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
There are many ways of classifying types of building. Have a look at our range of building articles.
BSRIA have launched the 'major update' of the go-to design framework guide for building services.
How to get results with building life cycle assessment.
Government publishes a prospectus inviting proposals for new 'garden communities'.
The Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa collapses during rainstorm while undergoing maintenance works.
'Developed design' is a phrase coined by the RIBA for their 2013 Plan of Work. But what does it actually mean?
New green paper published aiming to rebalance the relationship between landlords and residents and tackle stigma.
RIBA calls for a comprehensive ban on combustible materials.
Lump sum contracts can be referred to as ‘fixed price’ contracts, although strictly this is not correct. Find out more here.
Ramboll offer guidance to civil engineers on how to make projects 'off-site ready'.
Government announces its Rough Sleeping Strategy, with further funding for social housing.