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
Local leaders gain new powers to support local high streets
High Street Rental Auctions to be introduced from December.
Infrastructure sector posts second gain for October
With a boost for housebuilder and commercial developer contract awards.
Sustainable construction design teams survey
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Design: Your Voice Matters.
COP29; impacts of construction and updates
Amid criticism, open letters and calls for reform.
The properties of conservation rooflights
Things to consider when choosing the right product.
Adapting to meet changing needs.
London Build: A festival of construction
Co-located with the London Build Fire & Security Expo.
Tasked with locating groups of 10,000 homes with opportunity.
Delivering radical reform in the UK energy market
What are the benefits, barriers and underlying principles.
Information Management Initiative IMI
Building sector-transforming capabilities in emerging technologies.
Recent study of UK households reveals chilling home truths
Poor insulation, EPC knowledge and lack of understanding as to what retrofit might offer.
Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment
Overview, regulations, detail calculations and much more.
Why the construction sector must embrace workplace mental health support
Let’s talk; more importantly now, than ever.
Ensuring the trustworthiness of AI systems
A key growth area, including impacts for construction.
Foundations for the Future: A new model for social housing
To create a social housing pipeline, that reduces the need for continuous government funding.
Mutual Investment Models or MIMs
PPP or PFI, enhanced for public interest by the Welsh Government.
Key points and relevance to construction of meeting, due to reconvene.