The Infinite Tower

Year: 2024 Spring @ GSD
Program: Flex
Location: London Earls Court
Instructor: Hanif Kara, Amin Taha

Inspired by the diagrid and reciprocal structure system, traditionally associated with steel and concrete construction, this design challenges conventional notions by exploring the use of stone. Can this material, with significantly lower embodied carbon, redefine the high-tech aesthetic, questioning the dominance of steel?

Modular Innovation:

The module’s exoskeleton, comprising pre-tensioned stone beams and columns, minimizes material usage while maximizing structural efficiency. The interior floor slabs are supported by the exoskeleton, with the glazing system integrated into it. This design feature also facilitates solar cell installation on upward-facing panels for enhanced solar gain.

In a word, the goal of the design is to reflect on an existing aesthetic dominated by steel construction through the lens of stone. Testing its limits and potentials and design for spatial vibrancy, adaptability, and flexibility.