The highest green building of the World

A secret meeting was held to choose the "building of the summer" Which? All the signs indicate that the Shanghai Tower can to be chosen.
(Edición en español)

She left her seat with parsimony and diligence, she had been preparing in secret the past few months for this. Subtly, she revised the faces of the colleagues while was collecting the dossier, she had waited patiently all the time and, already, having exposed the majority of proposals, seemed that this year her proposal could be elected. She had already participated in five meetings, the first as guest of honour and the followings as a contestant of prestige. The idea was simple: each participant should to take data and details of a building under construction or newly built, to determine which of them would be awarded as "The building of the summer".

She introduced the Pendrive and wielded the laser pointer; as first image appeared the logo of her company, one marks more than known in worldwide for their quality and their (good) treatment to the operators, she was proud of several social advances that had managed within the company, "a little of publicity is always good, even here", she thought, as she watched the faces surprised of the persons had not recognized her. When she saw the second picture knew that she had done well her work: already none of those the attendants could separate the logo of her company of the silhouette of the Tower of Shanghai who they were watching, the largest building of double facade of the world.

Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., is the promoter of this project, whose design was awarded by a international competition, this is often done, in June of 2008. The architecture firm that won the competition, studied in detail the premises which should have the construction, first and foremost, a building anchored in the time, as it was at its time, the other two that form (together) the trio more next of the planet, the Jin Mao Tower skyscraper and the SWFC (Shanghai-world financial center). They took into the account international environmental standards and the comfort technology.

The Shanghai Tower reaches a chilling height of 632 metres, which it makes it the second tallest building in the world (behind of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai), has 127 plants with five under the basement, intended, mainly to parking. The area is 576.000 meters in total, including 410.000 above ground. Have commercial and cultural spaces, 200,000 square meters for offices, and the building has a luxury Hotel with 80,000 square metres which are distributed in 258 rooms between the floors 84 and 110 what she herself would call a "luxury of height".

She made a break, not because she was tired, was paused intentionally, for than the other negotiator exasperated a little, enough to weaken but not too much, so he do not miss the attention, was accustomed to this type of negotiations and she had marked the times perfectly. "But the best is yet to come, if so far I have given some figures, from here I will give you an architectural analysis", it seemed to her, at that moment, that increased the tension in the room, almost could swear that one of the people seated there was a very popular character, "his name was Rodolfo, not?"

The building becomes twisted on its axis at 120 degrees, with a form that it would not go unnoticed anywhere in the world. The responsible architect of the studio, Gensler, with their best 48 professionals (200 has the company), has been the managers of the design and direction of the work, although that its "Chief Architect", Marshall Strabala, no longer belongs to the company, he has not withdrawn of its professional tasks in this work. The building is subdivided in turn into 9 cylindrical parts, one above of the other, with an interior garden at the base of each one of them.

But the shape exterior aerodynamics is not capricious, it is achieved to reduce the thrust of the wind (which in Shanghai can reach a speed of 53 meters per second, about 190 kilometers per hour) by 28 percent, according to Strabala, this amounts to a saving of 60 million dollars (54 million euros) in the structure, a amount significant, on the other hand the budget is 4.2 billion dollars (3.80 billion euros), so a little of help never it hurts. The form in semi-spiral also serves to collect rainwater, which is intended for heating and air conditioning.

The system of double glass wall using in the construction serves as thermal insulation, this physical separation of the two elements allows that the external temperatures (in Shanghai, the temperatures range between 0 and 40 degrees from winter to summer) softened greatly. The bag of air acts every fifteen plants independently, increasing its effect the asymmetry in plant. The outer layer of glass is attached to the inner structure using steel turnbuckles, these tensors help to hold the wall and, at the same time, convey the force of the wind to the main structure.

The developers rely on that the building could receive between 15,000 and 20,000 people for day between workers, visitors and guests of the hotel. It has 106 lifts, the quicker lift will reach 18 meters per second (64 km / h) until the second tourist viewpoint highest of the planet on the floor 119. The building will also with an open terrace on the floor 121 (for the bravest). It has a geothermal system to take the temperature of the Earth, devices collectors of water for use in landscaping and other secondary uses and 270 turbines below of the parapet to generate additional power, with a capacity of 135 kW of power.

They expect to get, in brief, the certificate LEED Gold and the three stars of the Environmental Committee of Chinese in recognition of sustainable design and construction. The contractor, Shanghai Construction Group started work on November 29, 2008 and boasts of have built the first building in the world with a weight of 850,000 tons over soft ground, also calls the title of tallest green building on the planet for their construction. For anyone person is a building of records.

