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MVRDV's twisting tower in Vienna looks like it might snap in half

MVRDV's twisting tower in Vienna looks like it might snap in half

MVRDV, the Dutch firm known for dreaming up dramatic designs, has stayed true to form with its latest project: a 360-foot-tall twisting tower in Vienna. The structure appears like a standard-issue modern glass tower that has been grabbed at its top and then violently twisted. The result—ten rotating, slightly cantilevering floor plates—creates what the architects describe as a “curving waist.” The tower is said to have an “elegant, hourglass figure,” but appears more like a top-heavy structure ready to snap.

 

Giving the building a “waist,” as it were, allows MVRDV to create a visually arresting structure that would not blanket surrounding buildings in shadow. The firm also wanted to create a more slender building that would be granted approval to rise above existing height limits. “The site for the tower is directly adjacent to a metro station, and building regulations initially restricted allowable construction to a 250-foot-tall volume, which should be trapezoidal in plan,” said the firm in a statement. “MVRDV proposed a more compact and efficient square layout, which resulted in a taller volume to make up for the reduced footprint.”

MVRDV said its tower can be configured for either office or residential use. It is expected to break ground next year.

[h/t Gizmag]

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