Absolute Towers by MAD Architects
The competition winning “Absolute Towers” are close to completion in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga. After winning the project in 2009, Chinese architecture company MAD architects have wowed residents in the area with the incredibly unique design for the towers as they slowly come to fruition.
In response to the design brief, architects wanted to not only add an important residential structure; their aim was to redevelop the idea of modernism and what it means to a relevant modern society. What key idea they developed is based on the complexity that is synonymous with humanity that encompasses an expression of current society.
They label the ideology behind the towers as “something beautiful, sculptural and human”.
The sculpture and humanity aspects are apparent through the towers’ unique curved shape that has marked them as international Canadian icons even before their completion.
Tower A, the first to be built is an eye catching height of 170m. 56 stories of curved class take up approximately 45,000 sqm. The second tower, Tower B is slightly smaller at 150m, with 50 stories and a total size of approximately 40,000 sqm.
The shape of each tower also differs slightly, with “A” curving in at the mid-section or “waist” of the building, and “B” slighter wider throughout the mid section.
The locals have dubbed The Absolute Tower “Marilyn Monroe”. One can only assume it is due to the curvaceous shape of each of the towers and their soft feminine form. What makes them even more unique is the distinct exterior, which plays host to continuous balconies that wrap their way around the towers.
The circular shape of the tower, which rotates to different degrees at different levels, provides occupants of each unit 360 degree views of the city. Typical vertical barriers are irrelevant and non-existent, and make way for extensive natural light and wind, elemental forces becoming apart of each apartments backdrop. This is said to have been done to re-connect inhabitants with the environments in which they live.
The two buildings are noted to have a dialogue with each other and their surrounds. Their position as a gateway to the town centre also ignites this feeling of community and communication.
The Absolute Tower has a rhythm and style that has not been seen before on this scale of design. It conscious effort to re-connect inside and out with a sense of organic flow will certainly spark attention on a global industry level at its unveiling in the coming months.
