Building in the Sahara seems to be in the minds of many French architects lately. Aside from Parisian practice XTU Architects’ sand-and-bubble building method for shelters in one of the world’s most inhospitable landscapes, OXO Architectes and Nicolas Laisné Associés—both also from the greater Paris area—revealed their own proposal for the Sahara, a futuristic mixed-use tower called The City Sand Tower, Gizmag reports.
Relying on rainwater collection, solar power, and geothermal energy, the designers aim to make this so-called “vertical city” a sustainable one. The project description says that the building will be 1,476 feet with a total floor space of 192 acres.
According to renderings released by OXO Architectes, agriculture will be planted in a central tower inside the main structure, so that produce is protected from the harsh desert conditions.
Around 22% of the structure’s space will be allocated to office space, 17.5% for hotel space, 15% for housing, and the remaining available space for a shopping center, sports area, museum, spa, dining locations, and conference rooms. The cherry on top is a meteorological observatory and a heliport.
The firms said they imagine the project to start construction in 2025, with construction phased over 50 years, Gizmag reports.
Read the full story at Gizmag.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Jun 1, 2018
CTBUH names 2018 Best Tall Building Worldwide, among nine other award winners
Oasia Downtown Hotel named “Best Tall Building Worldwide” for 2018.
| May 24, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: Security and the built environment: Insights from an embassy designer
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), embassy designer Tom Jacobs explores ways that provide the needed protection while keeping intact the representational and inspirational qualities of a design.
High-rise Construction | May 18, 2018
The 100 tallest buildings ever conventionally demolished
The list comes from a recent CTBUH study.
High-rise Construction | May 14, 2018
Register before it’s too late: 2018 Tall + Urban Innovation Conference
The conference explores and celebrates the very best in innovative tall buildings, urban spaces, building technologies, and construction practices from around the world.
Reconstruction & Renovation | May 8, 2018
Willis Tower elevators receive upgrade as part of $500 million update
Otis will handle the upgrades.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 24, 2018
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture designs 47-story condo tower in Miami
The tower will be located in Miami’s South Brickell neighborhood.
High-rise Construction | Apr 17, 2018
Developers reveal plans for 1,422-foot-tall skyscraper in Chicago
The tower would be the second tallest in the city.
Mixed-Use | Apr 5, 2018
SOM unveils design for 54-story mixed-use tower in Hangzhou, China
The tower will rise 944 feet.
Wood | Feb 15, 2018
Japanese company announces plans for the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper
The planned tower would rise 350 meters (1148 feet).
High-rise Construction | Feb 14, 2018
BIG and Carlo Ratti Associati-designed Singapore skyscraper has open-air ‘oases’ at multiple levels
The new skyscraper will include “the office of the future.”
