Gensler Reach For The Stars
Published on 2007-08-22 by Skyscrapernews.com
American architecture firm Gensler, have designed this new half a kilometre tall astronomically inspired concept tower.

Called the Constellation and penned for an unnamed middle-eastern country, the slender scheme is designed primarily as a landmark headquarters for a banking company.

Ground the first several floors that the podium consists of will be given over to entrance areas and retail plus a floating pontoon that could hold exhibitions into Islamic Astronomy. These ground areas will be given a particularly earthy approach with timber and gravel.

The main structure stands above the podium levels and offers 20 floors of office accommodation. As the building narrows and floor-plates become smaller the upper floors will have a private function room, whilst a helipad for VIP access sticks out on one side.

After this point about 150 metres up the building is mostly given over to a narrowing spire with an express elevator tunnelled through it until the 300 metre mark where visitors can emerge onto a viewing platform. Above this the spire continues for a further 200 metres narrowing to a needle point half a kilometre above ground.

The architectural concept is centered around the ideas of Arabian astronomy that pioneered many of the human advances in the field between the 8th and 15th centuries, and which still has its recognised today thanks to the Arabic name some stars in the sky have.

Gensler have combined this with Islamic Geometry to generate a pattern using a star map that identifies key points in the constellation that symbolise the cosmos. These points were then taken and reinterpreted as a single star constellation with lines plotted between them using a 3d computer model with eye corner used to help describe the geometry of the planned building.

These will also help dictate the night-time appearance of the scheme by being lit with powerful LED lights with lesser lights forming links in-between that will create an earthly sculpture of outer space.

Furthermore the shape of the building, effectively a spire, has been conceived by the architects to reach upwards towards the heavens joining earth to sky with the pinnacle 500 metres above ground level serving as a new star for the surrounding city.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1074

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1074GenslerReachForTheStars_pic1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1074GenslerReachForTheStars_pic2.jpg

really futuristic project!

wow!! hopefully it is planned for Dubai :)

I dont think it looks that good. A bit silly if im honest

Just Gorgeous ....:applause:

Simply Stunning! :yes:

This is great architecture, a unique signatur tower. Will be interesting to hear where its proposed, and i sure hope its gonna be built!

It looks amazing the tower, but it don't seems to be 500m. It looks higher than that. Amazing design.

the tower IS 500m. ive measured the elevations done by the architect.

I don't think that this will ever be built!
Sorry for that evaluation, but it looks to futuristic to be really calculated!

This is beautiful! Just from seeing the name before I clicked on the thread I had a feeling that it was going to be something astounding...

Oh my damn... :nuts:

This is amazing!

It's a great design.The heliport coul be more integrated to the structure.

It looks pretty awful to me. Too skinny and it just looks ugly. :down:

i think its for Israel or Kuwait

great design, that will one amazing tower at night.

:bow:

i think its for Israel or Kuwait

Not Israel, as they are saying it is based on Arabic astronomy.

Man, this is ugly. Completely impractical to build, also.

Agree, looks to me the architect was drunk:ohno: :drunk:

wooooooooooooooooooooooow i love it!!!! its so awsome!!!!!:dance: i think that it is for Dubai:D:D

all i have to say is WHAT THE HELL?

i love it tho.

Its a great design but I wonder how many office rooms and desks you can fill in one floor? :nuts:

^^ One Broom Closet :)

If this render is 500m I can't imagine how small it'll be. An elevator shaft will probably take up half a floor.

very futuristic. wow.

All I have to say is "never gonna happen", at least not in its current form. It looks like a giant, Salvadore Dali style melted needle. Also, I get the sense that you couldn't cram too many occupants (read: paying tenants) into that structure. I don't imagine they could justify the cost of the current design. I am sure somebody will make it a little wider in places, or redesign it at some point.

Good thing we have all the armchair architects here to tell us what is and what is not possible to build. :ohno:

very impressive

well. i think that its not gonna get built now, but maybe in the future. :D

the base looks terrific but the tower seems like it was added on afterwards just to make it tall. it Still looks amazing though.

