Think this is a good idea?

[CatWoman]

Spinning skyscraper planned for Dubai

New York — An Italian architect said he is poised to start construction on a new skyscraper in Dubai that will be "the world's first building in motion," an 80-story tower with revolving floors that give it an ever-shifting shape.

The spinning floors, hung like rings around an immobile cement core, would offer residents a constantly changing view of the Persian Gulf and the city's futuristic skyline.

computer. The motion of the rest of the building would be choreographed in patterns that could be altered over time.

Speaking at a news conference in New York on Tuesday, the building's designer, David Fisher, declared that his tower will revolutionize the way skyscrapers are made — a claim that might strike some as excessively bold.

Fisher acknowledges that he is not well known, has never built a skyscraper before and hasn't practiced architecture regularly in decades.

But he insisted his lack of experience wouldn't stop him from completing the project, which has attracted top design talent, including Leslie E. Robertson, the structural engineer for the World Trade Center and the Shanghai World Financial Center.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/business/stories/2008/06/26/spinning_skyscraper.html?imw=Y

[babylonsister]

1. Wild, isn't it. Here's a video:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=151483

[mike_c]

2. I have to wonder "why?"

City and building design is at heart functional-- I mean, one can imagine encountering an alien city filled with buildings that move or are otherwise unlike most human structures because they serve some functional need that humans don't share. But twisting buildings, while a unique notion, don't seem to serve any important function for humans unless a changing skyline is somehow important. Clearly it hasn't been in the past.

[dysfunctional press]

3. i'm curious as to how things like water/gas/hvac are handled for individual units...

and what happens over time, as gravity eventually takes it toll?

on it's face, i REALLY like the idea- it would be cool to see a city's skyline dominated by shifting buildings.

[Mist]

4. It looks like something done completely for the "wow factor." It doesn't

really serve any purpose, plus I think it would be very expensive to "run" it. The visual design seems to be
based on the kind of "falling apart" look, or the distorted look, becoming more prevalent in architecture.
Plus, the guy who designed it "hasn't practiced architecture regularly in decades"? There's a big red flag.

[NV Whino]

6. The wow I'm thinking of is all the moving parts

Think a minute. When some object, structure, vehicle, whatever fails, what fails first?

[NV Whino]

5. I think Dubai is a great place to practice this sort of thing