Cheongna City Tower: Optical Technology Makes It Appear Invisible
The super tall Cheongna City Tower, in Incheon, South Korea has been designed by international practice GDS Architects. The landmark first superstructure is the first invisible tower of the world refuses itself to be a land mark. The observation tower will be new landmark of Korea which keeps itself apart from global community subtly establishing its rising position in the world through lessening its presence. Through an optical technology the tower appears to disappear. GDS Architects assured the city tower competition jury that the optical technology used by Eco Prism makes it disappear.
The invisibility contributes to the use of optical camera which are specially position and LEDs creating reflective surface for the building. The firm is inspired by the twentieth century architect Louis Kahn. According to GDS architects, they believe in the strength of nothingness and power of absence which are referred by Louis Kahn. A traveller could see the views from observation towers through walls which encourage people to travel this worldly destination and discover different culture.
The tower with 450meters tall, sprawling over 145,500 square meters the construction which uses porous walls through which the city views are penetrated as if it were mesh of a curtain. The outdoor public area around the tower includes outside environmental activities, sports, cultural, Water Park, extensive platform for children activities, natural park setting and Cheongna's water canals. The project has won many awards, which being built by Samoo Architects and Engineers hope to finish by September 2014 when Asian Games starts.
