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Rotating Solar-Powered Skyscraper

PieEye writes "Wired is pointing out a recent Gear Factor blog entry that highlights a new skyscraper in the works which will be solar-powered, and what's more will rotate with the sun. From the article: 'The completed tower will offer 200 expensive apartments for people who want to spend lots of money to screw up their circadian rhythm. Singh said they want to build many more such towers, with one for every time zone.'"

3 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. Great by afaik_ianal · · Score: 5, Informative

    So now I can get home from work an hour early and can catch my neighbour's wife having an affair.

    But seriously: How exactly is a rotating building meant to mess up one's circadian rhythm? Does the blogger think this building is rigged up to do a lap of the Earth each day? It's spinning on the spot!

    Finally, why link to a crappy blog entry complete with typos and irrelevant BS, when you could link directly to the article?

  2. It actually rotates 360 deg over 7 days by MushMouth · · Score: 5, Informative

    Whoever wrote the blurb, didn't bother to read the original article. This doesn't rotate to keep certain apartments in the sun, it rotates to allow all apartments to have the same view, albeit on different days.

  3. Suite Vollard - completed in 2001 by rednaxel · · Score: 4, Informative

    Suite Vollard was the first rotating tower of the world, however it's not solar powered. Here's some facts (excerpts from the link):

    - This building is the only one of its kind in the world, as each of the 11 apartments can rotate 360.
    - Each apartment can spin individually in any direction. One rotation takes a full hour.
    - The facades are composed of double sheets of glass, in different colors (blue, gold, and silver) on different floors. This gives a spectacular effect as the floors turn in different directions.
    - The apartment rings rotate around a static core used for building services, utilities, and all areas which require plumbing.
    - Suite Vollard was a case study for more than 30 companies in Brazil and one from Germany.
    - Each apartment was sold for approximately R$ 400,000.00 ($US 300,000.00).
    - The first two floors of the building are an Executive Center.
    --
    If you can read this, thank an english teacher.