eVolo’s annual skyscraper competition always brings out-of-the-box ideas and it had some stunning designs this year as well. However, there can only be one winner. This year’s winner is an origami-inspired skyscraper, which can be folded up and transported to different disaster zones.
eVolo’s annual skyscraper competition is now in its 13th year and is looking to drive innovation by celebrating ideas that seek to make clever use of technology, aesthetics, materials, and space in addition to exploring the interplay between natural and manmade environments.
This years’ winner was designed by Poland’s Damian Granosik, Jakub Kulis, and Piotr Pa?czyk. It is a skyscraper concept dreamt to bring relief to areas struck by disaster. Skyshelter.zip is a multi-purpose hub. It is hoped to replace the tents and containers that normally spring up in disaster-stricken areas. However, its footprint is about 30 times smaller to those by comparison according to the team.
This would mean that it would require only a minimum amount of cleanup before installation and can be placed much closer to the areas in need. The team also says that their tower can be installed with very little preparation, even on unstable soil.
It’s very simple to put it up. Basic supports need to be anchored to the ground and then a large load bearing helium balloon inside is released and the tower unfolds like an accordion as it goes up. It is equally simple to collapse the tower by reversing the process. It can then be collected into a box and carted off by rescue teams to other locations.
The team says that the tower can be transported very quickly and easily and the height of the tower can be adjusted as well. All you need to do is adjust the amount of gas poured into the helium balloon. You can check out all the finalists for eVolo’s annual skyscraper competition here.