The Lakhta Centre in Russia Is Now Europe's Tallest Skyscraper
Standing approximately 1,515 feet.
The Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg, Russia is now Europe’s tallest skyscraper. Designed by British architect Tony Kettle of RMJM and Russian architecture firm Gorproject, the 1,515-foot building features 87 floors and a spire that has a 90-degree twist. Moreover, its sprawling facade is made up of 16,500 curved glass pieces alongside a network of automatic shutters and valves for improved energy efficiency, as per Dezeen. An observation deck and “Europe’s highest panoramic restaurant” will also be constructed near the uppermost level, the publication added. Construction for the tower was completed in June, but its nearing interior completion.
“My sense was very much to create something that was as light and elegant as the historical forms, capturing the changes in daylight in a similar way to that of the golden domes and spires,” said Kettle in a statement. “The tower was designed as a simple organic spire with asymmetrical movement in its skin, to be seen as a singular landmark at the city scale.”
Take a look at the skyscraper in the slideshow above and then check out the winning designs from NASA’s 3D-Printed Mars Habitat Competition for more stunning architecture.
