Kobe Port Tower
See the full Unusual building of the week series here.
Kobe Port Tower, nicknamed the Steel Tower Beauty, is a hyperboloid tower in the port city of Kobe, Japan. When it was completed in 1963 it was the world’s first building featuring a pipe lattice structure.
Designed by the Nikken Sekkei Company, the tower’s unique shape was inspired by a tsuzumi, a traditional Japanese drum. It is 108 m tall, and comprises 8 layers, the top being a 360-degree observation deck which is open to tourists and provides impressive views of Kobe.
The main structure of the tower is painted a burnt orange colour, surrounded by 32 red steel staves.
The tower was closed for renovation in 2009-2010, during which time 7,000 LED lights were installed which are illuminated at night.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Robotics and the construction industry.
ECA comments on CLC's three-phase recovery plan.
Their diplomatic and architectural history.
The origins of the six volume series.
Built to defend British waters, only to serve as pirate radio stations later.
A balanced approach to the office
Wellbeing to influence mix of home and office based working.
An introduction to cobotics.
Survey reports on outlook for the engineering sector.
A simple path to possible error avoidance.
Construction + technology = ConTech.
Social distancing and construction sites
New low and high tech tools enter the marketplace.
Report looks at mental health in the built environment.
Radiant wall heating method to control rising damp.
What future infrastructure provision might look like.
Highlighting the health benefits of home improvement.
Pavilions for music, entertainment, and leisure. Book review.