gazprom

Gazprom Tower To Get A Green Fur Coat

Russian energy company Gazprom, has created a new design for their Gazprom tower which is set to go up in St. Petersburg, Russia. The design isn't that much different than the original, whose height and modernism has ruffled the feathers of those who want St. Petersburg to retain its historic charm. The tower does have one major difference, the addition of what is called a "green fur coat" to help insulate the building. The glass tower will have double walls which will sandwich hundreds of trees and plants to provide heat in the winter and cooler temperatures in the summer. The design by architectural firm RMJM will regulate the temperature in the building and provide significant energy savings. The exterior will be clad in temperature-color changing glass panels.

The construction of the Gazprom tower hasn't been approved yet and it looks like public opinion on the project is pretty low. The Journal of Turkish Weekly cites a recent poll that showed that more than 40 percent of residents would prefer to block the skyscraper project. Construction is planned to start later this year with completion scheduled for 2012.

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Tags: gazprom, gazpromtower, russia, st. petersburg, St.Petersburg

The Gazprom Tower Could Cost St. Petersburg Its Heritage Title

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Check out the building on the right. Not the worst example of architecture I've seen but not the most fabulous either, especially when you consider that it is to be plopped down into the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, a city which has an almost fairy-tale-like beauty. The Russian gas company Gazprom wants to erect the tower next to the 18th century Smolny cathedral and use it as their headquarters. An article in The Guardian reports the city's unique low-rise skyline is in peril and that the city may lose its designation as a world heritage site. Unesco has said that Russia has until next February to submit a report on the projects impact and Marcio Barbosa, deputy director general of Unesco, is quoted as saying that if the situation does not change the site might be put on a list of sites that are in danger. The tower's architect, Philip Nikandrov, says the building anchors the city's panorama and will be a beautiful addition to the city. Building has not started on the tower yet.

It reminds me of a few other towers we've seen such as Gherkin and the Fordham Spire. I wonder if these similar skyscrapers lead to a certain homogenization of cities, where the skyline, once a distinctive fingerprint of place, becomes practically interchangeable all around the world.

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Tags: architecture, gazprom, russia, saint petersburg, skyscraper, tower, unesco