Vienna plan world's tallest wooden skyscraper

2015-03-02T16:20:00-05:00

A wooden skyscraper that Austrian architects say will be the tallest of its kind in the world is to be built in Vienna next year. The 84-metre (276ft) HoHo project in the Seestadt Aspern area, one of Europe’s largest urban development sites, will house a hotel, apartments, restaurant, wellness centre and offices, and is expected to cost about €60m (£44m).

Designed by Rüdiger Lainer and Partner, the skyscraper would consist of 76% wood. The material choice, according to project developer Caroline Palfy of Kerbler, is largely ecological. While wood requires hewing down trees, its net environmental impact is far lower than concrete: construction would produce 2,800 tonnes less of CO2 emissions than an equivalent-sized concrete structure.

Of course, there's a reason why our cities don't tend to be populated by wooden towers. And the Viennese fire service has already expressed concern over the designs. But, with measures including "a more fail-safe sprinkler system," the building will likely pass muster.

An image of what the interiors could look like. Credit: Rüdiger Lainer and Partner via the Guardian

For others, criticism of the proposed skyscraper center around its height. Politicians and other civically-engaged Austrians have expressed concern that the tower will not fit into the historic city's skyline.

More generally, there's been a ...

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Vienna plan world's tallest wooden skyscraper