Umm has nobody noticed that little part of the title saying "20 fl"? It's a gorgeous building and it will be a nice addition to any skyline but I'll bet it's a 100m building with a 400m spire. The only city I can think of which would be a suitable candidate for such an extravagant structure is of course Dubai. I hope it gets built.
Oops: just RTFA so it'll be 150m, with a higher obs deck, I was close...

This emoticon should be deleted -> :ohno:

I hate it, and the people who use it never have anything worthwhile to say. Usually they're just mindless nay-saying dolts who like the sound of their own voice.

At any rate, this looks forking SWEET and I hope it gets going soon!!

Edit: I stand corrected, Hollie Maea actually used that smiley without pissing me off. But the other 999 times out of a thousand I've seen it were entirely inappropriate.

Gensler Reach For The Stars
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1074

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1074GenslerReachForTheStars_pic1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1074GenslerReachForTheStars_pic2.jpg


kinda like what they said about tha use of constellation for building ahkor wat...

Hey but what constellation does this building feature?

:eek2: ...........too slender! nice concept though!:banana:

One thing I got to admit is the structure base is AWESOME



Sadly the needle seem to spoil it in a way, though I must admit too its very creative... Remind me of the past proposed project 'the skyneedle'


If really want popularity just erect a glass and steel spire in the background a kilometre high and enlarged the base a few times more. Will be definitely the new 'eighth' wonders of the modern world!


Wait, Maybe it will be so great that NASA might consider setting up a HQ there :lol:

Nice one but nothing special. Only 20 floor high:D

holy crap what is this ? It looks like a giant sculpture it ways to thin for putting people in there I think only the 30 firt levels will be used and the rest will just be a giant spire ....

haha

How would someone put this building in skyscraperpage.com the building looks too complicated

It's awesome though, I say build it!

It's certainly an interesting design, but as others have noted, it is also very impractical, as it is essentially a 300-400m spire and only about 20 usable floors. Further, for the effect of this building to be truely appreciated, it would need to be constructed away from other tall buildings. Surrounded by multiple 300-500m structures, this building would lose a great deal of it's impact. It would need to be placed somewhere relatively isolated, like an island.

all these 'modern' towers really make me yearn for some normal, strong looking art deco structures (like 1930s NYC)

That's too much. Some designer wanted some fame and that's the result. I'll be very surprised if that will get build. That's too thin anyway. Why would they see all the trouble by constructing a tower with that little space in it?

It's certainly an interesting design, but as others have noted, it is also very impractical, as it is essentially a 300-400m spire and only about 20 usable floors. Further, for the effect of this building to be truely appreciated, it would need to be constructed away from other tall buildings. Surrounded by multiple 300-500m structures, this building would lose a great deal of it's impact. It would need to be placed somewhere relatively isolated, like an island.

Not only that, Make sure the location has a very very clear view of the night sky, and on a cloudless night it could jolly well really look like a constellation against the starlit night :cheers:

It's in Qatar Forum already:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=518995

Very impressive, it seems like quite an engineering challenge though.

Salman: What the "middle east bank", is it a central bank? :bash:

^^ I have no idea, first time I heard of it.

Hmmm...

This may actually make sense...

This tower could be built in a city which is suffering strong growth with no mountainous terrain near by and where the height of the present transmission tower no longer serves the requirements of the region. This 'transmission tower' could be 'nestled' within an established city meeting this need without creating an eyesore...

btw, I think its a really stunning design.

This tower is a proposal for QATAR!

Check this:
"The London-office of Gensler (http://www.gensler.com/) today send me these images of a recent project they did for Qatar, an Emirate sited on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf in the vicinity of the United Arab Emirates, but not part of it though."

Source http://www.eikongraphia.com/?p=1766

That's a totally inpractical building. Whoever builds it will just lose a lot of money.

money, practical, orwhatnot, thats some fucking gorgeous architecture RIGHT there!

wonderfull design. beautifull as a standalone skyscraper.

This is just some random architect's proposal and doesn't seem like it'll get built any time soon.
The supertalls section is only for supertalls that are real projects, ie have a developer and site chosen.
If someone can find me a developer or an actual site where it'll be built then post it, otherwise I'll close this thread.

Stunning. But seems a little blurry on its status now.

That's a totally inpractical building. Whoever builds it will just lose a lot of money.

