Twisted Skyscraper Spirals Into The Clouds In Chongqing, China

A new skyscraper in the Jiangbei District of Chongqing is adding a twist to China’s skyline.

The Chongqing Gaoke Group office tower, nicknamed the ‘Dance of Light’ and designed by architectural studio Adeas, has two arching façades that curve around each other, giving viewers the illusion that it is rotating up into the clouds. 

Each story is warped to around 8.8 degrees to create the illusion, making it 1.5 times more twisted than any other construction in the world.

Strong vertical lines run through the building to further enhance the way the building coils upwards. 

In order to perfectly capture the shape, double-curved, cold-form glass was used during its erection. Façade engineer RFR teamed up with the architects to manufacture the spiral of the structure.

The firm looked to the northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, in Iceland for inspiration. The exterior is painted in a PV2 silver finish that reflects light off of its surface as sunlight shines through it, turning the building into a tower of light.

The Dance of Light stands at 590 feet and has 32 stories. Its top five floors are reserved for business meetings, and an annex building beside it has a cafe and a rooftop garden for people to take in the views.

[via Dezeen and e-architect, cover image via Adeas]