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Urban Cactus Architecture
Urban Cactus, an architectural project underway in Rotterdam, presents an unusual appearance. Because it will sit on a harbor, UCX Architects decided on a natural "green" image.
(Urban Cactus will soar into the Rotterdam sky)
It appears to consist of a stack of rotated, irregular plates. The nineteen story building will house up to 98 residents, who will obviously have plenty of natural light falling on plenty of terraces.
The design also appears to allow plenty of light to enter the housing units.
Some readers may think of the science-fictional buildings created by growing things, like the house trees from Jack Vance's 1954 novel The Houses of Iszm:
There were trees comprised of a central columnar trunk and four vast leaves, arching out and over to the ground to form four domed halls illuminated by the pale green transmitted light.
(Read more about Jack Vance's house trees)
Interested in buildings based on living forms? Take a look at the Burj Dubai Tower; its design is based on a flower that is cultivated in Dubai.
Found this one in a long chain from VCTB to WC to Daily Dose of Architecture.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/1/2006)
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