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Taipei 101 Tower |
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Architecture
| Architect: | C.Y. Lee, Taiwan |
| Location: | Taipei |
| Country: | Taiwan |
Lighting
| lighting instruments: | - R2 Maxi projector illuminating the facade |
Moving closer to heaven
The Taipei 101 Tower completed at the end of 2004 is a superlative construction: the highest skyscraper in the world with 508 metres also has the highest usable storey (438m), the fastest elevator (1010 metres per minute) and the heaviest pendulum to counter-balance oscillations from earthquakes or typhoons, with 660 tons. The name of the tower located in the northeast of Taiwan's capital city Taipeh is taken from the number of its storeys.
The building has been constructed on a site that is scarcely suitable for skyscrapers. While Manhatten stands upon a granite platform, Taipeh Tower sits on 557 struts that sink into the soft ground up to 80m below the surface. For even more stability the building is constructed with so-called 'mega-struts' that combine all storeys via giant crossbars.
In order to protect the building against typhoons and similar dangers the architects did not only depend upon steel, concrete and static calculations. Feng Shui and talismans also play a role. For example they gave the steel girders in the lower floors the form of luck-bringing dragon skeletons.
Cylindrical elements on the fenestration take their form from dragons' heads and the stone drums of chinese temples. The whole architectural construction resembles a giant bamboo shoot, which in Taiwan is synonymous with luck and wealth.
In order that the beauty of this organic tower of light can be seen during the night, the facade is of course illuminated with mit R2 Maxi projectors from Siteco.
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