The Crystal Spark Tower 2015
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I am the lifestyle assistant editor at Forbes.
After ruling supreme for thousands of years as the most spectacular man-made creation ever to be built in Egypt, the Great Pyramid might soon be forced to step down from its reign—by a modern-day marvel molded in its image, no less.
The nation’s Ministry of Housing just announced plans to erect a 656-foot-high mixed-used tower that’ll occupy a roughly 8.4-million-square-foot lot in West Cairo’s Sheikh Zayed district (about 30 minutes away from Giza).
Dubbed “Zayed Crystal Spark,” the 49-story project—to be built through a collaboration between real estate developers and the government’s New Urban Communities Authority—will consist of two pyramid-like structures, the taller of which will showcase a glowing capstone at its peak.
The proposed tower will easily dwarf the mighty “Great,” which measures in at a mere 481 feet (though it’s doubtful the famed ancient icon stands to lose any of its longtime admirers to the flashy up-and-comer). “Spark” will also rise well past the Cairo Tower, currently the tallest building in North Africa at 616 feet.
Our vision:
A piece of land with an area of 800,000 m2 was given by the government to become one of the biggest business parks in Egypt. We proposed to add the tallest tower in Egypt and Africa. A concentric approach to the design, putting a centered tower as the main feature of the project, with all other things scattered around it or attached to it. The tower has the main services of the complex and serves as an icon for the city. Taking its geometrical concept and proportions from the great pyramid of Khufu, as well as pointing towards it, the crystal spark is a symbol for modern Egypt, and an icon to look up to on the western side of Cairo beyond the actual pyramids of Giza.
A glance to the future
Egypt is returning, becoming and is going to become. The pyramids were the most prominent buildings in ancient Egypt and are the most famous of all the ancient monuments, the only remaining wonder of the seven wonders of the ancient world. They give us a wealth of information about the lives of the people, for they illustrate wars and battles, hunting sense and sacrificial processions, and numerous other aspects of everyday life. This profound history leads to continue on the same track, while letting Egypt regain its riches within the globe.
The crystal spark vision was basically to have an iconic building or landmark for the western area of greater Cairo, this iconic building express the new era of Egypt and reflects the modernity using the spirit of Egypt.
The concept:
The architect used the prime location through 26 July road and the 10 minutes driving to the heritage area of great pyramids of Giza, to create the modern reflection of the great pyramids, using same orientation of the pyramids to the east.
The tower has was created by interlocking two pyramids, the small one reflecting the past and work as the base of the future which is represented by the taller tower. The form angles and ratio was created using the same concept of Khufu pyramid while using the angles of the sun to glow up some parts of the interior throughout daytime from sunrise to sunset.
The concept of using the “crystal pyramid theory” of designing the great pyramid of Khufu, it was research work done by the architect in 2006, applying the theory of the light reflection inside the pyramids which creates the sun inside the grand gallery of Khufu pyramid.
By using the same theory of reflections using the sun, the form has was created by a steel structure for both pyramids “past & future” reflecting glass panels and solar panels in a smart way that the panels rotate with the sun using ” sunflower theory” controlled by a digital and mechanical technology, through different angles of panels that reflects sun rays during daytime and other panels reflects the rays inside the building in certain hours per day.
Also some panels work as solar energy collectors. Using a “smart-mechanical” way of sunflower, the tower works as a green building targeting to be a zero energy pyramid of Egypt
In other ways the architect used the “sun, water, air & plants” to express the spiritual journey through the building. Making the whole building floating in a lake representing the “holy lake” surrounding it, nobody can touch the outer smart skin of the tow pyramids, the lake has been extended to the rest of the site from the base level of the tower +7m to the central park of the site in level zero by falling water screen all-around the pyramid. And the connection to the water is recessed with vapor nozzles the makes the pyramid floating in the sky. Palms and vertical gardens inside and outside the building with the sun rays and falling water rainbow make you feel a different experience.
The secret:
The sun is inside, outside the building daytime & nighttime.
https://cubeconsultants.org/portfolio/crystal-spark/
The Global media was talking about the project in many way as bellow:
https://www.dezeen.com/2015/03/02/pyramid-inspired-skyscraper-zayed-crystal-spark-cairo-egypt/
https://www.hauteresidence.com/egypt-highest-tower-zayed-crystal-park/
https://www.archdaily.com/604975/egypt-plans-to-build-a-200-meter-tall-pyramid-skyscraper
https://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-32814-egypt-plans-new-pyramid-skyscraper
https://www.buro247.me/lifestyle/news/cairo-new-pyramids.html
https://www.designbuild-network.com/news/newsegypt-to-construct-200m-pyramid-skyscraper-in-cairo-4525108/