This upcycled tower near Sydney, Australia is the epitome of sustainable and cost-effective architecture. Originally built in 1976, the building was "falling out of favor in recent years and losing tenants to the newer towers." In order to fix this, the owner of the building, AMP Capital, launched a design competition for architects. The call called for redesigning the building without demolishing it and there were a few key expectations. Danish architecture firm 3XN won this competition and embarked on an epic adventure to fix the 70s building.
The upcycled tower retains most of its original building features. 3XN "dramatically reshaped [the building's] rectangular floor plates into a stack of rotating trapezoids." In doing so, the studio was able to optimize views which is surely a selling feature for prospective tenants. The upcycled tower is now named Quay Quarter Tower.
Image Credit: Adam Mork/3XN
What's Driving This Trend
- Upcycling Architecture
- With rising concerns over carbon footprint, upcycling pre-existing architecture can lead to sustainable and cost-effective construction while retaining original building features.
- Design Competitions for Architecture
- Initiating design competitions can not only provide a fresh take on current architecture but also optimize the building's purpose and value.
- Trapezoidal Building Design
- Moving away from conventional rectangular building design to a more dynamic and functional trapezoidal shape can create architectural wonders that enhance building features such as views and natural light.
Who This Affects Most
- Real Estate
- Implementing upcycling architecture in real estate can lead to sustainable and cost-effective building construction which can increase property values and tenant interest.
- Architecture
- Design competitions encourage innovation for the redesign of pre-existing buildings, which can optimize their function and value in addition to discovering new technology and materials for future constructions.
- Construction
- The implementation of trapezoidal design in construction creates opportunities for more dynamic shapes, enhanced building features, and an overall more modern and innovative construction approach.
