MARCH 2015 COMPETITION
The Stretched Tower ///
The trend toward taller and skinnier buildings will eventually yield to the limitations of gravity. What if a secondary force was introduced that counteracted gravity? How might towers be designed differently when pulled from two opposing ends? What if towers were stretched to an extreme, reaching the clouds or even space, with a minimal width? What might be the practical functions or greater purpose of such impossibly tall towers? What happens when towers are stretched?
Participants should consider designs that include interior space for human occupation. Submissions may be conceptual, technical, and/or artistic.
Wei Chieh Kung
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
JURORS ///
Jessie Couture
Wilmington, Vermont, United States
B.S. Arch, Keene State College
Firm: LineSync Architecture
Nicholas Paley
Melbourne, Australia
Pursuing M.Arch, University of Lincoln
Firm: March Studio
Nathan Scrivo
San Diego, California, United States
B.Arch, Temple University
Firm: Civil Engineer Corps, United States Navy
ENTRIES ///
11 Entries from 7 Countries
Wei Chieh Kung
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Liyao Chen
Buffalo, New York, United States
Jasper Tuinema
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Manuel Dantas Vilaça & Laura Dietsch
Berlin, Germany
Kristiana Lytviak & Charbel Jabbour
Strasbourg, France
Michael Dimock
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
RESULTS ///
JURY COMMENTS ///
"This pin does well to answer every part of the brief simply as well as being presented clearly. Gravity and its opposing ‘secondary force’ pull the building apart like mozzarella! What's more interesting is that the tower doesn’t monopolize on this trait as the floor area is still small. In this way, the tower retains the same attributes as our current slender giants fighting gravity. I admire this restrained elegance."
"This entry places a tower in an unusual location which allows the viewer to stretch his/her thinking of a towers site. Although, it may disregard a a high occupancy load it embodies a lightness that contrasts with its harsh environment. Overall, the design portrays a realism that screams extreme."
"I appreciate the aesthetic simplicity of this entry. Intriguing."
JURY COMMENTS ///
"This concept attacks an issue for tower pollution by being inspired by something in everyday life. I really enjoyed how it pulls from two opposing ecological ends. It not only stretches the way we think of green design, but it allows a fresh way of thinking!"
Liyao Chen
Buffalo, New York, United States
Jasper Tuinema
Amsterdam, Netherlands
JURY COMMENTS ///
"I enjoyed the natural graphics in this submission. The designer creates a length by introducing light and shadow which I found to be interesting. I think the entry does a great job in depicting 'both ends' of a tower, a vertical entity and its horizontal arrival."
"Here the designer challenges the effect that infinitely tall buildings would have in our world. Just as the brief states, the submission explores interior space, only not in the tower but on the ground. For me, the long shadows and the ghosted trees show that the towers are having a negative impact on the ground below. The scene is like a dense rainforest; only the tallest trees get the sunlight."
Manuel Dantas Vilaça & Laura Dietsch
Berlin, Germany
JURY COMMENTS ///
"Interesting juxtaposition of eras, and styles. I had hoped for a little more detail as to the ambiguous floating forms."
Kristiana Lytviak & Charbel Jabbour
Strasbourg, France
JURY COMMENTS ///
"Turning the non-tower into a mobile elevated platform really changes perspective of the valley towns in the Alps. I would love to commandeer a spring loaded Austrian villa."
Michael Dimock
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
JURY COMMENTS ///
"Instead of halting the structure at a height just beyond the limits of mankind like other entries do, this one just carries on and on up into space. This time however it is an entirely hollow victory as the structure is cold, monotonous and lifeless. It shows that there is no substance to a building so tall. I would hate to see the lift line, or worse a fire!"
B
Nathalie J Siegel
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Edmund Goh
Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
