Group Danhos has commissioned the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) to design Torre Bicentenario in the centre of Mexico City which will become the tallest building in Latin America. Completion is scheduled for 2010 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Mexico’s Independence.
The building will accommodate over 160,000 sqft of office space, a convention centre, site museum, gym, as well as retail and restaurants. The 300 meter tall building will be located at the intersection of Reforma and Anillo Perife Rico, in the northeast corner of Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park, home to the Presidential residence.
Looking like 2 inverted pyramids bridged by a lobby where shuttles and elevators pass thru, it boasts a viewing deck over the park and the city. Two voids penetrate the building at its widest point providing ventilation and natural light.
Whilst traditional high-rises tend to internalize this feature with an atrium, the Torre Bicentenario projects it onto the facade cutting into the building. A pattern of reflective glass panels covering 50% of the interior surface maximizes light penetration. The void twists at its midpoint, opening at the bottom toward the park and at the top toward the city, connecting the building to its surroundings.
I dont like it at all, i think is not a nice building. The shape is challenging for construction,and also the concept of the tubes for air intake. However, i didnt got impressed… looks only “weird”.