A first look at Madison Square Park tower

New York’s Madison Square Park is the latest place to go ogling some of the city’s newest skyscrapers. Cetra Rudy and OMA have each designed new towers on the park. Now the area is to get a forward-looking gleaming glass and green residential tower designed by Studio Libeskind, with spiraling gardens in the sky. The dramatic 54-storey tower will sit atop a 14-storey masonry structure that is an annex for the Metropolitan Life building, making it the city’s tallest residential tower. The design of the building was kept under wraps until recently when it was made public on the Architects Newspaper Blog, which scanned the images to the web from Daniel Libeskind’s new monograph. While the design of the New York Tower is in the embryonic stage.

Libeskind said the following today via statement:
“The design features a series of spiraling gardens extending the green of Madison Square along the facade of the tower. The tower is set back from its neighbors—maintaining views and maximizing light and air.” "We look forward to a continuing dialogue when the proposal enters the public review process”, he added.

source:http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=10832

Regenerating St.Petersburg historic city

HOK announce major new development to regenerate historic city

A major new master plan has been developed on the edge of St Petersburg aimed at regenerating the eastern fringes of the historic city. The master plan, created by HOK, covers 60 hectares and sets out the blueprint for city’s first Techno Park. Situated on the edge of St. Petersburg the park will be within a major residential quarter with some retail. The scheme will be financed through both public and private investment: about a third of the development will be State funded. The site will create a nurturing environment for students and alumni from the technical college. Tim Gale, HOK’s Head of Planning in London said: “The development is designed to take advantage of the synergies between the different uses, including office incubator units for start-up companies, and a training college.” The site will also retain existing apartment blocks in the center.

Shown here in the first big image, the tall blocks are office space with retail at the base and the circular building will hold the Headquarters for the development’s client, Techno Park.

Designed with sustatainability in mind Gale explains: “The green roofs and central water feature are designed to attenuate storm water runoff. The St. Petersburg metro and bus routes serve the site and it has a mixed use profile providing all services, including residential accommodation, on the campus thus reducing the need for vehicle travel. Cycle parking facilities are planned throughout the site, as are central recycling collection and composting depots.”

The project is due to start on-site in 2010 assuming planning permission is granted.

source: http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/