ENDLESS CITY
06 Aug 2014
Unlike conventional skyscrapers, this London tower is a vertical ecosystem featuring various sustainable techniques.
The Endless City comprises six structural steel tubes that support two ramps which weave and meander, gradually rising up from the ground floor.
Rather than superimposing one floor on top of another without real continuity, the ramps allow the Endless City to continually circumrotate and gradually rise with a low gradient, enabling the street to be developed in both a horizontal and vertical way. The result is an open-scheme which is inviting in all directions and permeates a sense of generosity, continuousness and openness.
Functioning like a vertical ecosystem you can walk on, Endless City has been designed with various sustainable techniques in mind – including energy, water and waste management.
The shape of the skyscraper attempts to maximise passive energy and reduce artificial lighting, ventilation and cooling needs. Different programmatic elements are distributed vertically along the two ramps and are linked with bridges.
The irregular ramps create a variety of spaces and atmospheres. The sloping streets are designed as vibrant, commercial spaces, featuring huge parks, retail shops, plazas and auditoriums, offering dynamic public spaces as well as intimate quiet areas. The various spaces are imbued with individual character, contributing to high pedestrian movement throughout the tower.
The differentiated but interconnected spatial sequences of public spaces and entertainment spaces create a lively setting for conversations and societal interaction, creating a complex and rich system just like a real city.
The mixed-use tower design was created by SURE architects and recently won first prize in the International Skyscrapers & Super Skyscraper Competition.