Occitanie Tower, Toulouse
[Image © MORPH]
In March 2017, Studio Libeskind revealed their designs for a new high-rise building for the heart of the business sector of Toulouse, France. The sculpted Occitanie Tower will rise 150 m above the Canal du Midi, and is set to be the first skyscraper in the city.
[Image © Luxigon]
Integrated into the overall form of the building, the façade and public platform is a continuous vertical landscape. The platform of the building with be lined with trees, while a ribbon of gardens will curl around the glass facade to its full height. The vertical gardens will be designed by andscape architect Nicolas Gilsoul.
The tower includes 11,000 sq. m of office space, a Hilton hotel, up to 120 apartments, a restaurant with panoramic views, commercial space for shops, and offices on the ground floor for railway company SNCF.
Situated to the east of the city centre, away from the Garonne River, the building will have views towards the Pyrenees, that are less than 100 km away. The project will become the gateway to the city’s growing business sector.
[Image © Luxigon]
Daniel Libeskind said:
“With its suspended gardens that change color during the seasons, the slight silvertine of the glazing of the façade will reflect the pink tones of Toulouse and the brightness of this material will change perception of the space, according to the variation of light.
“The tower becomes a unique object in a vast urban space – the tower will not only become a destination, but also a defining public space.”
Studio Libeskind will collaborate with Toulouse architect Francis Cardete. Construction is expected to start in 2018, with a project completion date of 2022.
Content and images courtesy of Studio Libeskind.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Open industry engagement survey seeks responses
Institutions and the importance of engagement.
National Retrofit Hub unveils new guide
Digital Building Logbooks and Retrofit: An Introduction.
Top 50 firms awarded 52bn of projects in the last year
New engineering data shows.
Enhancing construction site reporting efficiency
Through digitisation and the digital revolution.
Noise in the built environment
BSRIA guide TG 20/2021.
17,000 people suffer conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at work.
Turning down the noise: Auditory health
A pervasive risk with far-reaching consequences.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Plumbing and heating for successful retrofit and renovation
Low temperature underfloor systems and heat pumps.
Cost-of-living crisis and home improvement plans
Starting on the right footing and top tips for projects.
Delays on construction projects
Types, mitigation and the acceleration of works.
From Chaucer to Fawlty Towers.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.
Net zero electricity grids BSRIA guide NZG 5/2024
Outlining the changes needed to transition to net zero.
CIOB Global Student Challenge 2024
Universitas Indonesia wins for second year running.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.