Well banks today literally create money, if this is indeed for some sort of larger bank or even central bank id not think that money is any issue (sadly, banking today is like legalised organised robbery).

yep this is for QATAR sorry for the people that thought its going to be in dubai LOL , not.

wow very interesting and unique design!

would be great to see it in reality

^^ Ya, hope we here something about it soooooooooon

kinda ugly....:down: base is ok, but rest is ugly!

wrong malec. i dont write about random architect's proposals. perhaps things like a site or developer are not publicly disclosed because of reasons of commercial confidentiality :)

Oh wow this is incredible architecture. I think it's safe to say that the future is here?

Amazing project. :shocked:

Could someone fix the title?? It's location is in Doha, Qatar!!!!!

definately a case of
:tiasd: ....BIG TIME

lmao
it's cool but very uneconomical o_O

wrong malec. i dont write about random architect's proposals. perhaps things like a site or developer are not publicly disclosed because of reasons of commercial confidentiality :)

OK, maybe not a random architect but a well established architect.
At the moment I don't see what makes this project any more real than say, Foster's vision for an 800m tower (millenium tower)

you dont have the elevations and other technical drawings of it. i do :) no, im not publishing them by the way before anyone asks. this scheme was also exhibited at the MIPIM this year.

I'm not asking you to publish them.
The only reason I'm sceptical is because at the start of the first post it says "concept".

Could someone fix the title?? It's location is in Doha, Qatar!!!!!

Isn't it only a "concept" and could be built anywhere, or you have information about this project going to be built in Doha? I also do recall reading on other site that it was proposed for Doha as well, just wondering.

This building is truly a work of art. Simply stunning. However that unoccupiable spire must be very costly. I hope it is made, even if in a smaller version.

This must be a communication tower, otherwise it would be an impractical structure. Very unique concept though.

blows my mind away, absolutely astonishing, hope it's higher, it would really look amazing, imagine it 1km tall

How does it stand without falling down?

any recent pics on it?

On a certain level... this is a complete wank for a bank.

But damn... what a gorgeous wank it is. J'aime.

Click on the images for the pdf file
http://www.arplus.com/MIPIM/entries/exhibitor_27.html

Amazing!!! I really like it!

very amazing architecture, unique, and awesome!

This project is very very crazy but original !!! I like it !

I'm sorry, but unless this is an observation tower, I don't want to see that thing built. It is impossible to construct and it will have the fewest number of floors for any supertall ever built (20).

I wanted an explanation for your bumpification but it appears to be a deviation cause it's about observation. Oh well, it's still a cool building nonetheless even tough it lacks economical ability.
http://www.eikongraphia.com/wordpress/wp-content/STELLA_s%20small.jpg

what year will construction end?

nobody can say because we even don't know if or when it will start ^^

Hiope they build this one bc it looks awesome :master:.

Iv'e yet got the point of this building?? 20 floors with structure reaching 500m!?? waste of money!!

Iv'e yet got the point of this building?? 20 floors with structure reaching 500m!?? waste of money!!

Obviously it has a use like that of the CN tower or the TV tower in Guangzhou.

this tower is simply designed for no other city but dubai

^^ya, but its for Doha, just because Dubai is building loads of towers it doesn't mean other cities can't do it.

^^ya, but its for Doha, just because Dubai is building loads of towers it doesn't mean other cities can't do it.

Yup. Think of all the supertalls going up in China! As awesome as Dubai is, I'm sick to ****ing death of people making the assumption that EVERYTHING is made for Dubai.

A prime example (of a new tower) would be the Chicago Spire. That tower I cannot imagine in Dubai's skyline. It looks nice in Chicago and was designed FOR Chicago's skyline.
As with The Constellation, it was designed for DOHA, and as thus I believe it won't be as striking if it was in Dubai..


Anyway sorry for going off topic. ^_^; [promises to be more on topic]

Tolo

look a like...i thought that was the same project,but im wrong...:nuts:

dubai
http://www.eikongraphia.com/wordpress/wp-content/STELLA_s%20small.jpg

malaysia
http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/asymptote_pgcc_02.jpg

that's what l call...SKYscraper :)

I like this project

look a like...i thought that was the same project,but im wrong...:nuts:

dubai
http://www.eikongraphia.com/wordpress/wp-content/STELLA_s%20small.jpg

malaysia
http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/asymptote_pgcc_02.jpg

this is for DOHA.

amazing design :)

really futuristic project!
Really....

