Emporia is a massive, mixed-used project that houses a three story mall, supermarket, office space, and residential units. The 2,228,130 square foot structure cost just over $390,000,000 with the hope of attracting commuters who travel through a nearby train station. Photo: Tord-Rikard SöderströmThe developers of Emporia, a new mixed-used development in Malmö, Sweden, wanted to attract commuters from the local train station to the combination mall, supermarket, office tower, and apartment building they planned to create.Realizing that a stunning design could be a way to attract pedestrians they commissioned Wingårdhs a 170 person architecture firm based in Göteborg, Sweden to use the $390,000,000 construction budget to create a landmark that would act like a beacon to pedestrians. The result is a colorful collection of interior spaces, wrapped in a sinuous, psychedelic surface that appears to be on fire when the sun strikes it right.The structure’s most distinctive features are two colorful glass-clad entrances inspired by nature—an amber colored entrance pays homage to Sweden’s trees and the semi-precious stones produced by their resin and a swirling blue entry that echoes a nearby strait. The serpentine surfaces of the building are jolting, but are also notable achievements in structural engineering.
via Trippy Mall Pushes the Limits of What Glass Can Do | Wired Design | Wired.com.
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