Tower that will turn heads

Plans to build the world's first fully rotating tower are progressing, with work due to begin in six months time.

Tav Singh, director for developer Dubai Property Ring, said his company was in discussions with three contractors to build the 55º Time Dubai building in City of Arabia, Dubailand.

"We are expecting a ground-breaking ceremony in about six to eight months after the contracts process has finished," he said. "This is going to be a world-first, so obviously we are making sure we have the very best to build the project."

The rotation of the tower will be powered by solar panels, meaning the rotation will not waste resources.

The building, which takes its name from Dubai's longitudinal position, will turn 51.4º in a 24-hour period, and a full 360º in a week.

The tower will turn at 1cm-per-minute, meaning people living in it will not feel any movement.

The 215m-high building will cost US $160 million (AED587.7 million) and will have a podium plate of 3,716.1m2, and a footprint of 7,246m2.

The concept has been designed by architects at Glenn Howells in London, while the detail design is by Hong Kong's P&T.

P&T, the master planners of City of Arabia, has also been appointed as the construction architect and consultant on the project.

Bennett's Engineers, the firm behind UK landmarks such as the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead and the Falkirk Wheel boat lift, has been appointed as rotation specialist.

Once piling work is complete, the rotation machine will be assembled in foundations on the third basement level.

Three levels of underground parking will give engineers access to maintain and service the rotation mechanism, which is a modular design.

Singh added that the building would be sustainable and meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

The building would have an engineered façade to reduce the use of air-conditioners, and make use of recycled water and solar panels to heat water.

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