The Absolute Towers

source: archdaily

Architects: MAD Architects
Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Director In Charge: Ma Yansong, Yosuke Hayano, Dang Qun
Design Team: Shen Jun, Robert Groessinger, Florian Pucher, Yi Wenzhen, Hao Yi, Yao Mengyao, Zhao Fan, Liu Yuan, Zhao Wei, Li Kunjuan, Yu Kui, Max Lonnqvist, Eric Spencer
Client: Fernbrook / Cityzen
Year: 2012
Photographs: Iwan Baan, Tom Arban, Courtesy of MAD Architects

Associate Architects: BURKA Architects INC.
Structural Engineer: SIGMUND, SOUDACK & ASSOCIATES INC.
Mechanical Engineer: ECE Group
Electrical Engineer: ECE Group
Landscape Architect: NAK Design
Interior Designer: ESQAPE Design

Throughout the process of urbanization, skyscrapers have been symbols of technological bravado, prime capitals and the societal projections of wealth and prosperity. This limited framework for skyscrapers often results in solutions limited by homogenous, linear structures and degenerative duplication in business districts across the globe. Forced into an unnatural state of conformity, metropolitan life is negatively affected by these unchecked, efficiency-centric development practices. Without a challenge to the status quo, our cities will continue to lack the cohesion of life as implied by the term: forest. A forest is a thriving ecosystem wherein every organism survives only in a state of symbiosis. New ambitions nurtured in a changing global consciousness challenge the aging pattern of last century’s development and favor fresh thoughtful, inspiring and eloquent solutions for tomorrow’s high-rises.

What lies in the future of our cities? How should one grasp the concept of emerging high-density cities? How can city dwellers be immersed with an enriching experience of nature when its presence steadily diminishes in the face of the ever intensifying concrete inundation? Faced with these challenges, future high-rise buildings need to catalyze a higher level of complexity in our cities for the sake of harmonious civilization.

Fondly dubbed the Marylyn Monroe towers by local residents, the Absolute Towers parallel the twisting fluidity or natural lines found in life. This activation of flow forms an organic punctuation in the landscape and a desire for an urban acknowledgement of enthusiasm. Here, we thrive to challenge the sustenance of commonplace boxy skyscrapers. Our ambition was to provide each resident a unique experience of the city, a heterarchitical distribution. Continuous balconies widen individual viewing angles and promote community at the micro scale of a single floor. At the macro, the cadence of the floors rising into the sky echo the modular rhythms of the human experience, yet emphasizes the movement of an adoring figure. We hope this building can wake up metropolitans’ desires towards nature, such as sun and wind, and certainly, human bodies.

Like other suburbs in North America, Mississauga, near Toronto, has been quickly developing into an independent, urbanized area. Yet, the cityscape lacked a unique character. In response, we wanted to add something naturalistic, delicate and human in contrast to the backdrop of listless, boxy buildings. Sited at the junction of two main streets (Hurantario and Burnhamthorpe), the Absolute Towers gracefully bear their landmark status and act as a gateway to the city beyond. As a residential landmark that strives for more than simple efficiency, the buildings provide residents an emotional connection to their hometown and neighbors.

Eschewing the tradition of accentuated verticality in high-rises, the Absolute Towers choose not to emphasize vertical lines. Instead, the design features a smooth, unbroken balcony that wraps each floor of the building. In addition, at each successive level, the floor plate rotates in a range of one to eight degrees affording breathtaking panoramas of the Mississauga skyline concluding in reverence to the principle street intersection at its peak. By maximizing the viewing potentials inside and out, creating a wonderful medium for social interaction throughout the balconies, and connecting the city dwellers with naturalistic design principles, Mississauga is infused with a new character.

In place of the basic, functional logic of an aging modernism, the current trend of sustainable design is reminiscent of the sudden rise in the glass-faced boxy buildings of last century. Sustainability, in concept, is often unfortunately simplified to the lowest common denominator. If we limit the scope of sustainable ecology to energy savings, it will become merely a demand for comfort while the yearning of a return to nature is ignored. This design practice remains the axiom of the industrial revolution, man controls nature. We feel sustainability is a much greater concept which can guide a new culture of design resulting in real change.

For instance, in traditional Chinese gardens, building and nature elements are integrated to create a spiritual and poetic environment fostering great literature, poem and music, or simply life and philosophy. Our approach, ergo, is to create a balanced environment that evokes the feeling of exploring nature while simultaneously a responsive model for the development of urban space in harmony with nature. A sustainable architecture in modern concept. Real sustainability results in a harmonious civilization. This is the biggest challenge of our time. How do we rebuild urban environments with life and emotion where people are connected and respected?

