Figure 7. Form Building

Wind movement is another factor that governs the tower form. The project site receives fierce winds from all directions. Hence, a curved form would allow for the winds to pass around or through the tower without creating major turbulence around the tower. Obstructions near the ground can significantly alter local wind conditions. A vertical channel along the East-West façade directs the wind upwards. The wind turbines were integrated within the crown of the tower at 500 meters and at sky lobbies to maximize the potential energy generation from wind [See Figure 7(a)].

Figure 7. Form Building (a) CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Analysis at the top, (b) Form development for PET. © SOM 2021

The conceptual design proposal by SOM features a curved tower form oriented along the NorthSouth axis. The demand for mechanical ventilation has been reduced by using vertical sun shading devices on the East-West façade and Horizontal devices on the North-South façade. The tower is optimized by maximizing environmental gain using sun and wind as the guiding principles for the form and fabric [See Figure 7(b)].