A UK architect is proposing a radical solution to London's looming problem of crowding.
Teatum+Teatum has developed a plan for a 1,500-metre-tall tower that would house 100,000 people. The round giant would be a self-contained community with parks, schools and restaurants, and loom over the city, where the tallest building, the Shard, currently under construction, is 310 metres tall.
"It is conceived not as a building so much as a vertical extrusion of the city," the architects explained on the website Populararchitecture.com.
For the record, the chances of this tower being built are akin to the odds of horses growing wings.
But it is an interesting exercise in future urban planning, an attempt to tackle some of the challenges presented by population growth.
By building upwards instead of outwards, the design maximises the use of land, a scarce commodity in the city. High density also increases the efficiencies of mass transport, energy and recycling systems.
The exterior design is reminiscent of the 0-14 - the "Swiss Cheese Building" - in Dubai's Business Bay. The white outer wall would handle the weight of the building, freeing interior space, while round holes would let in natural light to illuminate "communal spaces" including gardens and parks.
The core of the tower would feature five massive vertical tubes for a transport system "comparable to a London underground train", capable of carrying large numbers of people. Smaller lifts would then take passengers to their individual floors.
The building would be divided into various communities, each with its own public spaces, topped by three "super-districts" each capable of housing 33,000 people.
Taking the concept out of the realm of architecture and into the world of social engineering, each district would elect its own representatives for local government, the designers propose. The entire tower would be represented by an MP in parliament, reflecting its status as a standalone population centre.
"The tower would allow London to expand and develop without putting strain on its historic fabric, by condensing all new development within a small footprint," the architects say.
kbrass@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
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8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
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10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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