The Project

- Building and observation decks characteristics:
- Target: 5 million visitors per year
- 365 days full operation
- 13,670 visitors a day
- 1,140 visitors an hour - 12 hours a day visiting hours
- Length of a typical tour: 1/2 hour
- 570 visitors per 1/2 hour tour
- 8 zeppelin/elevator platforms
(approx. 72 persons per platform at any time)
- 8 stops - app. 4 minutes airship/elevator arrival interval
- Estimated cost of construction: 40,000sqm x 12,500 USD equals app 500.000.000 USD

Energy Systems

The rainwater is collected from all platforms into a tank situated in the basement. There is a purification station near the rainwater tank so that water can be reused for: washing; irrigation of the green areas; running water for sanitaries; waste of water will be minimized by utilizing water conserving fixtures.  

The use of hierarchically determined sensor networks will help reduce the energy use. Depending on the function of a room, the time of day and the average density of people, the sensors will help the BMS (Building Management Systems) choose the most appropriate set of values for lighting and HVAC.  

There is a geothermal power station in the basement for the warming of the areas in cold season and for hot water. The office and services areas in the tower have a 360° orientation, which offers the possibility to minimize the greenhouse effect through the use of cross-ventilation.  

The electrical energy is produced by:

- a system of axial turbines located along the vertical central core
- adjustable photo voltaic panels on the whole height of the tower
- the lighting of the basement areas and of the museum spaces under the sandwich slab (structure-plants earth-pedestrian traffic) is done through a fiber optics dome system.

Sustainability aspect

- The disposition of all functions requested within a single tower (museum, office, observation decks);
- Minimum footprint at street level;
- Maximum green area surface;
- All utilities are vertically integrated;
- All circulations are vertically integrated (main and secondary functions for both services and tourists);
- The „chimney” effect is used for the natural ventilation of various functional areas.

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ):

According to LEED and BREEAM standards, the equipments, finishes and facade design will increase the indoor air, thermal and lighting quality. 

The air quality will reduce the volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other air impurities such as microbial contaminants. The materials used for finishes will be zero or very low emission products (avoiding VOC and formaldehyde). Personal temperature and airflow control over the HVAC system coupled with a properly designed building envelope will also aid in increasing the building's thermal quality, creating a high performance luminous environment through the careful integration of natural and artificial light sources. 

Structure 

Foundation is done using drilled piles down to 30m. The main supporting frame is made of rigid reinforcement concrete cast in sliding formwork. Eight main pylons are interconnected with fixed steel bracings and shock dampers.  

The sliding formwork panels are supported from the metallic platforms above and they are lifted along with the cast of the concrete inside the eight main pylons (they are also used to lift and install the steel bracings). 

H.V.A.C principles: 

Heating is done through: geothermal water and controlled greenhouse effect. Cooling is done through: cross ventilation, chimney effect and chillers installed on platforms, using the electrical output of the axial turbines and the adjustable photovoltaic panels.

Office Floor Plan 1200 sqm 

Office Floor Plan 1420 sqm