Tornado tower | Visiondivision collaboration with Markus Wagner

A young Sweden based architecture firm Visiondivision believes in strong concepts and constantly re-investigating their role as architects by always pushing the limits of their field of work and the strategies of their design. Tornado, is an entry for an opera competition in Taiwan which was a collaboration with Markus Wagner, a member of Svensk Standard. This project recalls me the Dubai Dynamic tower by David Fisher in our previous post – the building in motion, both projects are really impressive!

+ Text below provided by Visiondivision

This is a powerful energy generating machine on the outside with a sensual, organic inside that transcends the visitors from the bustling city to a serene world of the performing arts.

One of the positive aspects of raising the building is that it creates a generous public space around it. The square slopes gently towards the entrance, surrounded by pearls, the visitors descends fadingly into the building like entering an ocean.

A great spiral of pearls is the main focal point of the entrance hall, you can either take the elevator through it or the ramp around it, by foot or with the VIP Train of pearls, taking you all the way into the Grand Theater.

The Grand theater is embedded in pearls, creating a elegant and modern experience for the audience. The semi-transparent pearls are lit from behind and dim the light, creating a glowing sensation. Depending on the performance, the ambience can be set into different modes.

A chandelier of pearls in the middle of the theater drops seamlessly from the roof like a jewel, radiating an ambient light. The VIP Train is now converted into comfortable seats. Reaching the roof terrace, the pearls subsides into clouds. Walking around among the clouds one can experience panorama views of Taipei. The building performs on its own for the city, generating culture, urban life and pure sustainable energy for its vicinity.

This is all strongly manifested from the visual effect of its rotating façade. The façade is covered with curved blades are attached on segments that rotate with the wind, generating energy to the building and to the city.

The pearls are non-toxic and non-flamable acrylic balls with a tint of reflection. Pearls in different sizes is combined into various landscapes inside the building to enhance the theater experience.

+ Project credits

Architect: Visiondivision | Ulf Mejergren and Anders Berensson collaboration with Markus Wagner
Project: Tornado tower (entry for opera competition in Taiwan)
Program: Theater, observation tower
Location: Taipei, Taiwan

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