Crystal Island

Project of the Crystal Island

Crystal Island is a proposed building project in Moscow, Russia that is currently planned to have around 2,500,000 square metres (27,000,000 square feet) of floor space and a height of 450 metres (1,476 ft) designed by Norman Foster.^[1] At these dimensions upon completion it would be the largest structure (in floor space) on earth. The architectural firm behind the design is Foster and Partners.

The tent-like superstructure would rise to 450m, and form a breathable "second skin" and thermal buffer for the main building, shielding the interior spaces from Moscow’s weather. This second skin will be sealed in winter to minimise heat loss, and opened in the summer to naturally cool the interior. The building would be integrated into a new park, which would provide a range of activities throughout the year, with cross country skiing and ice skating in the winter.^[2]

It is stated to have a multitude of cultural, exhibition, performance, hotel, apartment, retail and office space, as well as an international school for 500 students.^[2]

The building would be powered by built-in solar panels and wind turbines.^[3] The site would also feature on-site renewable and low-carbon energy generation.^[2]

As of 2009, construction has been postponed due to the global economic crisis.

See also

• Hyperboloid structure
• List of Hyperboloid structures

References

1. ^ Хрустальный дворец + Ханский шатер. Символ новой Москвы от лорда Фостера был показан 14 декабря на заседании Общественного совета при мэре Москвы Agency of Architectural news 16 December 2007 (Russian)
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Foster + Partners creates the world’s largest inhabited building". Foster + Partners. 2007-12-21. http://www.fosterandpartners.com/News/324/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-01-04. 
3. ^ "World's Biggest Building Coming to Moscow: Crystal Island". 2007-12-26. http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/12/26/tallest-skyscraper-in-the-world-coming-to-moscow/. Retrieved 2007-01-17. 

External links

• Crystal Island at Foster and Partners
• Skyscraper City Thread