Green Skyscrapers
In the next few days we will showcase 25 innovative proposals for green skyscrapers. These projects were submitted for the Annual Skyscraper Competition from 2006 to 2009.

Project 16 of 25

Hong Seong-hyeop, Choi Jae-ho
South Korea


Symbiotic Tower Amazon

Symbiotic Tower Amazon


The rapid modernization and urbanization have changed the original meanings of the Amazon. The tropical rain forest has been degraded to one of the expendables and it has lost its value as the basis for the nature since its financial value is considered more important than the life quality. In this situation, a high-rise building delivers the symbolic message of the world called the symbiosis by incorporating the two unsuitable words, green and growth. 

Everything should live symbiotically by accepting the existing condition of the site as it is which can be summarized as the conflict between the green and growth. It is the symbiotic tower that brings economic benefits of Brazil while preserving the environment of Amazon. The nature introduced in the symbiotic tower should be the nature where the nature itself can survive rather than the nature that focuses on the pleasure of the human beings. The outside of the tower creates a large and vertical forest comprising of the branch-like organizations to be as similar as it can be to the nature. These pipes form a structure and are the place where various types of plants can grow. It will be the new nest for the living creatures. Also, the programs of the tower bring economic benefits for Brazil, which enables symbiotic existence of everything.

The tower will create benefits with tourist business. The vast and vertical tropical rain forest spreaded in the ground will enable them to experience the 2nd Amazon tropical rain forest. Each floor and program in the tower will provide the visitors with the new attractions and experience which will make them think of the importance of the environment (Amazon).

The fundamental structure of the tower is organized by the carbon steel tubes for building structure to be stretched like branches. The trees become the profound construction materials giving shape to the building. That is, the branch structure is expanded as the building structure.
This structure alleviates and dissolves all the boundaries between the outside and inside, which form one and large vertical forest. These pipes perform the piping role that provides the plants with the water.

The plants grown in the pipes will make oxygen and reduce the CO2. Also, as the forest gets expanded, various types of birds and animals will gather. The building is immobile but it becomes a dynamic building by the architecture and surrounding natural environment.


Symbiotic Tower Amazon - 1

Symbiotic Tower Amazon - 1


Symbiotic Tower Amazon - 2

Symbiotic Tower Amazon - 2

Leave a Reply