Invisible skyscraper receives permit for construction

International firm GDS Architects has announced on their website that it received a construction permit to begin building “the world’s first invisible tower.”

Dubbed “The Tower Infinity,” the building will stand 1,476 feet tall in Cheongna, South Korea. It will feature unique optical technology on its façade to give the impression that it is invisible.

A bit more specifically, the building will be outfitted with high-tech LEDs that integrate data from / to projectors and 18 strategically placed weatherproof optical cameras.

The cameras themselves will record real-time images of the area around the building, digitally sew the images together into a panorama, and project them onto the building’s reflective surface. If you’ve read about invisibility cloaks before, then you’ll recognize that this is a pretty standard approach to achieving the optical illusion. What’s impressive about this particular project is the sheer magnitude to which it is being applied. If done correctly, at certain times of the day, it will give viewers on the ground the feeling that they’re looking straight through the structure to the other side. 

“The tower subtly demonstrates Korea's rising position in the world by establishing its powerful presence through diminishing its presence,” reads a description on the GDS site. “Korea will have the unique position of having the 'best' tower by having an 'anti-tower.'” 

Now, while the technology is impressive and the quote from GDS suggests their approach was purely symbolic, do note that this technology presents a unique marketing opportunity — GDS says it will allow the tower to become a 1,476-feet-tall billboard screen for various advertisements, as well as an urban focal point for people arriving at nearby Incheon Airport. 

Speaking of the airport, there has been no formal reaction to the announcement of these plans yet from airport representatives and how they feel about having an invisible skyscraper so close to their runways.

A target completion date has not yet been set. Once it’s ready, though, the Tower Infinity will offer plenty of reasons to go inside, too. It’ll feature a 4D theatre, water park, landscaped gardens, and the third-highest observation deck in the world. 

Story via: cnet.com