"I could continue giving you more details, the podium at the foot of the Tower (is also the entrance to the Hotel) has 60,000 square meters of retail, catering, exhibitions, banquets and a long etcetera. I could explain that the lower part of the building can display letters and characters in any language, and that the emblem of the Tower will be displayed in the crown of the building, and that, furthermore, multiple images can be in it...

… I could analyse the mass-damper (structure on the top floor which serves to offset the ups and downs and movements of skyscrapers) that is the heaviest in the world with 1,200 tons. I could say that the building has the highest panoramic restaurant on the floor 120, the highest pool (in 393 metres) on the 84 floor, which has the highest Sky Lobby (in 470 metres) on the floor 101, and it is the first luxury hotel with Chinese style. I could..."

She paused, aware that in the last sentence was played all her argument, one false step could decant the scale, although, in this case, was frankly unlikely. "I could invite you to visit China and that you choose this tower as the building of the summer of this year, 2015", concluded.

The Tower of Krion

Hi, I confess that on this trip I did not go looking for a place in particular to construct my future building (that will be amazing, clear) and, however, I found with one of the most appropriate. It is in the island of San Patrick, which is reached by the Island of Man, an Odyssey. The best of the island is the Castle Peel reconstructed recently, which it does not happen with the Cathedral of Saint Germain, which gives worth to see her, but when I have situated in front of she, I thought: "here you have an interesting challenge Rodolfo: restore the elegance to these ruins".

I have always thought that by many technological developments achieved, the human beings they should behave like the famous character of Tarzan of the monkeys, you know, from the novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, he is best known for the films directed by Woody Strong Van Dyke and starring by Johnny Weissmüller, in other words: we took advantage of the nature and she takes advantage also of us. I believe that the promoters want this for the future building that I present today.

Eleventh Stop: The Tower of Krion®

It has begun the construction in april of the Tower Yung Ding Guo Ji, in Qingdao, Shandong, China. It's an office building designed by the architecture studies of Ruiz-Larrea & Associates (RLA) and OSA, the authors themselves propose to address the deficit of nature existing in the cities with the incorporating the nature in buildings, beautiful task. So I've decided that no I will remove the eyes to this construction, in addition, they use a material very interesting in its facade.

But let's go by parts, the idea that prevails is the environmental adaptation and the respect for the existing built environment, therefore the main body is of average height, with a scale similar to the buildings nearby, the great tower is the milestone of the project. The future building adopts strategies of energy efficiency based on the thermal insulation, the shading (leveraging the shadows of external volumes to avoid overheating), the acoustic insulation, and, the icing on the cake, the conditioning of central spaces by a geothermal system that will cool the air inside the building, thus making act as a refrigerator. The inclusion of skylights to be opened to allow the hot air to escape and take lighting and ventilation natural that allows contact with the outside.

The building will also incorporate numerous vegetation in different parts of the construction, as in the different green roofs that have been projected, apart from the natural zones included in areas of the interior and the exterior. Before I have spoken of the material that I interest me, good, it is none other than the Krion ® that will be placed in the facade, this facade is inspired in nature and is equipped with solar installations.

The facade is made up of a network formed by the krion® (solid surface) of the Spanish company Porcelanosa, actually this material belongs to one of its subsidiaries, Systempool S.A. the network of krion®  serves as the sunscreen by the shading in the glazed areas, of course, they have taken into account the different use of the Interior rooms to establish the separation between the large vertical "panels".

Krion® the solid surface of Porcelanosa

This material has the advantages of a material of laboratory, created through the merger of natural minerals (two-thirds) and resins of high resistance. These advantages are: lack of pores, antibacterial, hardness, resistance, ease of repair, low maintenance and easy to clean. It working in sheets of regular format (different dimensions and thicknesses) and joined by hot melt, allowing the creation of elements without joints, you does not believe that anyone person can use this material: only installers certified by the company Systempool S.A., which is beneficial to the buyer.

The specific quality to be able to use this material in one facade must be: the inalterability under adverse weather condicions, as well, from the parent company inform us that it is a covering with a perfect performance against the sudden changes in temperature, forehead to situations of high humidity or in areas with arid climates. The restraint system to the main structure of the building is very important, in this regard, the company works with Butech Bliss Co. and ensure us a proper fixing.

