ARTICLE ABOUT Z-TOWERS IN MAGAZINE LATVIJAS BŪVNIECĪBA 2/2012

The second wind in the construction of Z-Towers

The works of the zero cycle at the site Z-Towers were commenced in 2008 and comprised the installation of the riffled wall and the paling, construction of the underground parking construction of the cores and columns of the towers, construction of the elevator casting and other works. Following the technological suspension the works at the constructions site of Z-Towers were resumed in 2010 when the implementation of the plan of the two impressive high-rise buildings was continued. Several modern technologies have been applied in the construction; the buildings are supported by 226 piles with the length up to 30 meters and the diameter 1.2 meters. The palings have been driven to the dolomite layer with sufficient bearing capacity and 4 meters below it. The underground parking lot is located 12 meters below the level of The Zunda channel and during the construction process the application of particularly hydro-insulation measures was required. There are 4 floors in the underground parking. When the construction works are completed Riga will obtain a new accent dignified accent of a global metropolis bringing the increase of the recognition capacity.

One of the towers will be occupied by A class offices and the other by the globally known five stars hotel brand Sheraton which will certainly make Riga attractive from the point of view of business people. Though it will not happen fast but in approximately two years in the beginning of 2014 when Riga has become the European culture capital. The high-rise buildings will have their satellite-s small volumes representing the Latvian historical wooden buildings which are planned to be reconstructed parallel to the construction works of the towers. Various modifications have been made to the project during the implementation phase; one of them refers to the facades. The architect’s office Murphy l Jahn from Chicago is involved as the designer of the facades and the solution developed by them is included in the drawings developed by the project authors the architects office (NRJA). lt is planned to build the structure of round facades from slightly overlapping glass segments- the drawings of the cross-sections resemble a rack-wheel. For the globally well-known architects office which has developed the architectural designs of high-rises on all the continents this project was attractive due to its form - it was the first time in their  experience when calculations has been performed and the design has to be developed for round high-rise building.

Text by Agrita Lūse

SEE MORE:

Z TOWERS PROJECT

RECONSTRUCTION CONCEPT OF WOODEN BUILDING COMPLEX