Among the run of the mill skyscrapers and office centres, there are many amazing and extraordinary projects. This article by Tranio.com writer Julia Guschina brings you on a tour of the most unusual commercial buildings around the globe.
1. Apple HQ (Silicon Valley, USA)
By 2017, the construction of Apple's
The project will cost this
2. Nakagin Capsule Tower (Tokyo, Japan)
The Nakagin Capsule Tower was designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa in 1972. The latter was a founder of Metabolist Movement, an architectural school that combines notions of organic biological growth into the design of megastructures.
This
3. NORD/LB Bank HQ (Hannover, Germany)
Hannover's main tourist attraction is the headquarters of NORD/LB Bank, a futuristic building made of glass and steel blocks connected by transparent corridors. It is even equipped with three artificial lakes covering 300 sq m of its territory.
After completion in 2002, it won the prestigious British
Stirling Prize for original architectural design. This unique
skyscraper accommodates 1,500 employees as well as a restaurant and
an art gallery. At night, it turns into a futuristic
4. Robot Building (Bangkok, Thailand)
The Robot Building in Bangkok, designed by architect Sumet Jumsai, is supposed to reflect the modernisation and computerisation of society and comes complete with eyes and even antennae. Built in 1972, it serves as a headquarters for the United Overseas Bank located in the Sathorn business district.
This famous Thai "robot" is very popular with tourists, though few know that Jumsai actually got his inspiration whilst playing with his son's toys. Some say that it is an absurd construction, but it certainly has its charm. The Robot Building was named one of the most unusual buildings of the century by the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
5. ING House (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
This quirky construction in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is
often referred to as "the Dustbuster" or "the
Shoe", though it's really called the ING House, after the
bank that built it (but is no longer there). It may be the most
expensive construction in the Netherlands but some locals still
can't agree on what it actually looks like. Is it a shoe? A
boot?
The building's design was ruled by considerations such as the environmental footprint, open spaces and innovation. Aside from offices, there are six themed gardens, fountains, recreational zones and double soundproofing to insulate its occupants from passing cars on the nearby highway.
6. Kingdom Centre (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Centre, also known as the Burj Al Mamlakah was opened in 2002. "The Bottle Opener", as some call it, can be recognised by its unusual design and large hole at the top. It is the third tallest skyscraper in the country.
The building has a mall,
7. Leaning Tower (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Capital Gate, or the "Leaning Tower", is located in
Abu Dhabi. The distinct curve in the building's design got it
into the Guinness Book of Records as the "world's furthest
leaning
The first 12 floors of Capital Gate are vertical while the rest
are tilted from 30 to 140 cm. It took four years to build and cost
more than $2 billion. Offices occupy the building's lower
levels and there is
8. Gate of Europe (Madrid, Spain)
The "Gate of Europe" (Puerta De Europa) is composed of twin buildings located in the heart of Madrid on Castilla Square (Plaza de Castilla). The towers were completed in 1996 according to a design by American architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee. Rumour has it that Johnson said: "We have to end the right angle if we do not want to die of boredom. The skyscraper is over; we can forget it".
True to form, Phillip and Burgee gave both towers a 15° incline so it looks like they are falling towards each other. The towers measure 155 metres shared over 26 floors. It is the second highest building in Spain right after the Torres de Santa Cruz residence buildings in the Canary Islands.
9. Aqua Tower (Chicago, USA)
Chicago's Aqua Tower measures 262 metres, making it the highest building in the world to be designed by a female architect. The façade of the building is truly unique, designed to emulate the surface of a waterfall. The architect, Jeanne Gang, says that she was inspired the limestone folds in the Great Lakes area.
The appearance is not only
10. F&F Tower (Panama City, Panama)
The F&F Tower, previously known as Revolution Tower, is an
office centre located in the financial district in the centre
Panama City. This
Bright sparkling turquoise and emerald colours make the tower even more noticeable among neighbouring grey skyscrapers. In 2011, the F&F Tower won the world's most prestigious architectural prize: the Emporis Skyscraper Award for architectural excellence and functionality.
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