 |
Khanty Mansiysk Siberia Tower Of Glass
A new mixed-use tower of glass will rise above Khanty Mansiysk, Siberia. This unusual structure will make use of an environmental strategy that should set a new standard for Siberia, which suffered greatly at the hands of the leaders of the former Soviet Union. The building has been designed by Foster + Partners.
(Tower of Glass, Khanty Mansiysk, Siberia)
The setting for the building is a densely wooded area; two podium buildings each facetted like a cut diamond set off and help illuminate the interior of the main tower. The building design is intended to take advantage of sustainable energy strategies; the atria of the building and its surrounding structures should facilitate solar gain and bring daylight into the building.
(Tower of Glass, Khanty Mansiysk, Siberia)
This proposed building reminds me of the structure from Robert Silverberg's 1970 novel Tower of Glass; a wealthy eccentric builds a vaulting glass tower up from the permafrost of the Arctic Circle.
Simeon Krug's tower now rises 100 meters above the gray-brown tundra of the Canadian Arctic, west of Hudson Bay. At present the tower is merely a glassy stump...Krug has his androids working three shifts round the clock; when it gets dark, the construction site is lit by millions of reflector plates strung across the sky at a height of one kilometer and powered by the little million-kilowatt fusion generator at the north end of the site. "How high will it be when it's finished?" Quenelle asks.
"1500 meters," Krug replies. "A tremendous tower of glass full of machinery that nobody can understand. And then we'll turn it on. And then we'll talk to the stars.
The construction of the Khanty Mansiysk structure would certainly go faster with teams of androids...
Here are a couple of views of Silverberg's structure, from some of the book cover art:
(Robert Silverberg's Tower of Glass cover art)
This Silverberg novel is also notable for the first use of the term "jack in", referring to a means of direct perception of a computer-generated world.
Via Electro Plankton; see also the Foster + Partners website.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/25/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 2 )
Related News Stories - (" Living Space ")
555 KUBIK - If A House Was Dreaming
What would a morphing transforming building that constantly revealed its internal spaces look like?
'Tofu' Chair Inspired By Plant Cells
Reveal the plant cell-inspired chair within the carved block of 'tofu. This design won the red dot design award in Singapore this year.
Instant Housing
Haven't you ever found a spot with a view so great, you'd just like to plunk a house down right there, and enjoy it right now? Now you can.
Man Beds And SF Sleep Lairs
It's a niche market, but you can get a bed right out of science fiction. I'm talking to you, man.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Current News
AirRobot Micro-UAV 'Fairies' In Shakespeare Play
At least they were not the 'rude mechanicals'.
Paralysis Ray Uses Photocontrolled Molecular Switch
Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.
Brine Wells May Swallow Towns
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of the Quadraturin essence in 1 cup of water.
Will In-Vitro Meat Change Our Lives?
ChickieNobs, anyone?
Walky iPhone Finger Gesture Robot Controller
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.
OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Foils Carjacker
Better than a car chase.
Robot Martial Arts Videos
Robo-Shiko!
Interactive TV Patent From Sony
Can you dance faster than the White Clown?
Smart Contact Lens With Power Harvesting Circuits
Smart contacts with VR connections.
'Significant Amount' Of Lunar Water Found
Droogs! There's water ice on the moon!
FOXP2 Tweak Yields Planet Of The Apes?
Get your filthy words off me, you damn dirty ape!
Lev, Theremin-Playing Robot
Patsy Cline classic played by robot.
XT-1 Micro Mouse With Blazing Speed
These are fully autonomouse robots.
Escape Pods, Refuge Of ISS Astronauts From Space Junk
Who first thought about escape pods?
Steerable Bowling Ball Is A Cheesy Spherical Robot
Once the province of geeks, now in bowling alleys.
Bio-Mechanics And Micro-Robotic Flight
Micro air vehicles and insect flight.
