When it comes to engineering advancements in skyscraper design, undeniably, most engineers are focused on breaking the building’s height record. Also, we already know the revolving restaurants perched at the top of towers. Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio went much further, presenting the Squall Tower, a turbine-shaped skyscraper concept that would be intended to adorn the Dubai skyline.
It is not only the top floor that turns, but the entire skyscraper turns on its base. The idea came from a Turkish architect, Hayri Atak, who proposed this skyscraper concept, dubbed Squall Tower, that is designed to physically rotate with the wind.
The Squall Tower is a concept project was inspired by vertical wind turbines, and in contrast to skyscrapers resisting the wind’s strength, the tower moves in uniform with its environment. It comes with three individual ribbon-shaped segments that helically twist around a central axis, with multiple branches connecting them all together.
The cross-section of each ribbon is designed to be streamlined, allowing it to effectively rotate with minimal drag. A single rotation will be completed once every 48 hours, with or without wind. Like many rotating restaurants, the tower will allow its occupants to have a 360° view of Dubai, alternating between the ocean and city-facing views.
A helipad at the top of the tower will allow patrons and visitors access from the top, but rotating entrances on the base will provide ingress to each of the building’s three helical towers. Regardless of the direction of the wind, says Atak, the skyscraper will be able to generate electricity for indoor use thanks to its rotation.
It is not clear if we will have a chance to see the real Squall Tower since there’s no word on when the construction for the Squall Tower will begin. But this concept is considered one of the ideas that combine technology with the environment. It also helps the world to save energy through electricity generated by the wind.
