An "old-fashioned pen" in Morocco, an "armored block" in Macau, and a billion-dollar "coconut" in Dubai are a few of the wacky and wonderful architectural works on the rise—and there are plenty more on the way.
Here's the skinny on five other unusual structures in the pipeline, from an asymmetrical "Spire" in the Philippines to a controversial "Triangle" in France.
#1: The Glassy Crown
A new king is on the rise in the streets of Manila.
Century Spire—now under construction in Makati, the city's business and financial hub—features a vitreous tower that forks at its pinnacle, with three distinct protrusions that rise to different heights forming an asymmetrical "crown."
Located in Century City, the budding monarch is the brainchild of globally-renowned architecture firm Studio Libeskind (the mastermind behind the redesign of New York City's World Trade Center). Slated to be completed in 2018, the 245-meter structure will easily top the city's present tallest building, 1322 Golden Empire Tower, by 42 meters.
While offices will occupy the Spire's lower third, its upper levels will house a mix of penthouses, duplexes, suites, and one- to three-bedroom apartments—each with a unique layout, thanks to the edifice's abstract form. All four of the peak's faces will be fully-glazed, exposing the penthouse interiors to ample sunlight and panoramas of the cityscape and Manila Bay.
Cloaked in semi-reflective glass, the building's exterior will be marked by a series of balconies and terraces strategically placed to reflect a rhythmic geometric motif on the facade. Inside, the building's double-height lobbies, common spaces, and amenity areas will be furnished with pieces by Armani/Casa, Giorgio Armani's interior design studio.
Century Spire's interiors will be dressed by interior design studio Armani/Casa. - Renderings... [+]
#2: The Fish out of Water
There’s something fishy going on in Zhuhai, China.
Positioned at the intersection of two rivers in the district of Doumen, a mermaid tail-shaped building—scales and all—is now underway. Part of the region’s waterfront improvement efforts, RMJM’s Zhuhai Observation Tower was inspired by the area’s river-driven culture, with its fish-leaping form meant to symbolize the coastal city’s prosperity and rapid progression.
Expected to reach 93 meters, the commercial tower will be cloaked in 1,400 panels of perforated aluminum, creating a textured facade that will glisten like fish scales under the sun while providing protection from its rays. Aiming to optimize use of the public plaza below, the structure was purposely given a minimal footprint.
Formulated using parametric modeling, the design—comprised of a dozen two-dimensional curves—is divided into three portions: a ground podium with a lobby leading to the elevators, an assortment of eateries, and two retail shops; a mid-level section for leisurely activities; and a top-floor observatory with 360-degree views.
#3: The Dancing Dragons
South Korea is getting a double dose of scales—with matching wings, to boot.
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture’s Dancing Dragons—the latest of 15 developments set to rise in Seoul’s Yongsan International Business District—will rest on the north bank of the Han River, atop a crystalline podium and sunken garden connected to an underground retail complex.
Expected to soar 450 meters into the sky, the taller of the two “Dragons” will house a mix of apartments, offices, shops, and a hotel, altogether spanning 88 stories (at 390 meters, Tower 2 will feature 77 floors). Each comprised of svelte “mini-towers”—sharply-angled structures cantilevered around a central structure, marked with diagonal cuts that evoke the eaves of old-fashioned Korean pagodas—the skyscrapers showcase an avant-garde aesthetic informed by the country’s traditional culture.
Clad in glass at the top and bottom, the mini-tower incisions will create dramatic skylights above the units at the highest levels and transparent floors beneath the residences at the lowest levels, serving as the perfect site to position one-of-a-kind penthouse duplexes with unparalleled 360-degree views of downtown Seoul.
Made up of overlapping panels, the duo’s scale-like coat is not only a nod to the mythical creatures it's named after—but also a practical element meant to increase air circulation, making the skin “breathable” like that of certain animals.
Note: Though the project has been put on hold since 2012 due to undisclosed issues on the client's side, the architecture firm remains hopeful that it will eventually break ground.
#4: The Non-Egyptian Pyramid
Another Libeskind creation, Jerusalem's recently-approved Pyramid Tower—set to become the second-tallest edifice in the city at a height of 105 meters—will consist of 200 luxury apartments, a boutique hotel, and a rooftop restaurant and observatory, conceptualized in collaboration with local architect Yigal Levi.
Crafted to reflect and complement the ancient land's myths and traditions, the tower's atypical form—sheathed in locally-sourced stone and glass arranged in geometric fashion—allows natural light to reach its ground-level spaces and the public plaza, which will connect to an inner shopping arcade via an arched colonnade.
"The pattern and relief of the façade refers to traditional, local typologies while also fulfilling contemporary functions," the firm explains on its website. "With its many amenities and public spaces, The Pyramid is set to become an integral part of the neighborhood, servicing citizens and tourists alike."
#5: The Parisian Triangle
The French capitale's silhouette is set to drastically change for the first time in over 40 years.
Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron's bid to create a triangular tower in Paris has finally been approved, despite the initial hesitation of city councilors to okay the 180-meter structure.
Backed by prominent property developer Unibail-Rodamco, "Tour Triangle" will be the first building over 100 meters to be built in the city since 1973, when a change in regulations following the controversial construction of Tour Montparnasse limited the height of new buildings to only 37 meters). Planned for the Parc des Expositions site in Porte de Versailles of Paris' 15th arrondissement, the skyscraper will house a 120-key hotel, offices, and a variety of cultural facilities.
In justifying its eccentric physique, the firm explains that the development's triangular shape will reduce the shadows cast on adjacent buildings, while its trapezoidal footprint will minimize its ground impact. "The construction of an ambitious building on the Porte de Versailles site will mark its opening and restore the historical axis formed by the rue de Vaugirard and avenue Ernest Renan," states the project's profile page.
