This article was taken from the October issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired’s articles in print before they’re posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content bysubscribing online
Abu Dhabi’s new Capital Gate tower is, with its 18° slope, the world’s most tilted building. It comfortably out-leans the previous Guinness world-record-holder, a medieval church tower in Suurhusen, Germany, that has a 5.19° slant. And, unlike Italy’s famous Leaning Tower of Pisa (with its paltry 3.99° angle), the 160-metre high skyscraper is in no danger of toppling over, thanks to some clever structural engineering.
UK-based architects RMJM created an innovative central concrete core, built at an angle leaning into that of the tower. As the 35 storeys were added around it, each was staggered, the centre of gravity moving outwards with every floor. This bent the core back to the vertical and, to prevent snapping, it was post-tensioned with taut steel. Some of the 490 piles that anchor the tower are also in tension, pulling the building down, rather than pushing against its weight. The steel “wave” is a sunshade reaching up to level 19 — the outdoor swimming pool. Just don’t lean too far over the side…
