Mixed Use Tower / Moho Architects
Spanish firm Moho Architects are currently in the schematic design phase of a mixed use tower for San Jose, Costa Rica. The tower, whose programmatic elements will range from commercial and retail spaces to offices and hotels, aims to create a strong model of sustainability for the region that will promote eco-friendliness.
More images and more about the tower after the break.
The building’s form is conceived of as independent strips that begin to peel away from each other as the tower rises. Voids are punched through the form to create viewing platforms and a space to add greenery. The shifting of these strips allows natural light to flood the interior spaces and nurture the vegetated sky courts.
The façade’s wooden brise-soleil filters solar gain while its layered composition reduces the air-conditioning load. Since the design allows so much light to pass through the space, the need for artificial lighting is nearly eliminated. By providing a variety of activities in one building, the reliance on transportation is reduced dramatically since both day and night time activities reside in one area.
It is the hope that after this tower is constructed, its success will promote the notion of incorporating sustainable ideas into all structures in the area.
As seen on designboom. Images courtesy of the studio.
General Information
Location: Bulevar Las Américas, Sabana Norte, San José, Costa Rica.
Architecture: Moho architects.
Built surface: 28.000 sqm
Preliminary drawings: December 2008
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19 comments »
Really?? Wow! No comment.
seven fingered monster
Monstrous
the only thing that comes to my mind is: WTF?
Interesting concept. I do like how sections of building jut up and down as well as contract or expand or as they suggest peel away.
funny finger house, life is fun. First picture is cool, it shows the upper part stronger and more forceful. The other pictures really show it as a fat hand with wriggling fingers which may be too funny.
wait wait wait..
If they’re claiming this thing is as sustainable as they say it is, why aren’t they showing it? The only sustainable, if you can even call it that, aspect i see is that they’re flooding the interiors with natural light.
i LOVED it!
Waw, i really really like it!
The first picture looks like a decor of a science-fiction movie.. :)
coooool
WTF!!
sucks
good one
Good idea, nice playful idea, but the building seems to me a little bit exceeding its hights? … The upperpart fo the builging will offer a lot more fun when the building stands in the middle of down town. In such nature,… I rather give clear sky…
looks more like a foot with many toes, rather than a hand, but still fat and still monstruous. the first picture is really interenting. too bad only a hand full of people will see it from helicopter at night. the rest will see it from ground level and that view is really unfortunate.
the outer skin is interesting but the propotion is a major downside (too wide/too short).
this building is an insult and patronizing. first of all, costa rica is already a leader in true environmental sustainability and preservation of it’s natural resources.
secondly, for a tropical “sustainable” building it’s crap. kenneth yeang, for one example has come up with much more advanced ideas for sustainable buildings in tropical climates. there’s no mention of any other “sustainable” features such as materials, site design, mep, etc except for brise-soleil. when did le corbusier come up with that idea?!
hmmm…a think is kind of fat, maybe 3 or 4 fingers were fair enough, also the fingers could have been manipulated a little bit more to contribute with the section quality, what about the back facade? Most of the views are from the same angle…
strange project…either its strong or ugly
interesting
something different)