The world’s tallest twisting tower, and second tallest building overall, Shanghai Tower, was recently selected by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat as the 2016 winner of the “Best Tall Building Worldwide” award.
Shanghai Tower was selected from among 3 other towers that won a Best Tall Building award for their region (and from 132 entries overall). Shanghai Tower represented the Asia & Australasia region. The other three regional winners were VIA 57 West, from the Americas; The White Walls, from Europe; and The Cube, from the Middle East and Africa.
Mixing an innovative design scheme with traditional Shanghainese architectural elements impressed the jury. For example, the multi-story atria between the double-skin façade takes the concept of shikumen, a housing style that blends indoor and outdoor space, and uses it on a much larger scale.
Of Shanghai Tower and its atria and double-skin façade, jury member Antony Wood, Executive Director, CTBUH said in a press release, “It contains the world’s first truly ‘inhabitable’ double-skin façade on a skyscraper, which is not only remarkable for its intended greenery, but its incorporation into the tower’s overall ventilation strategy. The sacrifice of valuable floor area to realize this social amenity proves that the aspirations for Shanghai Tower went far beyond mere commercial gain.”
Shanghai Tower was designed by Gensler and completed construction in 2015.
For the full list of the 2016 CTBUH award winners, click here.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Oct 21, 2015
Three years after The Shard, Renzo Piano reveals plans for new London tower
The 65-story tower at 31 London Street will have 200 homes and more than 40,000 sf of public space. It could also bring some life to Paddington Station.
High-rise Construction | Oct 13, 2015
Azerbaijan Tower tops list of 10 tallest buildings in the works
Along with the central Asian nation, China, Malaysia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates all have skyscraper projects that are under construction or in development.
High-rise Construction | Oct 8, 2015
The 75 tallest observation decks in the world
Chicago's Willis Tower cracks the top 20 as the Middle East and China dominate the rest of the list compiled by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
High-rise Construction | Oct 5, 2015
Zaha Hadid designs cylindrical office building with world’s tallest atrium
The 200-meter-high open space will cut the building in two.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 1, 2015
Wiel Arets unveils twin, 558-foot mixed-use towers in Bahrain’s capital
The development, Bahrain Bay Tower, will consist of two residential towers connected “by a plinth of retail, office, parking, and public park space.”
Multifamily Housing | Sep 28, 2015
Vo Trong Nghia’s 'diamond lotus' will feature sky garden pathways linking high-rises
The 22-story housing complex in Ho Chi Minh City will have façades covered with plants and a rooftop garden that connects the structures.
Architects | Sep 24, 2015
Supertall buildings vie for dominance along Chicago’s skyline
The latest proposals pit designs by Rafael Viñoly, Jeanne Gang, and Helmut Jahn.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 23, 2015
Richard Meier unveils design scheme for residential high-rise in Taipei
The sleek and minimalist luxury tower will offer guests and residents views of the iconic Taipei 101.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 16, 2015
Kengo Kuma proposes ‘carved tower’ for downtown Vancouver
The 40-story residential tower, to be built in downtown Vancouver’s West End neighborhood, will have 188 residential units, "with many units within the carved deductions possessing substantially sized patios," according to Vancity Buzz.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 16, 2015
Quarter-acre of land is enough space for an upscale Chicago apartment complex
The building will hold 90 micro apartments, 40 pre-furnished extended-stay hotel rooms, and a small retail space on the ground floor.
