As technology hurtles forward to new horizons, so too are the industries it supports and develops. Structures and buildings around the globe are taking design to the next level, thanks to cutting-edge technology allowing for a greater range of possibilities. We have investigated the best examples of advanced architecture across the world and bring to you the top three builds.
Burj Khalifa in Dubai
At an astounding 2,722 ft, the Burj Khalifa is currently the world’s tallest building. Starting construction in 2004 and finalising the project in 2008, many decisions had to be made to ensure that this neo-futurism structure was able to serve its purpose, acknowledging that it would be a free-standing building and understanding the hot climate it would be situated in.
Dubai uses desalination plants to convert sea water into fresh water. This is sent across the city, including to various skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa. When the water hits the Burj, it is distributed to every corner of every floor on every level. However, with 163 floors, this can become a complicated process, which shows us just how special the Burj Khalifa actually is in terms of design.
The designers of the Burj Khalifa realised there could be pressure complications with only one pump sending water through the structure, such as the pipes exploding. To counter this problem, they came up with a plan to help the water flow up the building in different stages.
Water is sent from the basement to a reservoir up on the 40th floor. This then sends water on to various 200,000-gallon tanks up and down the structure, all the way to the top. As the water reaches the top, the water then travels back down under its own weight — it is said that 946,000 litres of water are supplied per day which also helps the building stay cool in the hot climate.
As a desert city, keeping the building cool is essential. Therefore, another water supply — an ice-chilled water system which is the first of its kind to be used in the Middle East — has also been implemented to enable substantial energy savings.
Taipei 101 in Taiwan
The previous crown-holder for the world’s tallest building is next on our list. A platinum-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) build, the Taipai 101 has had other accolades to its name. Up until 2016, the structure had the fastest elevator on the planet, which could travel from the 5th to 89th floor in 37 seconds!
Taiwan has an amazing array of design styles, with Fort Provintia showcasing the classic build style, and the Tuntex Sky Tower serving as an example of super-modern style. But what makes it so spectacular? Starting construction in 1999 and ending in 2004, the Taipei has 101 floors (if the name had not given it away) and is 1,666 ft in height — but the environmental factors that took over its design has changed the way we build for good.
Taiwan deals with its share of typhoons and earthquakes, and any structure must be designed to withstand this. When it comes to Taipei 101, the structure can withstand high winds of 134 mph, which is due to the model prioritising resistance through the use of curtain walls, protected glass and high-performance steel. The walls can provide heat and ultraviolet protection by blocking external heat by 50%.
The building’s column design comprises of 36 steel columns, with eight of them converted to ‘mega-columns’; these columns have 10,000 pounds of concrete per inch. These are supported
by multiple other steel columns. Within Taipei 101, there are outrigger trusses every eight floors which connect to the columns within the exterior to ensure secure resistance from probable natural disasters in and around Taiwan.
Apple Park, Campus 2 in California
Apple, one of the world’s top tech companies, has recently updated its offices. Worth a staggering $234.7bn, the company, which is now one of the biggest on the planet, was able to invest a further $5bn into a new building and move its tremendous workforce into a circular futuristic structure. The new office-space, which opened in April 2017 midway through construction, is made up of 175 acres — and is even bigger than The Pentagon.
The building’s roof is completely made by solar panels, making it one of the most energy efficient buildings on the planet. The solar panels are capable of generating 17 megawatts of power (75% during peak daytime) and the company has aims to make the complex entirely powered by renewable energy in the future. Another four megawatts are powered through the use of biofuel and natural gas within the complex, using Bloom Energy Servers which are popular within the Californian region, with Google, Yahoo and Wal-Mart using them, too.
The office was designed with HVAC in mind – HVAC is the use of natural ventilation, heating, and air control. To achieve this, air is allowed to flow freely between the inside and outside of the building, which can help assist for nine months of the entire year — highlighting the importance of such features in the DNA of design.
Buildings will continue to advance alongside the capabilities of technology, allowing for the continued balance in design and crucial safety and survival features. For example, London is set to have 13 new skyscrapers by 2026 — we know that these will be designed to uphold the ethical requirements for a modern-day structure.
