‘transportable tourist tower (TTT)’ by jose pequeno, various locationsimage © andreas rochaall images courtesy of jose pequeno

 

 

the ultimate in the marriage of aesthetics, functionality, modularity, portability and sustainability, the ‘transportable tourist tower (TTT)’ by portuguesearchitect jose pequeno in collaboration with the dst group made its debut at the 2010 shanghai expo and has since made its way across the globe. with the combination of a cleverly designed prefabricated structure that optimizes interior area and new revolutionary technologies, the tower represents a new type of habitability that could prove extremely useful beyond its current use as a tourist information post and temporary installation. the construct can be built with almost any wood – a potentially 100% renewable resource – and glass, a 100% recyclable material. needing as little as 10 square-meters for its installation, the three storey vertical tower returns an extremely efficient floor to area ratio as it takes up a very small footprint. its various facade screens and panels filter the necessary light which make it adaptable to any location and climate, and although it takes up a minimal area on site, itcontains a bathroom, kitchen, dining area, living space, study, bedroom, and a rooftop deck.

 

 

architect jose pequeno describes the design (language: protuguese)video © fernando teigao dos santos

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoimage © andreas rocha

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoinstallable in any locationimage © andreas rocha

 

 

adding to the project’s dynamic characteristics, in addition to being implemented as a singular vertical edifice it can also be used horizontally as well. a minimal steel structure provides four control points from which a small crane can easily move the structure. this also allows for the stacking of the units to create a larger composite building with flexible modules that can be replaced, removed, or added onto almost infinitely. the sustainable featuresof the tower revolve around three basic principles: ‘the economic and strategic viability of its implementation; environmental commitment with the use of solar energy systems; and a socio-cultural support based on a constructive approximation to nature.’ one of the new technologies used in the constructionis the innovative et3 structural timber-glass panel. these versatile components can be used as a floor or ceiling slab, or a vertical wall, and integrate activeand passive solar energy systems and bioclimatic functions that ensure optimal insulation and energy efficiency. perhaps the most important part of theentire construction, of the whole unit down to the individual et3 panels, is their ability to be deconstructed and completely re-used to almost any application.

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoimage © andreas rocha

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenohorizontal stack-able applicationimage © andreas rocha

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenospaces defined by its useimage © andreas rocha

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequeno(left) at the shanghai expo 2010image © amanda fan(right) in useimage © cheng minshe / xinhua news agency

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoillumination at nightimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoupper private floors screened by wood panelsimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenotransparent lower floorimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenocorner detailimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoet3 timber-glass panelimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoground floor kitchen areaimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenocaptionimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoall wooden interior with integrated fittings and various viewsimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenostudy areaimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenointerior lightingimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoimage © amanda fan

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoimage © hugo delgado

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenobedroom and bathroomimage © amanda fan

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoview down into the structureimage © hugo delgado

 

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequeno

transportable tourist tower by jose pequeno(left) construction: primary steel frame(right) transported by attaching to the steel frameimages © jose pequeno

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenotransportationimages © jose pequeno

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenomoved by as little as one small crane

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenosteel spine makes for an easy displacement

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoloading onto truck bed

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequeno

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequeno

 

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequeno

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenovarious floor plan configurations

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequeno(left) section(right) elevation

 

 

transportable tourist tower by jose pequenoelevations