258 TPT, Three Partnership Tower

Instead of a single volume, which follows the curve of the adjacent roads, we propose breaking the line of the facade and creating a polygonal volume that is juxtaposed to the speed and flow of the highways. That way we achieve distinct elevations and views, where every single one shows the building in a different character and with a specific proportion.

The two most outer corners of the TPT are bent slightly inwards to pick up the perspective lines of the adjacent buildings. This move integrates the new volume in the existing context and suggests an embracing gesture, which defines a plaza in front of the building. Overhangs and a subtle undulation of the surface of the plaza strengthen the identity of this newly generated public space.

As the tower grows in height, the shape of the volume changes in the northern portion from slim to bulky and in the southern portion vice versa from bulky to slim. This opens the space behind the building towards the south and closes it towards the north. A spatially engaged and protected zone is created at the back of the building. We propose using this space as a small public park with dense vegetation, protecting it from the noise of the big highways. The ground floor would become the connecting space between the park in the back and the plaza in the front of the TPT.

Volume

On the lower floors of the TPT the program is unified and simplified to allow maximum flexibility for large open areas with commercial use. In contrast we propose dividing the upper floors of the building into three volumes to optimize views and orientation for the offices. To provide additional flexibility in the program distribution, the transition from one type to the other is fluent, creating a hybrid zone, where both program functions are possible. This creates the distinct look of the building: Three volumes melt down into one volume, three buildings yet
one building. It is the identity of the TPT –”Three Partnership Tower”.

Another advantage of the three volumes is the provision of two gaps of 13 and 6 meter each, which significantly maximizes the penetration of sunlight, ventilation and views through the upper portion of the building.

Of the three volumes, each one has a different height, with the south volume being the tallest and the middle one being the lowest. Each picks up a scale and mass of the sur-rounding existing buildings, integrating the TPT into the varied urban context.

Facade

The facade of the TPT enhances the sculptural aspect of the building. Each warped surface of the facade is triangulated and slightly undulating. A subtle inward and outward movement of each triangular surface as well their various sizes and spans create a continuous, crystalline relief. This not only solves the geometrical problem of the warped surface, it also reduces significantly the glare and reflection created by a glass curtain wall facade. Instead of one monolithic planar reflective surface, the façade is divided into smaller prismatic units, so that only few of them individually reflect the direct sunlight.

The triangulated surface of the façade is constructed as a double skin glass curtain wall, with the outer layer providing a filter for noise and air pollution as well as a thermal barrier. Operable windows in the inner skin allow the user to control the climate individually and locally. The park in the back of the building acts as the lung, which serves as a fresh air supply for the offices. In some areas, like lobbies and other key public spaces, the gap between the layers of glass will increase to accommodate generous and tall atrium spaces. The skin becomes more transparent and almost fragile, with large glowing volumes of light and air behind. The building’s entire surface will read as a facetted surface of a crystal, a monolithic and shiny appearance with sparkles of light and reflection distributed over the entire crust.

The warm red colour of the inner layer of the facade adds spatial depth to the facade and engages the reflecting outer skin, thus breaking the 2-dimensional, hermetic and closed appearance of a typical corporate office tower facade. Depending on the time of day and weather conditions, the colour of the building will steadily change from reflecting the blue of the sky, to an intense glowing red at night.
Herzog & de Meuron, 2004