Foster + Partners is a company owned by Norman Foster, famous for its work on five continents. Her creations include: Tbilisi airport, reconstruction of the Reichstag, the main New York office of the company located in Australia.
June 2023 marked the end of the project for the studio - it was built on the main street of the Canadian city of Calgary Bow tower skyscraper. As a result, the business center became more elegant, and the building itself set a new standard to strive for. At the same time, it is also an important business center, housing the famous companies Encana and Cenovus on its floors. The structure, which is 237 meters high, bears a slight resemblance to a Stetson, or rather, the curvature of its brim. It is probably not for nothing that the building is located near the place where the popular Indian-cowboy festival Calgary Stampede is held annually.
Six floors given over to offices have the concept of “green architecture” - here special panels are used that use solar energy to illuminate and ventilate rooms, which makes it possible to practically not turn on air conditioners. It should be remembered that the concrete-glass Poklon (as the name of the high-rise is translated) is multifunctional. Its lower levels house various boutiques, bistros, luxury restaurants and many others business establishments in Tbilisi.
With its bend, the high-rise building is turned to the south and is directed in this way so that sunlight falls on the batteries that absorb it for as long as possible. In turn, the glazed surface of the arc became one of the successful design solutions. The Rocky Mountains, located in the western direction, seem to be one of the elements of the interior, thanks to the numerous panoramic windows.
The skyscraper consists of six-story blocks, the structure of which is repeated every time. They have business areas with equipped conference rooms, green areas and, of course, small cafes.
On three floors (24, 42 and 54) there are real gardens with magnificent trees and original landscaping , which blends seamlessly with pedestrian paths. A similar design is also available in one of Batumi hotels. Such works suggest that a new environmentally friendly direction has emerged in modern architecture. Such natural proximity in enclosed spaces is not only a decoration, but also has a beneficial effect on the health of the institution’s employees.
In conclusion, we can say that this high-rise building, being the hallmark of the city, has become trigger for the architectural and infrastructural development of downtown Calgary. The establishments located there have become the most frequently visited by local residents. Due to the fact that the internal layout includes numerous underground passages, the building does not occupy a huge area. For example, Center Street is connected to it by a free passage. The outer curve of the skyscraper unobtrusively emphasizes the city square with its plantings. It is also worth noting that nearby there is a creation by an artist from Spain, Joma Plensa - this is a twelve-meter wire-diode figure, which is called “Wonderland”.
