SOMs Living Tower

Via Inhabitat: "Architectural powerhouse SOM recently revealed a new landmark tower designed by their resident architect Mustafa Abadan for the city of Seoul, Korea. ...Located in the heart of Seoul’s Digital Media City, the new namesake tower will also feature an incredible 'living' atrium that will provide both light and air to the inhabitants within."

:: image via Inhabitat


Definitely a pertinent example of bioclimatic architecture and biophilic design, the dual concept of which are powerful in moving the concept of living walls from the aesthetic and beginning to fully integrate functional and beautiful vegetation into the architecture. A short excerpt of the concept from Inhabitat:

"Inspired by the filtration exhibited by a marine sponge, the new tower finds its ‘living’ core within the interior atria, which acts as the lungs for the tower, maximizing both air circulation and filtration through active phytoremediation walls — these walls are able to both temper and refresh the quality of interior air throughout the building. While the void is meant to capitalize on stacked air flow, and in turn drive the wind turbines sited at the top of the spire, the open space actually allows for an incredible infusion and refraction of natural daylight, dramatically reducing any dependency on mechanical systems for lighting."

:: image via Inhabitat

The active integration, in this case referred to as 'Active Phyto-Remediation' becomes a part of the HVAC systems to purify building air and help control interior microclimates as this air moves (and is moved) through the building. The effects of this process have precedents (here, here, and more broadly, through the work of Ken Yeang here for instance) - but full integration into building is rare, and I'm excited to see what is learned through this bioclimatic approach to building and skyscraper implementation.