Axel Springer HQ, Berlin, Germany —
The architects at Büro Ole Scheeren proposed this design for the new headquarters of Axel Springer, one of Europe's largest multimedia firms. The pixelated opening hints at the client's commitment to transparency. "At the core of the new building floats an urban-scale void, establishing a visual axis between former East and West and conceptually reuniting the two sides," the architects write in their project description. "The building emerges as a symbol of transparency and historic awareness."
Poro City, Mumbai, India —
Poro City, designed by architects at Khushalani Associates in 2015, is a plan to restructure the highly dense environment of Dharavi in Mumbai, one of the largest slums in the world. The proposed pyramid structure, described by the architects as an "integrated 3 dimensional city," spreads over 216 hectares and can accommodate around 376,000 people and 5000 businesses. The concept, which was proposed in the eVolo skyscraper competition in 2015, also has spaces for public amenities including schools, parks, and hospitals. The open-ended nature of its 'holes' allows for different cubicles to be "plugged-in" or added in case there's a need for more spaces.
Opus Office Tower, Dubai, UAE —
Upon completion Zaha Hadid's Opus Office Tower will consist of two structures, conceived as a single cube eroded by a free-form void. Given the temperatures in the United Arab Emirates, you might mistake it for an ice cube whose mid-section has melted away.
Opus Office Tower, Dubai, UAE —
According to its architects, a pixelated reflective façade will make the cube seem full during the day time. However, at night it "dematerializes" as specially installed lights flood the void.
Technology, Entertainment & Knowledge Centre, Taipei, Taiwan —
Danish architect Bjarke Ingels proposed this large cube for the Technology, Entertainment & Knowledge Centre (TEK) in Taipei. Its various holes are actually entry points and vantage points for pedestrians who can snake through the building on an internal staircase, which leads from ground floor to rooftop garden.
Technology, Entertainment & Knowledge Centre, Taipei, Taiwan —
Inside the cube pedestrians and employees will walk past offices, shops, showrooms, hotel rooms, conference rooms and exhibition spaces. "At the roof of the cube, the trajectory expands forming a big informal public arena," the architects write. "All restaurants on the penthouse floor open to the arena, making it a natural gathering point for Taipei teenagers for social hangout and informal performances."
CCTV Tower, Beijing, China —
Architect Rem Koolhaas famously declared that he wanted to "kill the skyscraper." As part of his assault, he conceived the Beijing CCTV Tower, an oddly-shaped complex of six interlocking vertical and horizontal structures. The 44-storey building includes a large hole in the center, which explains why locals sometimes refer to it as "big boxer shorts". In 2013 the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat named it the Best Tall Building Worldwide.
The Mirador, Madrid, Spain —
Architectural firm MVRDV did not run out of money before completing The Mirador apartment complex in Madrid. The hole in the middle is actually a semi-public sky plaza which provides an ideal vantage point to enjoy the nearby Guadarrama Mountains. It also includes a community garden, thereby "monumentalizing public life and space."
Guangzhou Circle, Guangzhou, China —
The Guangzhou Circle is not meant to resemble a cable reel, a spool of thread or a wheel. According to Italian architecture firm A.M. Progetti, it actually invokes an ancient jade disc, which included a hole at its center. Employees inside the building, which is home to the world's largest stock exchange for plastic, are privy to another spectacular feature. When reflected into the nearby river, the building forms the number 8—a symbol of luck in China.
The Gate of the East Building, Suzhou, China —
The British architects behind the Gate of the East Building in Suzhou, China say that it is "a mix of westernized pure form and Chinese subtlety," and that it represents the significance of modern China. Locals say it looks like a giant pair of pants.Rising 74 stories and costing more than $740 million, it has stoked criticism that China is becoming 'the playground of foreign designers with laughable architecture ideas."
Hamburg Science Centre, Hamburg, Germany —
OMA, the Dutch architecture firm, dreamed up this ambitious design for a Science Centre, Aquarium and Science Theater, which would have sat at the entrance to the Magdeburger harbour. The design consists of 10 large blocks that form a building shaped like a ring. It has been compared to a giant stack of Tetris blocks missing a piece in the middle. Owing to the expense of the project, the Science Centre was never built.
World Financial Centre, Shanghai, China —
When Shanghai's World Financial Centre opened in 2007, the 1,614-ft. high building was the second tallest in the world. The hole near its top isn't a design flourish meant to frame the sun. Architects included it to reduce wind pressure against the building. Original plans called for the trapezoid aperture to be circular, but locals protested that would resemble the rising sun in the Japanese flag.
La Grande Arche de la Défense, Paris, France —
In 1982 French president François Mitterrand staged an international design competition to create a "modern Arc de Triomphe." The Danish duo of Johann Otto von Spreckelsen and Erik Reitzel won with their Grande Arche de la Défense, which is meant to celebrate humanity rather than commemorate military conquest. Visitors don't just get a view of Paris through the Arc: there is also a viewing platform on its roof.