CITY VIEWS

I have a new job and work in one of the high rise buildings smack bang in the middle of the CBD. This is the view towards the South and one can see Melbourne's tallest skyscraper, the Eureka Tower, in the centre of the first picture. Eureka Tower is a 297.3-metre skyscraper located in the Southbank precinct of Melbourne, Australia. Construction began in August 2002 and the exterior completed on 1 June 2006. The plaza was finished in June 2006 and the building was officially opened on 11 October 2006.

The project was designed by Melbourne architectural firm Fender Katsalidis Architects and was built by Grocon (Grollo Australia). The developer of the tower was Eureka Tower Pty Ltd, a joint venture consisting of Daniel Grollo (Grocon), investor Tab Fried and one of the Tower's architects Nonda Katsalidis. It was the world's tallest residential tower when measured to its highest floor, until surpassed by Ocean Heights and the HHHR Tower in Dubai. It is now the 9th tallest residential building in the world.

The second photo shows the ANZ world HQ Skyscraper, which is a postmodern development that involved integration with historic neo-gothic buildings.  Architects Peddle Thorp designed the 37 storey, 162 m tall building, which was built in 1993. The ANZ World Headquarters building is essentially curtain-walled, however it features zig zag tracery which presents like gothic arched structural supports. These structural supports project out and add enormous depth and complexity to the ANZ building facade.

The step-back massing effect effect culminates in a gable like structures intersecting on a pitched roofline which covers over the cooling tower. The effect is of a skyscraper Tudor gothic. This gives ANZ World Headquarters building a picturesque mass and landmark qualities. A subtle weather spire sits discretely atop the roof.  A podium is used to be sympathetic to the scale of surrounding heritage buildings, and contributes to the streetscape with lanterns and a brown stone like facade. The emphasis of the ANZ skyscraper is purely vertical.

This post is part of James' Weekend Reflections meme.