winners of evolo's 2011 skyscraper competion announced

‘LO2P recycling skyscraper’ by atelier CMJN, new delhi, india images courtesy of eVolo magazine

the winners have been announced for 2011’s skyscraper competition hosted by eVolo magazine. this is the fifth year for the annual competition, which recognizes outstanding ideas that redefine skyscraper design. awards are given to young talent, who through the use of new materials and technologies are looking to change the way we understand architecture and its relationship with natural and built environments.

first place was awarded to julien combes, gaël brulé of parisian studio, atelier CMJN for their ‘LO2P Recycling Skyscraper’ in new dehli, india. the project, a ferris wheel-style structure, was designed as a large-scale wind turbine that filters polluted air through a series of particle collector membranes, elevated greenhouses, and mineralization baths.

‘LO2P recycling skyscraper’ by atelier CMJN

yoann mescam, paul-eric schirr-bonnans and xavier schirr-bonnans of france took second place for their design, ‘flat tower’, a dome-like horizontal skyscraper that harvests solar energy, collects rainwater and preserves the existing urban fabric at ground level due to its large skylights and small footprint.

‘flat tower’ by yoann mescam, paul-eric schirr-bonnans and xavier schirr-bonnans

aerial view of ‘flat tower’

night shot of ‘flat tower’

third place went to yheu-shen chua from the united kingdom for a project that re-images the infamous hoover dam in the united states as an inhabitable tower that unifies the power plant with a gallery, aquarium and viewing platform.

‘re-imagining the hoover dam’ by yheu-shen chua

site plan of ‘re-imagining the hoover dam’

(from left to right) surrounding tower, above tower, in between containers

among the honorable mentions were structures that look to studies on globalization, adaptation and the digital revolution as a means of re-interpretation. included in the shortlist were towers that clean oil spills and desalinate seawater, inverted skyscrapers, recycling towers, fish farms, and ‘living mountains’ for desert climates.

‘hopetel: transitional high-rise housing’ by asaf dali