One of the world’s most twisted towers has been unveiled in Chongqing, China. The Dance Of Light tower, designed by architecture firm Aedas and completed this year, is 180 meters (590 feet) tall and features a twisted facade that mimics the shape of the northern lights, according to a press release. Located at Xingfu Plaza in Chongqing’s Jiangbei District, the company said the building uses the simple and elegant form of double curved facades to create the impression that the building twists. According to Ken Wai, head of global design at Aedas, the facade “is not only an expression of perspective, but also a way of protection that sculpts the interior spaces.” The Dance Of Light tower was designed by architectural firm Aedas. Credit: Aedas The designers were inspired by the dancing aurora — the rays and spirals of the aurora borealis often seen in the Arctic and Antarctic — so light plays a key role in accentuating the structure’s twisted shape. The view of the tower varies from different angles as light reflects and bends over the glass facades. “When night falls, the curved facade projects reflections that evoke the dancing figure of a ballerina,” Aendas said in the press release. “The podium roof extends a coherent statement of sliding twist from top to bottom, resonating with the geometry of the tower and maintaining a consistent architectural style.” Aedas says the tower has a “twist angle” of up to 8.8 degrees per floor. Credit: Aedas Twisted apartment buildings have grown in popularity over the past decade thanks to advances in construction, engineering and architectural computer programs. The Turning Torso, by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and built in 2005 in Malmo, Sweden, was the first twisted skyscraper to feature the innovative style of architecture. Other popular twisted buildings include MAD Architect’s Absolute World Towers, located in Canada and completed in 2012, and the 306-metre (1,004 ft) Cayan Tower in Dubai, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and completed in 2013. The tower is 80 meters (590 ft) tall. Credit: Aedas According to Aedas, the Dance Of Light tower has a “twist angle” of up to 8.8 degrees per floor, which the studio believes is nearly 1.5 times that of any other high-rise tower. “As an open public space, the tower has all the credit to be a symbol of the city, especially the significant twist of the facade is noticeable,” Wai added.
