Located in St Petersburg, the Okhta Tower will be the tallest tower in Europe as well as become the greenest one. This 396 tower designed by RMJJ for Russia based oil company, Gazprom.
The Okhta Centre will become the new contemporary headquarters of Russia’s state-controlled gas company Gazprom. The 77ha centre will include a 396m-tall glass tower – set to become Europe’s tallest building – as well as several other office buildings, a concert hall, a museum, a sporting arena and public green areas. Built on the city’s main waterway, the River Nera at a derelict industrial site, the pentagonal tower will be made of glass that will reflect the movement of the water. The frame is made of steel, with stainless steel cladding and a concrete core. The column twists up from the ground, and as the light hits it at different angles at different stages throughout the day the tower will give the appearance of changing colour. The tower is due to start in 2008 and be completed in 2012. The development is being funded with the St Petersburg City Administration paying 24.9 billion rubles ($1 billion), and Gazprom subsidiary Gazprom Neft providing 30.6 billion rubles ($1.4 billion). UK-based international architectural firm RMJM was appointed in December 2006 to design the new headquarter of Gazprom and the wider Okhta Centre. RMJM beat off 5 other internationally-renowned architects for the commission.
Via Inhabitat | Press Release
