Writhing Tower, designed by LYCS Architecture, is a proposal for a global architectural competition initiated by ARQUIA, an international development firm interested in commissioning architecture as art. The tower is a sky condo for one of the most beautiful residential zones in Lima, whereas each unit is rotated 45 degrees to create a cruciform shape in plan and the appearance of a linear hinged volume.
Writhing Tower’s Concept
The writhing tower enables each unit to have uninterrupted views of the public park in front of the site and the ocean to the rear. More images and the architect’s description after the break.
Additionally, each unit has blocked views of the unit above and below it to create extra privacy. Each unit is a two-story townhouse with a terrace for a garden with trees and a pool with a deck. Due to the uniqueness of the geometric play in the overall tower form, each terrace can receive tropical sunshine and breeze.
The metal hypar that connects the second-floor plate to the underside of the unit above projects the user’s view out of the structure because the smooth surface blends the two box geometries. Consequently, the hinged volume takes on the appearance of being twisted from unit to unit up the structure. A mesh triangle is added to provide additional sun protection and a synthetic connection to the hypar form.