World’s first horizontal skyscraper nears completion in China
The world’s first horizontal skyscraper, designed by prominent architect Moshe Safdie, is nearing completion in China after six years of construction.
The tower is part of the almost-finished Raffles City Chongqing complex, a huge mixed-use development from developer CapitaLand Limited which will include eight towers. Five will be residential with a total of 1400 units.
GALLERY
Set at the meeting point between the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, the futuristic development will also have, restaurants, a high-end hotel, lookouts for sightseeing, office space, and a shopping mall.
Named The Crystal, the horizontal skyscraper connects the towers 250 metres above the ground.
It will be the tallest observation deck in Western China and is 300 metres long. One of its main attractions is the conservatory, which functions as a high altitude public space with a themed observation deck and sky gardens and infinity pool. As well as connecting the towers, it has its own fully planned interior landscaping with streets and gardens.
The Conservatory’s structure uses advanced frictional pendulum bearings and seismic dampers mounted on the towers, which dispels wind energy more effectively.
So large it had to be divided into nine panels to be erected, the steel structure weighs 12,000 tonnes and is enclosed with a ring of glass and aluminium panels.
Mr. Lim Ming Yan, President and CEO of property developer CapitaLand Limited said the project has great economic significance.
“More than just a building, Raffles City Chongqing is a landmark urban renewal project that expresses and shapes Chongqing’s global city aspirations,” he said in a statement.
As the master planner of this important site, CapitaLand fully appreciates the historical and cultural significance of Chaotianmen to the people of Chongqing.
Our goal is to create a vibrant riverfront urban district that serves as a dynamic city gateway befitting of Chongqing’s growing economic influence.”
Images CapitaLand
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