The torsional form of the towers is underpinned with a surprisingly simply and inexpensive structural solution. The two residential towers are supported by a grid of concrete load bearing walls. The bearing walls extend and contract in response to the sectional fluctuation created by the rotation of the floors while the balconies consist of cantilevered concrete slabs. In order to ensure the elegant edge profiles are as thin as possible, there is a thermal break in the slabs at the exterior glazing such that the insulation need not wrap the entirety of the balconies. Meanwhile, the dynamically fluid shaping of the towers, naturally aerodynamic, adeptly handles wind loading and ensures comfort throughout all the balconies. Besides providing every resident with a nice exterior place to enjoy views of Mississauga, the balconies naturally shade the interior from the summer sun while soaking in the winter sun, reducing air conditioning costs.
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source: homestheticsnet

The Absolute Towers are also known as the Marylin Monroe towers, the nickname given by the local residents. The gentle twisting of the two structures was meant to resemble and express the fluidity that defines the natural world.

The height is increased by the marking of each floor which makes the building look taller

“The concept of the tower at the beginning was very simple. We just wanted to make something organic but different, more natural and more soft and not something too strong that would remind people of money or power.”

The Absolute Towers in Canada by MAD Architects 3 The Absolute Towers in Canada by MAD Architects
Notice the difference between the twisted towers and the other three which have a radically different effect and appearance
Absolute World is a twin tower residential condominium, part of the five towers Absolute City Centre complex, built by Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Development Group. The similarly shaped skyscrapers reach a maximum height of 150 and 170 meters, dominating the skyline of the city. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has judged the Marilyn Monroe towers as the best new high-rise building in the America’s. When the project was initiated by the investors, MAD Architects design proved to be the most appealing not only to the jury but also to the general public, being supported through the whole building process by the local administration.

Between all the ‘boxes’, the Marilyn Monroe towers stand out and change the image of the city

The Absolute Towers in Canada by MAD Architects 10 The Absolute Towers in Canada by MAD Architects
This is probably the best place to take a picture, where the composition made of all the buildings looks best
Since the first skyscraper was built, these tall buildings have been treated in most cases with a lack of imagination and creativity. Straight lines and box-liked shaped buildings were sufficient to fulfill the need for some extra space. This is probably modernism’s biggest flaw: structures that are functional, comfortable but inexpressive and boring, never enhancing the character of a landscape or an urban area but suppressing its beauty and shape. What the Marilyn Monroe towers stand for is a powerful combination of functionality, comfort for its inhabitants and the effect of strong esthetics that contribute to the image of the city. The part of the city where the project was developed lacked a vertical dominance, a landmark. Being the tallest structures in the area and the most unusual and different, the Marilyn Monroe towers capture every bit of attention, concentrating views from every angle towards them. The concept has developed around the idea that Mississauga has evolved and transformed from a suburb of Toronto into an independent urban area that must have its own character; what MAD Architects attempted was “something naturalistic, delicate and human in contrast to the backdrop of listless, boxy buildings.” The torsion of the towers supports their initial thoughts creates a very dynamic image, making the observer look all the way up and carefully analyze their shape, especially because they are so ‘out of the ordinary’ for most people, something new and curious that they need to comprehend.

This photo was taken during construction and it demonstrates the importance that should be given to materials; the similar towers look worlds apart because the one in the left is a few steps further and the glass makes it look very different
“An Economy of Structure

The torsional form of the towers is underpinned with a surprisingly simply and inexpensive structural solution. The two residential towers are supported by a grid of concrete load bearing walls. The bearing walls extend and contract in response to the sectional fluctuation created by the rotation of the floors while the balconies consist of cantilevered concrete slabs. In order to ensure the elegant edge profiles are as thin as possible, there is a thermal break in the slabs at the exterior glazing such that the insulation need not wrap the entirety of the balconies. Meanwhile, the dynamically fluid shaping of the towers, naturally aerodynamic, adeptly handles wind loading and ensures comfort throughout all the balconies. Besides providing every resident with a nice exterior place to enjoy views of Mississauga, the balconies naturally shade the interior from the summer sun while soaking in the winter sun, reducing air conditioning costs.”

MAD Architects

A key factor to the looks of the structure is the construction process and the quality of the materials and the builders; even if we don’t see every little aspect, our mind does and changes the big picture; details are very important
Homesthetics conclusion:

The Marilyn Monroe towers project is so likable and appealing because it is so different from other skyscrapers. Or is it? It’s not very tall, the materials are the same and it makes the city look tiny, just like any other tall structure. But, apart from most skyscrapers and projects, the architects have designed this one in a 3D manner, admitting that going high is not enough, you also need to go a bit to the left to the right or in this case, rotate. This seemingly simple idea produces a wonderful effect that has turned this building into one of the best modern concepts.
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source: archeb

‘absolute towers’ שתוכננו על ידי משרד האדריכלים MAD נמצאים כעת בשלבי בנייה, ומתוכננים להסתיים בשנת 2011.