Looks more like a sculpture than a building.

Whoa!!! Amazing proposal. Just beautiful, yet imposingly powerful. I love the constellation concept.

:lock:
Ah, come on! This project is so unrealsitic!
No one is gonna built such a tower!

look a like...i thought that was the same project,but im wrong...:nuts:

dubai
http://www.eikongraphia.com/wordpress/wp-content/STELLA_s%20small.jpg

malaysia
http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/asymptote_pgcc_02.jpg

I want in my city right now. So space, so future, so impressive. Finally we reach the future about saying of projects. :applause::eek2::applause::eek2::applause::eek2::applause:

:lock:
Ah, come on! This project is so unrealsitic!
No one is gonna built such a tower!


:lol: i wouldn't be so sure about that ^^

Absolutely fascinating.... They should build it!

this is pretty much a Kuwait type of construction I think...I love it

@triplem, it's been announced that this is going to be in DOHA. Why isn't anyone reading the previous posts?....

Doha is ideal because it's now official one the fastest growing cities on earth.

I think that this might be built next to the Doha Space project. (if that get's off the ground)

interesting building........

lets see whether it does get built. I know Doha is one fast growing city but it diesn't have the same sort of influence as Dubai. Would look good rising from the deserts of Qatar.

probably my favorite skyscraper around, its just stunning. Reminds me of all those futuristic shows with these sharp towers and flying cars lol

probably my favorite skyscraper around, its just stunning. Reminds me of all those futuristic shows with these sharp towers and flying cars lolCount me in too: My favorite too!

By the way, how many votes a skyscraper has to have to make it a sticky!? I guess you're seeing my intentions already.

^^i dont think that this skyscraper is "that" good to be sticky. there are other skyscrapers deserve to be sticky but they are not unluckily such as chicago spire.

I'm not speaking as a Qatari when I say that I think the tower is truely a unique design.

I think it's beautiful no matter where it is. Once I get details on the Space City I'll post it as it may give us an indication of where the constellation will be built.

^^i dont think that this skyscraper is "that" good to be sticky. there are other skyscrapers deserve to be sticky but they are not unluckily such as chicago spire.

only the WTB is sticky ^^

ammmaizing building

so basically, people are either gonna think this is gorgeous, or hideous.
i personally think its hideous

so basically, people are either gonna think this is gorgeous, or hideous.
i personally think its hideous

Well, that is the case of most of the super-original designs, hate it or love it...

I agree with lemon.

I for one, think it's great. Stands out and looks unique.

tOoO futuristc!! is this bad??, oh god i dont know what i think of this one. If i have to describe it in one word "eccentric"

Well, that is the case of most of the super-original designs, hate it or love it...
I love it.

any news on this one?

Realy

probably my favorite skyscraper around, its just stunning. Reminds me of all those futuristic shows with these sharp towers and flying cars lol

Count me in too: My favorite too!

By the way, how many votes a skyscraper has to have to make it a sticky!? I guess you're seeing my intentions already.My favorite too! Funny, it's only 20 floors, and the rest above is the biggest spire in the world.

:drool:

you know what?
i think, as ive visited these forums more, and been exposed to many original designs,
i think ive come to appreciate this building :]

I was just thinking... with not much material in it, it might turn out to be one of the cheapest and easiest constructions ever done for a skyscraper. Look at it, it's so skinny... there is barely anything on it.

Interesting object.

Yeah its probably inexpensive

Does anyone have anyother renders of this tower other than this?

Although this is just mind blowing.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1074GenslerReachForTheStars_pic1.jpg

that helicopter looks really small

Coolest thing ive ever seen!

What on Earth is that? It definitely looks awesome.

I like the concept of how they got the design, and it looks like it would be awesome but I don't know how realistic this is.

that helicopter looks really small
Actually is like 20m long. Not that small (the pad is like 30m in diameter).

wow it's cool.
but isnt it a little skinny_?_

That render I posted on this page looks so tall, taller than 500m and looks taller than the Burj Dubai in some ways. Most definately because of the slenderness of the structure, but sure looks awesome.

