Foster Proposes `Diamond' Tower for Siberian Oil City

By Garfield Reynolds

April 13 (Bloomberg) -- Norman Foster, who designed the London office tower dubbed ``the Gherkin,'' has proposed a 56- story ``diamond crystal'' tower in Khanty-Mansiisk, the capital of the Siberian region that extracts more than half of Russia's oil.

Plans for the 280-meter (919-foot) high, glass-covered spire were presented yesterday to the governor of the region by Foster and Russian millionaire Shalva Tchigrinski, the regional government said on its Web site.

The tower will house a 161,000 square-meter business center, along with a hotel. The hotel would aid the city's plans to hold the 2010 world chess ``Olympiad,'' Khanty-Mansiisk regional Governor Alexander Filipenko said in the statement. The project would be funded by investors.

Josephine Cutts, a spokeswoman for Fosters & Partners, the London-based architectural design company Foster heads, confirmed it was involved in the project. Cutts declined to elaborate further.

The skyscraper would be Foster's fourth Russian project. Foster & Partners is designing the Zaryadye project close to Moscow's Red Square, the Moscow City Towers and the $320 million New Holland project in St. Petersburg.

Foster's design for New Holland, the redevelopment of a navy complex that was initially built by Peter the Great in the 18th century, was also commissioned by Tchigrinski's ST Group, a real-estate development company.

Khanty-Mansiisk is the capital of the autonomous region of the same name, a west Siberian oil province that extracted 5.5 million barrels a day of crude last year. That represents about 57 percent of the oil produced in Russia, the world's second- biggest supplier of the fuel behind Saudi Arabia.

http://admhmao.ru/news/New_gub/2007/april/foto/12_1.jpg
http://admhmao.ru/news/New_gub/2007/april/foto/12_3.jpg
http://admhmao.ru/news/New_gub/2007/april/foto/12_4.jpg

Thanks for those. Its location and design is just breathtaking. Bound to become a World Icon.

OMG, would have never thought. Good luck with this!

Looks great, despite being a Gazprom Tower ripoff, but i think Shalva should concentrate on starting construction of Russia Tower first.:)

The diamond shaped tower looks awesome! :wow:

^^^ wtf is that real?

Anyway no spoiling to the thread, the diamond shaped tower looks awesome! :wow:

Yes, that is a truly unique tower. And has an excellent location as well.

I really don't like it!

Yes, that is a truly unique tower. And has an excellent location as well.

Izhevsk is a birthplace of AK-47, folks, so...

I wonder how long it took for Foster to think this one up... it looks really simple.

wow and all glass in the middle of Siberia?
Russia is really becoming an exciting place for many skyscraper projects throughout the vast Russian land

Awesome project!

I like this diamond shape, I've never seen any tower with the same design, but anyway it will very good for Siberian development

More photos:

http://i15.tinypic.com/4qrpkqb.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/4r0tk54.jpg

http://i13.tinypic.com/52uvywh.jpg

source: http://englishrussia.com/?p=952

unfortunately i can't see the pics

^^

Probably server doesn't allow image hotlinking.
I've uplouded images to the tinypic.com. Should be ok now :)

The design looks great... but its a weird project, thinking about the location.

A nice tall tower in the middle of no where! :P

Speaking about location, i think title of the thread should be changed to:

KHANTY-MANSIISK | Diamond Tower | 280m | 56fl | Pro

A nice tall tower in the middle of no where! :P

Well true, sorta :D

Khanty-Mansijsk may not be the biggest city in Russia either by size or by population (barely 60,000), but it is one of the richest. Virtually everything there was either built or renovated over the last 10 years or so.

Here is a photo thread of the city: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=464185

And this tower is going to be built just outside it, by the looks of things. Apart from Khanty-Mansijsk though, there isn't too much else around.

Speaking about location, i think title of the thread should be changed to:

KHANTY-MANSIISK | Diamond Tower | 280m | 56fl | Pro
^^ Do you think, it will help the majority to reallize that the proposed skyscraper will be built in Russia?:)

A nice tall tower in the middle of no where! :P

Exactly, so out of place :nuts:

^^ Do you think, it will help the majority to reallize that the proposed skyscraper will be built in Russia?:)

Better they learn the name now than latter. That city represents a lot of $$$ from that oil-rich region. We'll be hearing more of it, I believe.

In a way it reminds you of Isengard from LOTR. Same middle of nowhere setting, except this is may become a reality! :)

that diamond tower sure looks more than impressive..amazing!design..

They have a lot of money that's why the make this big thing 57% of Oil from Russia comes from this region.

