Because Northern Link's new ventilation towers are located within National City Park in Stockholm, the industrial, infrastructural pieces needed to blend into the surrounding environment so as to reduce their visual impact on the nature in the region. To achieve that tricky feat, Rundquist Arkitekter, the studio behind the project, clad the towers in wooden tiles and gave them a graceful, organic shape.
A cross-section of the top and base portions of the Northern Link towers would reveal precisely the same shape. However, rather than rising uniformly, the upper opening is offset about 45 degrees from the base. This causes the structural lines of the towers to gently angle as they rise, giving the structures the appearance of a tree trunk — fitting considering the location.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Nature-inspired Architecture
- The design of the Northern Link ventilation towers, clad in wooden tiles and shaped like a tree trunk, presents an opportunity for architects and designers to incorporate natural elements in functional structures.
- Integration of Infrastructure Into Natural Settings
- The Northern Link ventilation towers provide an example of how infrastructure projects can be integrated seamlessly into natural settings, which can be further explored by architects and urban planners.
- Sustainable Infrastructure Design
- The wooden cladding and organic shape of the Northern Link ventilation towers showcase a trend towards more sustainable and eco-friendly design in infrastructure projects, which can inspire more innovative and eco-conscious solutions for the future.
Sectors Adopting This
- Architecture
- Architects can learn from the Northern Link ventilation towers' design to create more nature-inspired, sustainable, and integrated structures that fit into their surroundings.
- Urban Planning
- Urban planners can explore ways to integrate infrastructure into natural environments, taking into account the environmental impact and design aesthetics of their projects.
- Construction and Engineering
- Construction and engineering industries can develop new sustainable materials and techniques to construct infrastructure that blends into its environment while maintaining functional integrity.
