This Skycraper will Transform Manila's Skyline

Henning Larsen Architects won an international competition for a new landmark building in the heart of Manila, Philippines. Designed in collaboration with landscape architects SLA and BuroHappold Engineering, the dramatically tapered high-rise for Bonifacio Global City is a sculptural beauty that combines Filipino traditional design with contemporary influences. The mixed-use building will be filled with natural daylight and prioritize access to nature. 

Rising to a height of 308 meters, the landmark tower is designed to redefine the skyline of Bonifacio Global City, a centrally located financial district in Manila. The high-rise will comprise state-of-the-art workspaces, restaurants, a civic center with exhibition spaces, and a public observatory at the top of the structure. The large public plaza that surrounds the building will be densely planted with tall trees and mimic the shade and ambiance of a Filipino tropical forest. The plaza serves as a protected public space for large gatherings and celebrations, a tradition emphasized in Filipino culture.

“We aimed to create a design that will be the benchmark of how a high-rise can give back to a city and its people. The project is characterized by a high degree of responsibility, in relation to not only materials and production but also regarding positive, social spaces encouraging intimacy and community,” says Claude Bøjer Godefroy, Partner and Design Director in Henning Larsen’s Hong Kong office.

“This building represents a milestone for Manila and the Philippines. We aimed to make it a truly Filipino building by understanding and integrating elements of Filipino nature, culture, and climate.” Trees grow inside the building and will be visible through the glazed facade. At night, the tower is illuminated and doubles as a kind of lighthouse for the city.

Source : This article was first published in inhabitat.com on 6 Sept 2017 titled "Henning Larsen Architects’ dramatically pointed skyscraper will transform Manila skyline"