas
Based in Portland, Oregon, the aging and inefficient Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building originally designed by Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM) was recently host to an extensive energy-efficient renovation by architectural firm SERA Architects working in association with Cutler Anderson Architects.
The 18 story, 110 m (361 ft) tall government building was transformed into an efficient modern structure with the addition of sustainable technology like a roof-based solar array and rainwater collection system. It also recently picked up an award for its sustainable features from the American Institute of Architects.
Middle East and Africa
The Cayan Tower, again by SOM, is the tallest of the four winners. It rises 306.4 m (1,005 ft) high in Dubai, UAE, and is ranked as the 17th tallest in the city. CBTUH praised the luxury residential building's form, which twists 90 degrees over the course of 75 stories. Each floor is identical to the one below, but set at an angle 1.2 degrees clockwise.
"The intelligent helical design of the Cayan Tower responds to very specific and challenging local conditions, whilst providing a visually striking new landmark for the Dubai skyline," enthused CBTUH juror Sir Terry Farrell.
Europe
The De Rotterdam building in Rotterdam, Netherlands, was designed by OMA Asia, and is 150 m (492 ft) in height. The structure is split into three interconnected mixed-use towers which feature offices, apartments, a hotel, and various retail outlets and restaurants, covering 162,000 sq m (1,743,753 sq ft).
"This three-tower set acknowledges its inevitability on the skyline, breaking down what could have been an overwhelming mass into digestible parts," said juror Saskia Sassen, Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology and Co-Chair on the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University.
Asia and Australasia
Sydney, Australia's One Central Park, by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, rises to 117 m (384 ft) and boasts the most significant sustainable features of the winners. Perhaps most striking is the heliostat (or large movable mirror) which is used to reflect the sun's rays into a desired location, thus heating and lighting, or cooling and shading, the building. In addition, the mixed-use structure sports a partly-green facade, solar panels and water recycling.
Gizmag's pick to win the ultimate prize in November? One Central Park has winner written all over it.
Source: CTBUH
