Sociocultural evolution is an umbrella term of theories of cultural evolution and social evolution, describing how cultures and societies have developed over time. Although such theories typically provide models for understanding the relationship between technologies, social structure, the values of society, they vary as to the extent to which they describe specific mechanisms of variation and social change.
Conceived as an iconoclastic intervention which implodes the conception of skyscraper at the global and local scale, Adamastor’s Throne exists to reveal and respond to the social fabric and cultural framework of an entire country, South Africa, but specifically Cape Town and its complex and contradictory history. The tower is an ontological experiment to provide spatial models toward recalibrating the relationship between technologies, social structure, and values of South African culture.
Wonderfull…only wonderful
Hideous, the description is complete bollocks, and I don’t think it would be appropriate for South Africa to spend money on an “iconoclastic intervention” rather than lifting people out of poverty. What a waste of time.
Adam, I live close to Cape Town and I wholeheartedly agree.
It seems to still be a concept, and I believe it will stay just that. I work with many Architects and have sat in at hundreds of meetings with similar projects over the past 11 years. Those projects never go anywhere.
If they tried building that exact thing in Cape Town, they would have the City Council and Heritage committees opposing them very strongly. I’ve worked with the council in areas that are less sensitive, and were the buildings fit in, and they still weren’t happy, and had us make lots of changes before it was approved.
I think this is simply an experiment where the firm is trying to attract new business.
Lifting the people out of poverty must be priority number 1, by teaching them skills, providing jobs where they can grow, make a difference and help others achieve the same thing. The easiest way of doing that is for the state to commission massive building projects and new infrastructure projects as well as maintenance of old ones.
when will this be build????who is the marvelous architect to be thanked in this piece of art???
*slaps forehead*
When I saw the description on Archdaily that a building featured in South Africa I was excited until I opened this design.
It looks like a 3 year old that has had his way with a set of lego.
I do agree with Adam and Nells that a lot of ground work level architecture has to be done before something soemthing expansive can even be considered. I am an architect working on Low cost and social income housing.
I would rather integrate social housing in a cultarally accepted design. As has been said Cape town and I think most of South Africans will hate this.
I take it this was a foreign architect that designed this.
One wonders if the architect that ‘designed’ this monstrosity bought his degree. There is a reason and a good one too, as to why we do not have ultra high skyscrapers in Cape Town, not only will it rape the view of Table mountain from the surrounding areas, it also detracts from the rest of the natural beauty of the Cape. Incidentally, it is a Cape based ‘architect’ that dreamed up this nightmarish godzilla-esque creature, an architect who I’d like to kick in the face!
nice !! really reallllllly nice!
This is not a case of “if or not”, what I do like about the idea is its potentail to atrtact debate. With reason, I think, Cape Town is a conservative city when it comes to architecture. The response of the Cape Town readers/commentators are proof of this. However this conservatism in some cases need to be challenged. Perhaps this scheme is not the right one to do so, but there is an arguement for good contemporary architecture at civic scale. Two examples (in my opinion) is the fabulous new Greenpoint stadium and the CTICC.
Secondly I agree with Neels, that this scheme hasn’t a hope in hell to get off the ground. The Urban Design Framework in place should stop it at the first hurdle.
Also the cost to build it will not justify its existance.
Thirdly, my experience of capetown is and always was the visitors experience on ground level. For instance, was impressed (not for its design quality) with the fan walk connecting the station to the Greenpoint stadium. it outsrips any architectural iconic expression in the city. The best thing is that its free……
I LOVE IT!!!!! Absolutely LOVE IT!!!
I cannot see why we always want to build these tall building in the old historic centre of Cape Town. Why don’t we build them at Century City and preserve our views of the mountain.
I think it is quite inspirational. I was for two years in London, where buildings are being built, incorporating wind turbines and sun panels to generate electricity to move towards a more eco friendly environment.
In Cape Town however, one hardly ever sees a building with a wind turbine or solar panels, if it even exists here, apart form the BP building. We have so much natural resources and are living in a country and city with ample of wind and sun energy, yet we don’t make use of it.
A country like Israel, the leaders in the solar energy industry generates most of their electricity and energy from this (solar energy), how amazing is that?
What inspired me about the building is not the shape of it, but the functions of it.
As for lifting people out of poverty, true it is essential, but one needs to first generate jobs before this will happen and only development will bring this on, because with development comes international investment, creating a stable economy, if my understanding is correct regarding this.
We are so trapped in this world where anything different is hideous, but if you look at Dubai, the buildings there are Iconic, and that brought a lot of investment into their country, so much that another city is being built from scratch.
I think we need to focus on the intention of the design, which is creating a self sustainable building, rather than dissing it right from the start.
We bitch and moan about living expenses in South Africa with Eskom doing constant price increases and not being able to deliver services properly, now a forward thinking Architect comes along and provides a basic solution to a problem, and we are not satisfied once again?
I congratulate the Architect for his design and for thinking of the present and making use of natural resources for a eco-friendly future.
Is this made with cartoon boxes?
do it we should start moving into the future as well and start building farms in the city like in america so we dont have to pay that much for food