Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto designed plans for a tower block shaped like a pine cone with balconies sprouting outwards in all directions, as part of a series of “modern follies” underway in Montpellier, France. The White Tree Tower has 17-storey mixed-use tower will follow Fujimoto’s ideology that architecture should reflect forms found in nature. From the project’s concept phase, the architects were heavily inspired by Montpellier’s tradition of outdoor living.
Inspired by the city’s tradition of outdoor living, and the efficient properties of a tree, the mixed-use residential tower will feed off locally available natural resources as it rises 17-stories and connects the new and old districts of Montpellier. The new multipurpose tower called The White Tree is designed for housing, a restaurant, an art gallery, offices, a bar with a panoramic view and a common area. The building will feature a curved body reminiscent of a tree trunk, while the balconies of its 120 apartments are designed to fan outwards like leaves seeking sunlight. The curvature serves two purposes because this part of the facade offers the best exposure and viewpoint but does not block the view for neighboring residences. Located at the crossroads of several major thoroughfares, including the Lez river and the motorway, the project will also encompass the extension of the riverside park. [photo source]
