Grollo Tower | Melbourne

City centres have become congested in our time with high buildings glued against each other. There is general public dislike of the resulting oppressive environment.

Rather than extending the present pattern, this 500 m high tower is free- standing, covering little of its 3´ hectare site and built over unused railway tracks. It is surrounded by low buildings, a pedestrian precinct at pedestrian scale.

The upward tapering profile creates stability and rigidity for the tower's great height, standing on only six expressively shaped exterior columns.

The weight of all floors and the central core is conveyed to them by means of diagonal bracing members visible on the facades.

City buildings consume huge amounts of energy for lighting and mechanical services, using non- renewable and polluting fossil fuel. This tower will harness the sun's energy by the use of photovoltaic devices embedded in the facades and North facing projecting apex structure. Just as plants face the sun to generate energy, so will all surfaces of this tower using silicone cell technology.