To make sure surrounding, shorter buildings won’t be blocked by sunlight, architects in London’s NBBJ office have designed a scheme that will make tall towers reflect and diffuse sunlight.
But the human brain wasn’t alone in solving the shadow conundrum. Wired reports that the architects used a software called Rhinoceros, which allowed them to input various building requirements, and then used algorithms to generate designs that maximize the light reflected onto the ground. Multiple design options are then displayed for the architects.
“Some are bonkers,” Christian Coop, NBBJ’s Design Director, told Wired about the computer-generated designs. So after a basic design was produced, the architects needed to fine tune it and adjust the requirement.
The final design that was settled on is of a pair of highly reflective towers that are curved at the right places to bounce off light over the other tower’s shadow.
Because the light is diffused instead of projected away, it won’t be possible to fry an egg or melt plastic bags (and burn people).
“It’s definitely high time for this type of design to be baked into the building so it can play well with the environment,” Daniel Safarik, a spokesperson at the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, told Wired. “It should be standard practice.”
Related Stories
Laboratories | Aug 30, 2021
Science in the sky: Designing high-rise research labs
Recognizing the inherent socioeconomic and environmental benefits of high-density design, research corporations have boldly embraced high-rise research labs.
High-rise Construction | Aug 25, 2021
Summit One Vanderbilt immersive experience and observatory set to open
The project is located in the crown of One Vanderbilt.
Office Buildings | Aug 4, 2021
‘Lighthouse’ office tower will be new headquarters for A2A in Milan
The tower, dubbed Torre Faro, reimagines the company’s office spaces to adapt to people’s ever-changing needs at work.
High-rise Construction | May 27, 2021
The anti-high rise: Seattle's The Net by NBBJ
In this exclusive video interview for HorizonTV, Ryan Mullenix, Design Partner with NBBJ, talks with BD+C's John Caulfield about a new building in Seattle called The Net that promotes wellness and connectivity.
Mixed-Use | Apr 22, 2021
Jakarta’s first supertall tower tops out
The project will anchor the Thamrin Nine development.
High-rise Construction | Jan 20, 2021
Casablanca Finance City Tower becomes Morphosis’ first project in Africa
The tower is the first building completed in Casablanca Finance City.
Products and Materials | Sep 23, 2020
A new portable restroom is designed for mobility
Lendlease invented the H3 Wellness Hub, which can include natural lighting and UV bacteria control.
High-rise Construction | Mar 20, 2020
Edge, the Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor skydeck opens
The attraction is part of 30 Hudson Yards.
High-rise Construction | Nov 6, 2019
AS+GG releases design scheme for the South HeXi Yuzui Financial District and Tower
The firm won an international design competition for the project in 2018.
High-rise Construction | Oct 7, 2019
A giant shipwreck sculpture highlights the proposal for Prague’s tallest building
Sculptor David Černý and architect Tomáš Císař from the studio Black n´ Arch designed the project.
