These buildings, KLCC, Marina Bay Sand and The Gherkin are among some of the buildings in the world which incorporate many concepts and approaches.
PETRONAS Twin Tower (KLCC), Malaysia
The PETRONAS Twin Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world and is recognized as being the world’s tallest high rise of the 20th century.
The prominent features of the towers are the double-decked sky bridge, pinnacles and an advanced elevator system. The double-decked sky bridge is on the 41st and 42nd floors. The bridge is 170m high and 58m long, providing access between the towers. Each pinnacle is composed of a spire, mast ball and ring ball.
The architectural design of the Petronas Twin Towers floor plan is based on simple Islamic geometric squares creatinga shape of eight-pointed stars, reflecting unity within unity, harmony, stability and rationality.
To create more space, eight semi-circles were superimposed in the inner angles of the interlocked squares.These semicircles are themselves anchored by the main structural columns of the buildings.The twin towers are symmetrically aligned and are connected with a suspended sky bridge.The design details became prominent as the building rise in height towards the pinnacles. To maintain the vertical axis of the design, the towers are set back five times.
In the beginning, a race track was removed by the government as a move to ease the traffic congestion in that area.
At first, there were no plans for the Petronas Towers to become the highest building in the world until Dr Mahathir suddenly thought of it; even during the building is already under construction. Mathematical recalculations were done and finally the plan to raise the height of the pinnacles is passed.
Construction started in 1993, with the piling of the world’s deepest foundations. The construction was done by two different contractors, sparking competition against each other. On the other hand, the towers were constructed with super high strength reinforced concrete due to the high cost of steel.
(http://www.yangsquare.com/petronas-tower-in-detail/)
(http://www.yangsquare.com/petronas-tower-in-detail/)
The three towers are connected with a one hectare roof sky park offering 360-degree views of Singapore’s skyline and featuring beautifully sculptured gardens, restaurants and a swimming pool.
The water in the infinity pool seems to end in a sheer drop, it actually spills into a catchment area where it is pumped back into the main pool. At three times the length of an Olympic pool and 650ft up, it is the largest outdoor pool in the world at that height. It features in the impressive, boat-shaped ‘SkyPark’ perched atop the three towers that make up the world’s most expensive hotel.
(http://www.extravaganzi.com/marina-bay-sands-hotel-infinity-pool-55-storeys-above-ground-opens-in-singapore/)
The Gherkin, London
New trees were planted around the base of the building with LED lights illuminating them at night.
The design is one of slick high-tech. Its eco-friendly services where the vertical fins faced with stainless steel run up the curving faces of the building that allow good penetration of the natural light. The design maximises daylight and natural ventilation that it uses half the energy typically required by an office block.
The building is angled 45 degrees due north which give the meaning, all four sides of it would be open to direct sunlight during the day and it would naturally heat up if there were no necessary solar shading.
The other two sides, the north-west and south-east of the building, have flat elevations with semi transparent double skinned glass. The south-eastern side also features solar panels hidden within the double façade.
Below the ground, the scheme includes a thermal energy retaining wall and thermal energy boreholes, both featuring closed loop ground coupling pipe-work. Combined with the solar panels, these should generate 5.1% of the needed energy on site in the form of renewable energy.
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