Jai
Aug 13, 2007, 4:22 AM
Hi
Kolkata is slowly but surely undergoing urban transformation. For years stifling under democratically-elected communist government, now not even they can stave off the Indian urban development phenomenon. Malls, multiplexes, townships, highrises and commerical towers are starting to sprout up in the city, slowly but surely getting a little bit taller with each project. It's where Mumbai was 8 years ago.
Now, while the change isn't as visibly dynamic as in other cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad or Bangalore, it's certainly there, and, owing to its large population size and economic inertia, Kolkata has the potential to become a a true skyscraper city.
While a supertall hotel proposal has been floated about, the Biswa Banga Shikhar, or "World Bengal Tower" in the Bengali language, is Kolkata's tallest officially proposed skyscraper.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2448/c09iu6.jpg
To be developed by Unitech Group, one of India's largest property developers, the Biswa Banga Shikhar with rise up to 42 stories in height.
It will be one of the centerpiece towers of a massive residential-commercial township developed by Unitech.
Designed by RMJM Architects, the mixed use development accommodates a 5 star hotel, executive club, serviced apartment, retail, residential, and office accommodation.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2494/c07vn6.jpg
The tower itself is formed from 2 glass shards that rise from a massive reflection water pool at its base. The top of one of these shards is crowned by a 3 storey high atrium that acts as both a viewing tower and a beacon within the surrounding night sky.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7733/c08ov8.jpg
The tower is separated from its auxiliary support accommodation which is contained within the sculptural podium building and rise from the landscape as a series of layered contours.
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8660/image121jr2.jpg
The township and tower is still in the proposal phase, and apart from cryptic statements made in the press of "big plans" underway, not a whole lot has been made public yet about this project.
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It's worth mentioning a similar sort of skyscraper project in Kolkata, Shristi Infrastructure/InterContinental Hotels's Vedic Hotels, which has already been approved. The Vedic Hotels would be approximately the same height as Biswa Banga Shikhar. For more information on that project, please visit its thread:
KOLKATA | Vedic Hotels | 150m | App
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5295/28193427xm7eu0.jpg (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=132406)
-----==-----
With massive heritage restoration as well as skyscraper projects, Kolkata is certainly coming around!
Cheers,
Jai
Kolkata is slowly but surely undergoing urban transformation. For years stifling under democratically-elected communist government, now not even they can stave off the Indian urban development phenomenon. Malls, multiplexes, townships, highrises and commerical towers are starting to sprout up in the city, slowly but surely getting a little bit taller with each project. It's where Mumbai was 8 years ago.
Now, while the change isn't as visibly dynamic as in other cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad or Bangalore, it's certainly there, and, owing to its large population size and economic inertia, Kolkata has the potential to become a a true skyscraper city.
While a supertall hotel proposal has been floated about, the Biswa Banga Shikhar, or "World Bengal Tower" in the Bengali language, is Kolkata's tallest officially proposed skyscraper.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2448/c09iu6.jpg
To be developed by Unitech Group, one of India's largest property developers, the Biswa Banga Shikhar with rise up to 42 stories in height.
It will be one of the centerpiece towers of a massive residential-commercial township developed by Unitech.
Designed by RMJM Architects, the mixed use development accommodates a 5 star hotel, executive club, serviced apartment, retail, residential, and office accommodation.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2494/c07vn6.jpg
The tower itself is formed from 2 glass shards that rise from a massive reflection water pool at its base. The top of one of these shards is crowned by a 3 storey high atrium that acts as both a viewing tower and a beacon within the surrounding night sky.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7733/c08ov8.jpg
The tower is separated from its auxiliary support accommodation which is contained within the sculptural podium building and rise from the landscape as a series of layered contours.
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8660/image121jr2.jpg
The township and tower is still in the proposal phase, and apart from cryptic statements made in the press of "big plans" underway, not a whole lot has been made public yet about this project.
-----==-----
It's worth mentioning a similar sort of skyscraper project in Kolkata, Shristi Infrastructure/InterContinental Hotels's Vedic Hotels, which has already been approved. The Vedic Hotels would be approximately the same height as Biswa Banga Shikhar. For more information on that project, please visit its thread:
KOLKATA | Vedic Hotels | 150m | App
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5295/28193427xm7eu0.jpg (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=132406)
-----==-----
With massive heritage restoration as well as skyscraper projects, Kolkata is certainly coming around!
Cheers,
Jai