הבניינים המכונים על ידי המקומיים גם בשם מגדלי “מרילין מונרו”, היו הפרויקט הזוכה הראשון בתחרות של משרד האדריכלים MAD הבינלאומי בשנת 2006, זכיה שהביאה להם תשומת לב עולמית.

המגדלים ממוקים ב-Mississauga, פרבר של טורונטו שבקנדה וכבר מהווים ציון דרך עבור האזור.

האדריכלים: “..הבניין הוא יותר מאשר מכונה פשוטה ופונקציונלית, הוא מגיב למשמעות של היותו ממוקם בצומת של שני רחובות ראשיים, נושא באלגנטיות את הסטטוס שניתן לו כשער לעיר. צורתו מפוסלת, יפייפיה המקבלת את השראתה מגוף האדם ..”

היות הבניינים ציון דרך באזור אינם נובע רק מגובהם. העיצוב של MAD כולל מרפסת רציפה המקיפה את הבניין כולו, תוך ביטול המחסומים האנכים המסורתיים שנמצאים בדרך כלל בקומות.

הבניין כולו מסתובב בזוויות (מעלות) שונות בקומות השונות ומתכתב עם הנוף שמסביב.

המטרה שלהם היא לספק מבט פנורמי של 360 מעלות לכל יחידת דיור, ולהשאיר את התושבים העירוניים בקשר עם אלמנטים טבעיים ולעורר מחדש את הערכתם לטבע.

בניין א: 45000 מ”ר , 56 קומות
בניין ב: 40000 מ”ר , 50 קומות
זכיה במקום הראשון בתחרות בינלאומית בשנת 2006 – צפוי להסתיים לקראת סוף שנת 2011.
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source: anagnwsths

Το αρχιτεκτονικό γραφείο MAD Architects πραγματικά ξεχωρίζει και πρωτοπορεί καθώς τα κτίρια τους είναι απολύτως ανεπανάληπτα. Με έδρα στο Πεκίνο, το συγκεκριμένο αρχιτεκτονικό γραφείο είναι αφοσιωμένο στην καινοτομία αρχιτεκτονικής σχεδίασης, αστικού σχεδιασμού και στο σχεδιασμό τοπίων (τοπιοτέχνηση). Οι MAD Architects έχουν αναπτύξει μια μοναδική καινοτόμο έννοια φουτουρισμού μέσω μιας διαρκούς διερεύνησης των δυνατοτήτων παράλληλης συμβίωσης της φύσης και της τεχνολογίας. Οι MAD Architects φιλοδοξούν να σχεδιάζουν, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη την απόλυτη αρμονία με τη φύση, προσφέροντας έτσι στους κατοίκους των κτηρίων τους μια μοναδική αστική εμπειρία.

Υπό εκτέλεση έργα των Mad Architects περιλαμβάνουν τους Απόλυτους Πύργους στο Τορόντο στον Καναδά, το Sinosteel International Plaza στην Tianjin της Κίνας, το Μουσείο Erdos στη Μογγολία, το Guardian Κέντρο Τέχνης στο Πεκίνο, το Συνεδριακό Κέντρο Taichung στη Ταϊπέι της Ταϊβάν, το Αστικό Δάσος στο Chongqing της Κίνας καθώς και άλλα μεγάλης κλίμακας δημόσια συγκροτήματα κατοικιών και λοιπών κτηρίων στη Δανία, το Χονγκ Κονγκ, το Ντουμπάι, τη Σιγκαπούρη, τη Μαλαισία, την Ιαπωνία και την Κόστα Ρίκα.
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source: baiplu-httpwwwbloggercomblogspot

วันนี้เราลองมาดูสถาปัตยกรรมสมัยของจีนแผ่นดินใหญ่กัน งานสถาปัตยกรรมของพี่จีนส่วนใหญ่จะมีขนาดใหญ่ โปรเจคยักษ์ รูปทรงดูตื่นตาตื่นใจ เป็นรูปทรงอิสระ สถาปัตยกรรมจีนสมัยใหม่ถือว่าน่าสนใจ มีแนวคิด รูปแบบให้ดูหลากหลาย เพราะนอกจากสถาปนิกในประเทศจีนแล้ว สถาปนิกดังๆจากทั่วโลกได้สร้างสรรค์ผลงานในเมืองจีนอีกด้วย ลองมาดูผลงานของจีนกัน

ma yansong ถือเป็นสถาปนิกจีนรุ่นใหม่และเป็นผู้ก่อตั้งสำนักงาน MAD architects เขาจบการศึกษาจากคณะสถาปัตยกรรมศาสตร์และวิศวกรรมศาสตร์จากมหาวิทยาลัยเยล(Yale University)(เทพมาก) ผลงานของ yansong ส่วนใหญ่จะเป็นรูปทรงอิสระ สื่อถึงโลกอนาคต(แนวๆ Zaha Hadid) มีผลงานที่สร้างจริงและไม่ได้สร้างจริง