The EU's tallest building is designed by the world-renowned architectural firm, Foster + Partners.The EU's tallest building is designed by the world-renowned architectural firm, Foster + Partners.

The EU's tallest building is designed by the world-renowned architectural firm, Foster + Partners.

Ramvir Singh Baghel
Ramvir Singh Baghel published News under Architecture, Sustainable Design on

At 310 meters tall, Varso Tower is now the tallest building in the European Union.

Situated in the center of Warsaw, Varso Tower offers stunning views of the cityscape below. The tower was designed by Foster + Partners and engineered by Buro Happold.

The Polish capital city has long tried to shield the view of the un-loved "gift from the big brother" - the Soviet-style Palace of Culture and Science - with newer, American-style office and hotel towers. But with Varso Tower, Warsaw finally has a building that rivals the height of the Palace of Culture and Science. Warsaw's skyline has seen a lot of changes in the last 20 years with the construction of over a dozen new towers, the tallest of which is the Varso Tower designed by Lord Norman Foster from London.

Team2122022 11 08T04 53 42 002052Varso tower stands in the middle of Downtown Warsaw. (Photo © HB Reavis)  

 

Designed by world-renowned architect Norman Foster, the 53-story Varso Tower is an excellent example of a transit-oriented development (TOD). With its direct connection to Warsaw's main railway station, the tower provides easy access for commuters and travelers. Additionally, the tower features a unique top with an 80-meter spire, a restaurant near the top, and two public observation decks - making it a great public amenity for the city. In comparison, the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt - also designed by Foster - lacks such amenities and is not as accessible or inviting to the public.

Team2122022 11 08T04 54 00 867162An 80-meter spire tops the tower. (Photo © HB Reavis) 

 

The construction of the small and dense urban site was complex, but Grant Brooker, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, hopes that the finished product will become "a hub for local and international business and a symbol for contemporary Poland" — a country not always known for its embrace of modern ideas. The top of the building features stunning vistas of the Vistula River, the historic Palace of Culture and Science, and beyond. The lobby features a 10-meter-high ceramic artwork by Krystyna Kaszuba-Waclawek that animates the space together with a ground-floor café.

Team2122022 11 08T04 54 23 856633The trees in the lobby, seen here, will soon be accompanied by 16 trees in the bar on the 49th floor. (Photo © Aaron Hargreaves Foster + Partners) 

Buro Happold completed a sustainability study that forecasted the performance of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for up to three decades into the future. The study found that the Varso Tower would be able to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding certification thanks to its energy-efficient strategy. The twelve double-deck lifts serving the office floors provide access to two levels at a time, making it a convenient option for tenants.

Team2122022 11 08T04 54 37 595952Ceramic art in the lobby. (Photo © Aaron Hargreaves / Foster + Partners) 

 

Team2122022 11 08T04 59 18 427926The view from the rooftop observation deck. (Photo © Aaron Hargreaves /Foster + Partners) 

 

 

Ramvir Singh Baghel
Search in