280 meter high rise in the middel of nowhere!!
That tower is better in the city

I've to admit that the city is some kind of.... strange :D But, nevertheless, it could participate from this project a lot! Quite much potential - Maybe we have a second Moscow there someday (in a galaxy far, far away... :))?

I think the tower fits the city well when most buildings are not so tall. Fits better than the 'egg' in London.
I hope more threads showing new buildings in Russia.

Tastes are different ;) Time to come down and discuss about this upsetting tower! =)

Btw, what does Foster says about his plans to finish that thang? I read that it's planned for the Olympia-application in 2010, isn't it?!

Btw, what does Foster says about his plans to finish that thang? I read that it's planned for the Olympia-application in 2010, isn't it?!
Yes, this is what written in the article.

The tower is now confirmed for construction...

http://regnum.ru/news/841344.html (Russian only)

The tower is now confirmed for construction...

http://regnum.ru/news/841344.html (Russian only)
:yes:

9 июня 2007 года XI Петербургском международном экономическом форуме подписано соглашения между правительством Ханты-Мансийского автономного округа и компанией "СТТ Групп" о начале строительства в Ханты-Мансийске 56-этажного здания в форме кристалла по проекту всемирно известного архитектора Нормана Фостера.
Translation: on 9th of june 2007 at XI St.Petersburg international economic forum, government of Khanty-Mansijsk autonomous district and "STT Group" company signed an agreement on construction of 56-store building in form of crystall, designed by Norman Foster.

Construction is supposed to start in 2008.

Btw, complex now has a name - "Yugra"

WOW, STUNNING DESIGN. ONE OF THE BEST I'VE SEEN IN EUROPE.

no doubt, this is Asia :)

http://www.dni.ru/upimg/h_105546.jpg

``

KHANTY MANSIYSK, SIBERIA
RUSSIA 2007

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6359/crystalch2.png

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2181/crystal2kg3.png

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1999/crystal4no4.png

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9148/crystal3or7.png

Piercing the skyline and rising above the Russian city of Khanty Mansyisk, this mixed-use scheme will create an elegant and crystalline landmark, providing crucial new amenities for its citizens - a place for living, working and leisure, sheltered from the harsh Siberian climate. Set high on a hill, in a densely wooded area, the 280m tall tower is facetted like a cut diamond, designed to maximise daylight through the winter months, reflecting and refracting natural light to illuminate the interior spaces. The design of the tower is informed by the most stringent principles of sustainable design and will be an exemplar for future development in the region. Key to the environmental performance of the building are its south facing atria, which maximises daylight and solar gain, thus reducing the reliance on artificial lighting and heating through the cold winter months. The building will also include renewable energy sources and combined heat and power generation to maximise energy efficiency. Its delicate footprint is indicative of the environmentally sensitive design and will leave much of the site in its natural condition. The tower rises between two podium buildings which house a rich mix of residential, office, hotel and retail accommodation, so that the entire scheme will be animated day-long. At the tower’s summit, a viewing platform and restaurant will offer panoramic views over the city and its surroundings.

Client: STT Group

www.fosterandpartners.com

The tower is now confirmed for construction...

http://regnum.ru/news/841344.html (Russian only)

So it's been approved?

So it's been approved?
Yes

@i_am_hydrogen
update the thread title please
KHANTY-MANSIYSK | The Crystal | 280m | 56 fl | App

Looks like another meteor crashing into Siberia, leveling trees around its immediate impact! Or perhaps another launching pad for the revived Soyuz? Nice render though but the eccentricity is appalling.

Wow! The design is fantastic!

Fantastic

AWESOMEEEEE!!!
unique place and skyscraper...
it's reminds me Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai for some reasons...

Looks like another meteor crashing into Siberia, leveling trees around its immediate impact! Or perhaps another launching pad for the revived Soyuz? Nice render though but the eccentricity is appalling.

good comparison...yep, i think it's good point for unique russian architecture...

Hi res. pics
http://www.archiportale.com/immagini/FileProgetto/3469_1.jpg?443,1574

http://www.archiportale.com/immagini/FileProgetto/3469_2.jpg?118,5114

http://www.archiportale.com/immagini/FileProgetto/3469_3.jpg?539,2877

http://www.archiportale.com/immagini/FileProgetto/3469_4.jpg?304,6686

tnx

this tower looks fascinating :okay:

any news on this? (:

(i kinda suspect this project is dead)

What a beautiful building. But why build it in the middle of nowhere? Seems like a pure waste of money. What happened to the good ol' days when Moscow plundered all Siberia's profits for themselves?

What a big diamond !!! I love it ! Great Foster !

Amazing...