Expo 2020 Observation Tower
An exterior precedent for a circular observation deck featuring integrated tree planting and a glazed perimeter, capturing striking silhouette effects at twilight.
- What we like about this project
- Integrated full-scale trees growing atop an elevated industrial steel platform.
Materials
- steel
- glass
- concrete
- native-planting
Visual identifiers
- observation-deck
- circular-platform
- silhouettes
- rooftop-trees
Style tags
- contemporary
- experiential
- tower
Visual tags
- observation-tower
- public-realm
- sunset
- cylindrical-core
- panoramic
- Geometry
- Central vertical cylindrical core supporting a stacked dual-level circular viewing platform with a perimeter glass balustrade and mature rooftop trees.
- Facade system
- Glass balustrade wrapping a multi-tier circular steel and concrete viewing deck.
- Structural guess
- Central tubular steel or concrete compression mast supporting cantilevered circular floor plates.
- Spatial scale
- Human scale readable via silhouetted figures crowding the observation deck and framing the perimeter.
- Lighting
- Monochromatic backlighting from a warm gradient sunset sky casting the entire tower structure and visitors into sharp silhouette.
- Atmosphere
- Serene, contemplative twilight atmosphere underscored by high-altitude silhouettes.
- Environmental context
- Open air at high elevation against an uninterrupted orange twilight atmosphere.
- Spatial experience
- Elevated panoramic viewpoint that frames visitors as silhouettes against the horizon while integrating soft pockets of landscape at height.
- Composition rhythm
- Symmetrical vertical axis flanked by the rhythmic spacing of silhouetted visitors and planted trees along the circular rim.
- Style reading
- Contemporary experiential tower architecture
- Program
- Observation tower and public viewing platform
- Perspective
- Exterior Facade
- Discipline
- architecture
- Materials
- steel, glass, concrete, native-planting
- Visual identifiers
- observation-deck, circular-platform, silhouettes, rooftop-trees
- Style tags
- contemporary, experiential, tower
- Visual tags
- observation-tower, public-realm, sunset, cylindrical-core, panoramic
- Geometry
- Central vertical cylindrical core supporting a stacked dual-level circular viewing platform with a perimeter glass balustrade and mature rooftop trees.
- Facade system
- Glass balustrade wrapping a multi-tier circular steel and concrete viewing deck.
- Structural guess
- Central tubular steel or concrete compression mast supporting cantilevered circular floor plates.
- Spatial scale
- Human scale readable via silhouetted figures crowding the observation deck and framing the perimeter.
- Lighting
- Monochromatic backlighting from a warm gradient sunset sky casting the entire tower structure and visitors into sharp silhouette.
- Atmosphere
- Serene, contemplative twilight atmosphere underscored by high-altitude silhouettes.
- Environmental context
- Open air at high elevation against an uninterrupted orange twilight atmosphere.
- Spatial experience
- Elevated panoramic viewpoint that frames visitors as silhouettes against the horizon while integrating soft pockets of landscape at height.
- Composition rhythm
- Symmetrical vertical axis flanked by the rhythmic spacing of silhouetted visitors and planted trees along the circular rim.
- Style reading
- Contemporary experiential tower architecture
- Program
- Observation tower and public viewing platform
- Perspective
- Exterior Facade
- Discipline
- architecture