The design of the Leeza SOHO Tower by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), reinvents the typology of the office highrise.
Spiraling 45 storeys around the tallest atrium in the world—194 meters high—and bowed with the entasis of an elegant Greek column, it may earn fame for its lithe profile on the skyline and for an architectural wit not seen since the Chrysler Building. But it is unique because it centers on an open volume rather than an opaque core, fostering community within a space as compressed and intimate as a New York City street. Each half of the building is serviced by its own core so that the two sides basically operate as independent towers, belted together by steel trusses ringing them into a stable structural unit. Each side is designed with a glazed interior facade, facing its twin opposite. On any floor, you can see the colour of the neckties across the way.