Does anyone have news on the status of the project? Is there a developer found yet?

I like the concept of how they got the design, and it looks like it would be awesome but I don't know how realistic this is.

very realistic, its just an antenna if I remember right. So basically just a structure is all it is.

Actually, they shouldn't allow helicopters there.... If the pilot swerves-aside by mistake, the propeller might cut the whole building/antenna in half... at it would be over just like that.

dont like the helicopter pad

I like the pad, makes it look futuristic

This building is like this:

-50m Podium
-150m 30 floors x 5m
-150m like the very upper part of Burj Dubai
-150m Spire.

That helipad look cool, but is dangerously low (below 200m)

A mistake and this can happen... :(

mNZN6zodUfM

^^That's horrible but if you look at the render one more time you can see that the helipad is much bigger that the helicopter would need to land or to depart.

^^
A strong wind, a mistake, anything can happen. In the video the pilot did not see that is too low it was (or just a strong current), and hit the blade, in 25-50 years one pilot might apreciate wrong the distance (or a wierd air turbulence) and hit the building with the blade or the tale, and it just have to happen once.

That helipad look cool, but is dangerously low (below 200m)

A mistake and this can happen... :(

mNZN6zodUfM

I witnesses that... :ohno:

but do we have any more renders of this building? seems like we have very few photos..

nice project but looks too skinny imo.

^^Yeah, you said the same thing on the previous page. :bash:

wow it's cool.
but isnt it a little skinny_?_

oops lol:lol:sorry, i didnt know i've mention it before:lol:lulz

^^
A strong wind, a mistake, anything can happen. In the video the pilot did not see that is too low it was (or just a strong current), and hit the blade, in 25-50 years one pilot might apreciate wrong the distance (or a wierd air turbulence) and hit the building with the blade or the tale, and it just have to happen once.

or maybe we could just have the helipad and not use it

Or maybe not fly in very windy days :lol:

nice design... but theres no possible way that this is gna be build. Maybe this project will live up in 20 years time again, but now.. no way.

look at that building man, it looks like it the helicopter blade hits the building its just gna cut the building in half.

:lock:

great project, i hope that will be built.

who would imagine moving skyscrapers and underwater hotels a few years ago?

i thought this is in riyadh , and they wanted to call it aljohara tower

nah its in Doha

awesome

this project looks very interesting ...I wonder how could it be possible this thin structure to rise up ..would be nice to see its structural plan

My spires bigger than your spire! I seriously doubt this will be built.

Bump.

Anyone know the status on this one? Would really love to see it happen.

I doubt Doha has a market for huge spikes with almost no floor area. It has been a pipe dream from the beginning.

Bump.

Anyone know the status on this one? Would really love to see it happen.

No advancement so far.

This is the ugliest thing I've ever seen.:nuts:

Man this is ugly. It's the second ugliest skyscraper in the world, the ugliest being the Rungyong Hotel :puke:

Is it because it's ~460m spire?

so when build will this be considered a skyscraper? i guess not , because wasnt there a definition that over 25% of the building being a spire its not a skyscraper?

No I think it was 50%+ of the height of structure has to be usable.

Is it because it's ~460m spire?

No, it is because I hate the design.

Btw, yes, 50% of the building's height must be usable space in order for it to still be considered a building, not an observation tower :cheers:

I'm kinda surprised that we still don't have any 50%/50% buildings. After all, cheating the CTBUH for height is so easy :ohno:

No I think it was 50%+ of the height of structure has to be usable.

yeah i wasnt sure about the percentage, but i know there was a line somewhere. thanks for clearing it up :)

No problem :)

Only 20 floors? o_O;; I wonder how a building of that size would have so few floors.

Only 20 floors? o_O;; I wonder how a building of that size would have so few floors.

well it wouldnt be the first one in doha. aspire tower is a mixture between skyscraper and observation tower and has 51floors while being 300m tall.

Looks spectacular, but a big waste of money- currently not lying around.

the design is superb

I agree that the design is amazing, very futuristic