The International Council for High-Rise Buildings and Urban Environments (CTBUH), based in Chicago, has announced the winners of its annual award for the best new skyscrapers in the world. In 2016, 132 buildings were nominated for the award.
The prizes were awarded to the best high-rise buildings in each of four regions: South and North America, Europe, the united regions of Asia-Australia and the Middle East-Africa. The laureates are selected by an independent panel of experts; When selecting the members of the Council, they are guided not only by the principle of number of storeys: they take into account the environmental friendliness of the building, its interaction with the existing spatial context, innovative solutions, and the impact on the people who operate these buildings. Also selected was the 10 Year Award, the Hearst Tower, built in 2006 in New York by Norman Foster. This award celebrates skyscrapers that have stood the test of time.
The Grand Prix winner - the best tower in the world to be chosen from among the regional laureates - will be announced on November 3. It will be identified at the 15th annual CTBUH symposium at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
North America and South America Winner
VIA 57 West, New York
BIG
The best skyscraper in the Americas was the VIA 57 West residential complex (142 m high), designed by BIG. According to the organizers of the competition, the architects were able to create a completely new type of high-rise building.
For the complex even came up with the name "courtscraper" - derived from the English "courtyard" (courtyard) and "skyscraper" (skyscraper), since the tower is a hybrid of a European quarter with a courtyard and a Manhattan skyscraper. The complex combines the compactness, density and intimacy of a classic house and the grandeur, airiness and openness of a skyscraper.
Winner in the Asia-Australia region
Shanghai Tower, Shanghai
Gensler
The Shanghai Tower, designed by the American workshop Gensler, became the leader of the Asian-Australian zone. At an altitude of 632 m, it is second only to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (828 m). Shanghai Tower is located in Pudong district, very close to the Jin Mao skyscrapers (421 m) and
Shanghai World Financial Center (492 m), included in the list of the tallest buildings in the Middle Kingdom.
The spiraling spiral Shanghai Tower is a symbol of the dynamic development of modern China. The "twisted" shape was chosen not only for the sake of the visual component: tests have shown that the wind load on the Shanghai tower is 24% less compared to traditional skyscrapers.
Winner in the Europe region
White Walls, Nicosia
Ateliers Jean Nouvel
White Walls, a 69-meter residential and office building, has single-handedly transformed the landscape of the Cyprus capital Nicosia.
The 18-storey building designed by Jean Nouvel is undeniably Mediterranean. At the same time, the island construction could not escape the powerful influence of continental architecture with its very progressive environmental requirements. The array of white concrete walls is "softened" by perforated square holes, from which various types of vegetation fall. Abundant green spaces are also present on the balconies - as a result, 80% of the façade area is occupied by representatives of the local flora.
Middle East-Africa Winner
The Cube, Beirut
Orange architect
The 56 m high residential building called The Cube, invented by the Dutch architects Orange Architects, is located in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The exterior of the building resembles a pile of casually folded magazines.
The 14 floors of the building are formed by blocks, "stacked" on top of each other, each has one or two apartments (as a result, 21 dwellings are obtained). Each of the 14 volumes offers a unique panoramic view of the Lebanese capital. Seismic resistance of the structure is provided by the "core" of the elevator shaft and staircases.
Decade award
Hearst Tower, New York
Foster + Partners
Norman Foster's Hearst Tower, which was completed in 2006, has been named "Skyscraper of the Decade".
The skyscraper was erected on top of a six-story building of 1928 - a recognized architectural monument. The Hearst Corporation headquarters became the first skyscraper in New York to receive the LEED Gold certification.
The Norman Foster Tower is known to be 26% more resource efficient than a conventional building of the same size, thanks in large part to the use of steel structures arranged in a diagonal grid. The concept saved 2,000 tons of steel, with 90% of the materials made from recycled raw materials. The vice-president of the media corporation Hearst Corporation, Louis Nowikas, claims that the company has not stopped there and continues to work in the framework of eco-development and ensures the "green" operation of the building.
