BIG PICTURE:Imagine a ring floating above the city 300 m in the sky... GREEN FEATURES:Less material: the stem of most observation/ landmark towers is almost always unoccupied and merely holds the observation platform aloft, as well as providing access to and from the top. Here the base is dematerialized into its minimal essence: only the basic skeleton of structure remains exposing circulation and cable ways. Result: less material, less cost and less impact on the earth’s resources. And shimmering traces of load pathways resembling rain at times. EVAPORATIVE COOLING:The central aquarium will also perform duties as a geothermal loop, transferring heating and cooling below ground through a series of tubes. A plenum will channel air to from the neighbouring museum building to be conditioned via evaporative cooling. Extensive indoor plantings will assist cleaning indoor air.“BLADELESS” FAN GENERATOR:At 300 m high there are strong updraft/ downdraft winds that can be harnessed. A bladeless fan takes the energy generated by the motor at its base and propels air into the upper ring structure where it flows out a slit around the front edge of the ring. Air surrounding the edges of the fan also joins the flow through inducement and entrainment. Here the process is reversed: air enters the slot around the ring and spins a motor generating electric power. Capacitors store this energy for use throughout the Sky-Ring.STRUCTURE:The Taipei Sky-Ring sits on an array of uncomfortably-thin columns, bundled by thin steel tension rings resisting lateral forces both in compression and tension. Ellipses of steel brace the entire assembly at an angle preventing buckling and resisting torsion.In effect the nodes where ellipses meet vertical elements are supported in three directions in space. 120 200 mm diameter polished stainless steel columns when combined contain sufficient cross-sectional area (15 m2) to support the Sky-Ring 300 m in the sky. Their ephemeral reflective slenderness gives the Sky-Ring the illusion of floating. There will be 36 km of steel columns in total.The Sky-Ring itself is modeled after an airplane’s fuselage: an all aluminum semi-monocoque structure. Imagine if you will a passenger jet’s body looping around unto itself. Poetic connotations emerge: endless flight, infinity, cycles of time…CIRCULATION:There are 12 elevators, 3 of which double as service lifts for the restaurant and gallery above. Instead of the circulation being centrally focused back-to-back, the all-glass elevators are distributed around the perimeter creating a spectacular event when in use. They will ride along the slender columns with the machine rooms in the belly of the Sky-Ring above.There is no lobby to speak of- pods are ridden continuously up and d own by visitors, acting as moving beacons of light at night and encouraging flow through programmed events in the Sky-Ring. Three exit stairs are provided for egress.POROSITYThe building is accessible form multiple locations on site: Pan-accessibility ensures a welcoming landmark.
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