There are more than ten leaning towers across the globe, which, for various reasons, deviates from the vertical axis. And even if the slope of these building, as a rule, was a miscalculation during construction work, it is now looked as a flight of the architect’s imagination, embodied in life by engineers and designers.
So, let’s check out some of the most amazing leaning buildings across the world. Now that they are situated in fairly well-known destinations, you won’t have problems with picking up a car and reaching them.
Capital Gate
Where: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Opened: 2011
Capital Gate can be called a unique building. In addition to the fact that it has a record angle of deviation from the vertical axis by 18 degrees, it’s also the first building in the Middle East to use diagonal grid technology designed to absorb and redirect wind power and seismic pressure.
Because of this, the Capital Gate was included into the Guinness Book of Records. Of course, it’s also an original architectural decoration of the city.
Museum of the Second World War
Where: Gdansk, Poland
Opened: 2017
The Polish bureau Architektoniczne Kwadrat won the competition for the creation of the Museum of World War II. A bold project with a beveled tower of terracotta panels and solid glazing of the facade and roof began to be implemented in 2012, and 5 years later the museum received its first guests.
The main part of the museum is hidden underground – visitors begin the overview from the underground floors and gradually move upstairs. The place for the museum was not chosen by chance – the Wiadrownia area in which it was located was destroyed during the war and then rebuilt.
The shape of the building evokes various associations – the museum is compared with a bastion, a crumbling house, a bunker, and when it was lit at night, it resembles a burning candle. At the same time, the building fits well with the city’s appearance and the geometry of ship cranes – symbols of the Port of Gdansk.
Dockland Office Building
Where: Hamburg, Germany
Opened: 2006
This six-story office building resembles an ultra-modern liner moored in the harbor of Hamburg. The terrace of the Dockland building with 140 steps is a beautiful urban space. It’s located on the height of 47 meters, and you can enjoy there the panorama of the city, the port and sunsets. The building was built right on the pier, above the Elbe.
Hypo Alpe Adria Bank
Where: Udine, Italy
Opened: 2006
The headquarters of Hypo Alpe Adria Bank looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. But, unlike architects of the XIV century, the architects of Morphosis bureau leaned the building 14 degrees to the south so that the upper floors were obscured by the lower floors and the bank employees would feel comfortable even on the hottest and sunniest days. Despite the bold architectural solution, the building is designed with reasonable planning and efficient use in mind.
US Air Force Academy
Where: Colorado Springs, USA
Opened: 2016
The inclined glass tower is an essential element of the long two-story academy building. The slope is caused by the peculiarities of the local climate, namely, frequent gusty winds. But in addition to climatic influence, the tilt angle of the tower is designed so that the 105-foot skylight is located exactly above the North Star, which is the symbol of the US Air Force.
If you are planning to visit this piece of art with your family in the US, you can always rent a car for 7 passengers by logging into Rental24.com. These rentals are perfect from big families and/or groups visiting the US.
Bella Sky Hotel
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Opened: 2011
Bella Sky is a great example of 21st century Scandinavian architecture, created by the renowned 3XN architectural bureau. Two parallel 23-story towers of the hotel are inclined from the vertical axis at an angle of 15 degrees in the opposite direction. Such an interesting architectural solution allows guests to enjoy the views of the nearby nature reserve and the city center from the windows of most of the hotel rooms.
The Gate of Europe
Where: Madrid, Spain
Opened: 1996
Built in 1996, the 114-meter 26-story twin towers are leaned at an angle of 15 degrees. It was a real achievement of engineering – such an angle at a relatively low height brought the top of the towers beyond the base by 30 meters, that is, to their full width. The tilt effect is additionally emphasized by decorative steel plates on the facade – the diagonal of the lower side face is connected in a straight line with the fulcrum in the opposite upper corner.
Inside the buildings, a counterweight made of monolithic concrete is installed. Helicopter landing sites are equipped on the roofs, and an obelisk is installed between the towers.
