Sunglasses for the equatorial skyscraper

Architects from the New York office “REX architecture” presented the project of a new skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia (South-East Asia). The 80-storey building, which is planned to be built directly on the equator, will not be exposed to either heat or ultraviolet radiation: in sunny weather, the facades of the skyscrapers will be completely closed with a special screen.

Kuala Lumpur, located on the mainland (Malacca Peninsula), has an equatorial climate: it is hot and humid all year round. The temperature in the city never rises above 38.5 °C and never falls below 17.8 °C. Almost throughout the year (except June-August) there are heavy precipitation, but despite this direct sunlight causes a lot of trouble.



It is impossible to escape from the blinding sun, and all four facades of the “Equator Tower” will receive intense uniform lighting. However, the specialists of "REX architecture" have developed a special fiberglass screen-shell with polytetrafluoroethylene coating, which during daylight will completely cover the building, preventing the intake of excess sunlight and heat.

Fiberglass (other names are fiberglass, glass composite) is a fiberglass soaked in epoxy. It is a light material with strength and durability of steel, biological resistance, moisture resistance and weather resistance of polymers, thermal conductivity of wood. Another important feature is the flexibility of fiberglass, due to which it is able to return to its original shape after impacts without destroying the element.



Until recently, fiberglass was used in many industries, including the defense industry, astronautics, aircraft, shipbuilding and other areas where the material had increased requirements for strength characteristics, heat saving, resistance to aggressive environments, preservation of properties at sharp fluctuations in temperature, durability and environmental friendliness.

As for polytetrafluoroethylene, we are talking about the well-known Teflon (fluoropolymer, fluoroplast). This plastic has rare physical and chemical properties and is widely used in technology and in everyday life. True, the danger of Teflon dishes for health has long been proven, but this is not a reason to abandon the use of Teflon in other areas.



Due to the semi-transparency of the sunscreen and the high efficiency of protection against overheating, it will be possible to stylish glazing of the skyscraper from floor to ceiling on each floor. In this way, residents and visitors of the Equator Tower will be able to continue enjoying panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur from their offices even in the middle of the day.

However, at the request of the tenants of the complex, the screen can be completely or partially removed or, conversely, rise at any time convenient for them. At the same time, the appearance of the building will change significantly depending on whether the protective filter is raised. The authors of the project hope that the transformation process itself will become a bait for curious tourists and highlight their tower among the many high-rises of the city.



The main purpose of “Equator Tower” is to create additional sites for comfortable offices, since Kuala Lumpur is an important commercial, industrial and financial center of the country, where banks and insurance companies, the stock and commodity exchange, offices of various firms and enterprises are concentrated. In addition to offices, the 380-meter tower will house conference rooms, restaurants, bars, clubs and a whole set of shops.

Source: facepla.net