So far, we are talking about four regional laureates, of which an international leader will be chosen at the next CTBUH congress. In the meantime, the organizers and members of the jury note the high activity in the construction of skyscrapers all over the world: only 32 towers were commissioned in the safe pre-crisis 2005, and in 2011 - 88; this year it is planned to complete 96. The first place in the number of high-rise buildings is occupied by the main part of Asia, followed by the Middle East.
However, this year the Australian skyscraper - Tower 1 Bligh Street in Sydney, designed by the German architect Christoph Ingenhoven, became the best in the Asia and Australasia region for the first time in the history of the award. This 135-meter office building is noted for its environmental friendliness: its entire length is pierced by a naturally ventilated atrium, the facade allows ventilation of the premises, which is combined with an innovative solar-gas hybrid system that maintains an optimal temperature inside and generates electricity. In addition, the architect masterfully entered an elegant ellipse of the plan into the complex configuration.
Another newcomer is the Palazzo Lombardia building of the Lombardy administration in Milan, created by the American bureau Pei Cobb Freed: this is the first Italian building to be awarded. The 161 m high skyscraper has become the tallest in the city and region. Its peculiarity is a huge lobby-plaza with a membrane-roof made of ETFE polymer, reminiscent of Milan's passages. In addition, Palazzo Lombardia has a series of green spaces and squares linking its foot to the city and the nearby famous Pirelli Tower.
In the Americas, the Absolute Towers has been awarded by the Chinese workshop MAD. The two towers were nicknamed "Marilyn Monroe" from residents of the Canadian city of Mississauga within the Greater Toronto City for their "curvaceous" shapes. The wiggling silhouette is a reflection of the very structure of buildings, which distinguishes them from most similar buildings, where such an effect is achieved with the help of balconies or a facade.
In the Middle East, Jean Nouvel's Doha Tower, built in the capital of Qatar, became the laureate. This office building resembles
Torre Agbar by the same architect, although they are distinguished by their design: the new tower does not have a central core, it is structurally replaced by evenly spaced frame supports, which made it possible to use the space more efficiently. The outer cladding of the façade deserves a special mention, reminiscent of traditional Arabic carved lattices: it decorates the building and protects the interior from the sun's rays.
This is the first time CTBUH has awarded an Innovation Award: it was awarded to Aedas for the Al Bahar Towers twin tower office complex in Abu Dhabi. The jury appreciated the mechanical protective screens on the facades, controlled by a computer and allowing to reduce the heat of the sun by more than 50%.
Personal awards were also presented. Helmut Jahn, the author of many interesting skyscrapers, including the Deutsche Post in Bonn, received the Lynn S. Beedle Award for his vital contribution to architecture. The Fazlur R. Khan Medal was awarded to American engineers Charles Thornton and Richard Tomasetti, who worked on Taipei 101 projects in Taiwan, Petronas Towers in Malaysia and many other high-rise buildings.
N. F.
