OFIS architects: all seasons tent tower

slovenian-based firm OFIS architects has proposed ‘all seasons tent tower’ as part of the mercedes benz hotel tower competition for the city of yerevan, armenia. the concept of the project joins two terraced cylindrical towers connected in the ground floor, embraced with a green tent-shape layer. the higher tower will be used as a restaurant, pool, spa, fitness centre and bar. it will also house a hotel and apartments along with a business centre, shops and a garage. the lower structure which extends outwards from the main tower will serve as housing and exhibition hall as well as garage.

as the city of yerevan is situated in a region prone to earthquakes, the main driver when deciding on a suitable structural system for the building was safety during earthquakes. the vertical structure, which resists gravity load and forces resulting from earthquake action, was rationalized to reinforce the tower’s concrete cores and composite columns. the two cores on the inner perimeter of the taller tower are required to ensure structural stability, one core in the case of the lower tower. at the base, the outer walls of the cores are 160 cm thick. due to the terraced shape of the building, the columns on the outermost perimeter are inclined towards the centre of the building. those on the innermost perimeter are inclined in 3D space to form a mesh. the core wall thickness and column dimensions are reduced with the height of the building.

the tower against the city skyline

main entrance facing mt. ararat

the volumes of the two towers are positioned and designed in a way that creates a dominant view from the city. tent tower’s interchanging skin – winter

the facade skin covers the terraces of the towers, creating openings and full-structural elements. it is made from a metal mesh that represent elements of the landscape. it also corresponds to the different seasons. in summer the mesh is covered by greenery that is planted at the fence of the tower’s terraces. in the winter time, it is white, partially covered with snow.

special care has been taken to optimize environmental conditions and minimize the energy demands of the tower. the external facades will feature a high performance skin with an adaptable external shading device to reduce solar gains in the summer. a concrete slab embedded pipe system provides cooling without draft problems and in winter comfortable heating. in the summer, the cooling of internal spaces is achieved primarily through the use of the slab system. during winter, the fresh air will be heated inside the units and distributed into the rooms using the displacement ventilation principle. elevation – north facade

the energy supply system is based on natural resources. photovoltaic cells are integrated into the atrium roof to generate power for the tower. elevation – south facade