The “People’s tower” is the latest design proposal by an Indian architecture bureau — NUDES for an observatory tower that focuses on the integration of nature, technology, and community participation. 11,520 potted plants form the skin of the building, each of which would be sown and nurtured by members of the community and other stakeholders before being positioned into place. In other words, the tower would be built for the people, by the people.
Once installed, these potted plants would be maintained by swarms of drones and robotic technologies. The plant species’ health would be monitored in real-time using image scanning combined with application technologies, including remote sensing. Recycled water mists would be sprayed through vertical feed lines embedded into the tower infrastructure.
Plants have served as protective shields since time immemorial. They provide both physical and psychological comfort, including improvement of air quality and reduction of stress levels. The simple potted plant is adopted by NUDES as it offers a universal symbol that represents our basic primordial human instinct for life and survival. Thousands of pots come together to echo ideologies such as unity, peace, tolerance, pluralism, empathy, and compassion towards life and nature.
This tower rises vertically, housing observatory decks at various levels capped by a community amphitheater with panoramic views on the top. The tower imbibes net-zero design principles and also promotes universal accessibility. A spiraling ramp and elevator-core serve as primary circulation elements. The “People’s tower” is designed to celebrate and recognize the role and contribution of people in the act of nation-building, addressing the confluence of nature, art, and technology to create a positive legacy for future generations.
Source: designboom.com