New urban planning initiatives were proposed at the meeting of the Interdepartmental Council for the Implementation of the Cooperation Agreement between St. Petersburg and PJSC Gazprom, held on December 28.
A new concept of lighting the Saint Petersburg TV Tower with the use of kinetic panels was presented as part of Gazprom’s large-scale works on the architectural and artistic lighting of the city’s historical objects, main avenues and new districts.
A kinetic media facade, which has a total area of 14,568 square meters, will create the effect of a “live” object thanks to the joint work of moving, reflective elements and color-changing LEDs.
As a result, the engineering construction, which functions as a digital television repeater, will take its rightful place among the city’s iconic architectural objects.
The concept of a third skyscraper in the Lakhta Center complex was also presented. The goal is to further develop the public and business district around the complex. When the skyscraper is completed, an esthetically-pleasing architectural ensemble consisting of three modern high-rise buildings will stand on the coast of the Gulf of Finland.
The architectural composition of the new tower, a balance of functionality and elegance, is created on the principle of the golden ratio. The tower’s shape is an exponential logarithmic spiral. It is a skyscraper with two buildings - wings that are intertwined around closed, translucent atriums.
As the tower’s wings spiral upward, they converge at turning points and join together to form atrium foyers. Each of these foyers is a changing point for the building’s geometry, thus dividing the tower into seven groups. Going up the tower, the atriums gradually get closer and closer to each other. Meanwhile, the height of each lower group equals the sum of two groups above, in accordance with the principles of the golden ratio. This solution allows the placement of most public spaces on higher levels, which have outstanding views.
An innovative diagonal scheme is at the heart of the tower’s construction design. It ensures the support and stability of the tower, replacing the building’s usual central rigid core. The ribs that rotate in a spiral around the tower “scatter” the wind pressure on the building. A light frame is used to support the open shafts of the building’s panoramic elevators.
According to the design, the building will have a height of 555 meters (108 levels) and an area of about 179,000 square meters. Service facilities and a parking lot will be located in the three-level stylobate. The topmost level will have a height of 453 meters and house a viewing platform.
The new building will complement the elegant, smooth lines of the already-built Lakhta Center tower and the spiral shape of the planned Lakhta Center 2.
Architectural ensembles have been a characteristic feature in St. Petersburg since the city was founded. To continue this urban planning tradition, a modern architectural ensemble is being built today on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, which will give views of St. Petersburg from across the sea.
More information about the architectural concept of the new building can be found here.