Finally, two details juicy: the artificial nature of the Krion®  assures us a wide range of colors, and this same nature, makes a recyclable material 100%, and reprocessed again and reintroduced into the production cycle.

It is early to visit this building finished, but I will inform me of how it evolves, I love "supervise", you know it. Bye bye.

The BBVA Tower

Hi, my name is Leonardo Da Vinci... Don't you believe me? Well, you do right! I am Rodolfo, the searcher of materials and construction systems of most fame of today. I have always believed that my ancestor Leonardo should live in our time, a mind privileged like yours should have had that prerogative, or you have not thought about the wonders that he could have created at this time, who once was the greatest scientific genius and artistic of the 15th and 16th centuries? I yes, of course.

I think much about it when I travel to Mexico, that country so cheerful, so incredible, so full of sweet and sour surprises and unique in the world (although this is a no-brainer). From the year 2010 I have been visiting regularly the capital to see how it develops one of my favorite projects: The Tower BBVA Bancomer.

Fourth Stop: The Metal Tower.

BBVA Bancomer opted for the city of Mexico to celebrate the merger of the largest bank in the country (Bancomer) and one of the most important financial institutions of the world (BBVA), The project was chosen by contest between two architectural firms who were responsible of the design of the Tower BBVA Bancomer, these firms are "Legorreta + Legorreta" (father and son) and "Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners" (I also miss the companies of a single name). The bet was risky because of the different architectural languages used by the two companies, but I had supported them from the beginning in its decision: without risk there is not victory and it is clear that the result is magnificent!

After the construction is complete, the Tower will be 235 meters of height and consists of 50 apartments that will provide approximately 78,000 square meters of space for offices, which will be filled by 4,500 employees. The design evokes a texture of traditional lattice of Mexican architecture. I would also like to highlight the gardens every nine plants that will delight of workers (vertical villages), the Coffee Shop will be on a terrace over the Park located in the “Paseo de la Reforma” with spectacular views and an auditorium to promote a greater interaction among employees.

It is important to note here that the building has a clear will of energy efficiency and of commitment to the environment, this is designed and built thinking to be certified LEED (leader in energy and environmental design), which is the American standard which recognizes structures committed to the environment. The construction will have energy savings of 25%, maximum use of natural light, generous green spaces, a saving of between 30 and 50% of water and 75% recycling of construction products.

Why Metal?

The metals are so important in the history that you would not understand the evolution of humanity without them. They are can molded in hot and/or in cold and they can adopt the most incredible shapes, are rigid when is required and are flexible when you need. The profits include the entire imaginable spectrum: tools, weapons, cooking utensils, jewellery, decorations, surgical material, vehicles... and how not, the construction.

The metal more used in construction is the steel and its most assiduous form are the metal profiles (T, double T, IPN, IPE, etc.). With these profiles you can build in height because they lighten the weight of the building (it come in handy for the foundations), they allow a few more lights (distance between pillars), and they also allow free passage for installations (a big plus) and, above all, greatly reduced the time of execution of the work and the need for space to deposit the work material given that being made of prefabricated parts and we not require a place to store it until use.

There is another reason to use the steel as structure in our buildings: it have a great tenacity (energy that the material absorbs before the crack) with it which resists any effort, especially to traction. There are three forms of structural unions: using rivets, unions bolted and unions welded; these last two are those that are used more often due to the advantages that represent. The screws allow permanent joints and mounting and dismounting of the structure and the welds ensuring the continuity of efforts between the different pieces of the same material. However, the welds must be carried out by professionals in the field and we must corroborate its state with some method non-invasive (liquids penetrant, ultrasonic, x-ray, etc.)

 

Coffee to 150 meters

The last time I was in the building, I carried a few litres of Balché, it is a drink used by the ancient Maya as liquor ceremonial, I searched for the drink in the State of Tabasco, where not added alcohol, all with the idea of making a gift to the workers because they have very well behaved with me during my visits. But the Manager not allowed which I handed the drink to the workers, "is their duty to treat you well," he said aloud, after he whisper to me that he divided the drink it later with them, he imposed his authority... that things have the works!

Yet, he forced that they carried two coffees for us to 150 meters to height. I assure you that to drink a very hot coffee at that height while it watches huge metal beams that it is hoisting with the Paseo de la Reforma below... is one of the best experiences of my life!

I hope to see the finish of the construction of the Torre BBVA Bancomer and, if we are in his inauguration, perhaps I can invite you to Balche in the coffee shop, only perhaps, clear. Good bye.