Mixed Use Tower In San Jose De Costa Rica By Moho Architects
Rising above the skyline of San Jose in Costa Rica, this mixed use tower by Spanish firm Moho Architects will be a new landmark, providing crucial amenities for the city, sheltered from the local climate. The concept is driven by a progressive environmental strategy that is expected to establish new benchmarks for the region.
The building offers an ideal model of sustainable urban living by reducing reliance on transport and balancing energy consumption between its mixed-use program of day and night time activities. Program include mixed commercial and retail spaces together with a business center, offices, conference rooms, hotel floors and casino. The tower rises 25 floors consisting of a viewing platform and restaurant providing panoramic views over the city.
The tower splits and creases independently as it rises into the sky. This ‘head split’ configuration, permits natural lighting, while sky courts filled with vegetation punctuate at intervals the tower and mitigate the hot climate.
The development will take advantage of a number of sustainable energy strategies and key to the energy performance of the building are its wooden brise-soleil facades, designed to filter solar gain and to encourage daylight to permeate the complex. The tower is intended to be a paradigm for passive environmental control, providing an alternative to the more conventional models of sealed and air-conditioned glass stumps. The layered facade cuts air-conditioning load and the plan encourages daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting.
The project is currently in the schematic design phase and is expected to be completed in 2012.
For further information visit: www.mohoweb.com.
I’ve never guess where the ideas for these buildings come from.
So certain parts are slanted right? Or are those parts actually capable of movement? I’m not too familiar with the diagram on the entry, is it showing how they’re rearranged or what they’re capable of doing?
Stupid question, but if its the latter, that’s simply remarkable.
I am so very impressed with this unique building design that I’m almost speechless. What a unique way of providing natural light, which will save on resources. The trick is still keeping the building attractive. Still, this is just very cool. Everyone will be talking about it, that’s for sure.
This building looks great. The splits on the top of the building is a novel idea by whoever’s building this. Would be great to work or live on such a cool building. I also noticed that the splits would help the building withstand strong winds too.