Rising out of a riverbank and resembling something from an ecological utopia, this is what the world’s first ‘climate-neutral high-rise attraction’ might look like.
A collaboration between a group of Dutch engineers and architects, the Spiral Tower would feature passenger cabins spiralling up and down its green façade, powered by solar panels and a windmill on top of the building. The force of the cabins rolling back down to ground level could also be used to generate electricity.
Photograph: NorthernLight
The consortium of companies, led by creative agency NorthernLight, is currently looking for a financial backer for the tower, which would stand between 60 and 150 metres high and, depending on the height, hold between four and 16 cabins. NorthernLight said it was currently in talks with several cities about making the attraction a reality.
The project aims to mimic the success of observation wheels like the London Eye, but with a smaller physical footprint (plus the ability to generate its own sustainable power). Each cabin would fit 12 passengers at a time, and take a few minutes to climb to the top and back. That could amount to three million visitors a year, say NorthernLight. So, could you see this pleasingly out-there attraction cropping up on a skyline near you?
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