The race for title of tallest building in the world is on again… The Phoenix Towers will be built in the Chinese city of Wuhan, on an island in the middle of a polluted lake. When completed, the building will unseat Dubai’s Burj Khalifa as the world’s tallest building at 999.7 meters tall, and will also be one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the world, not just in its construction, but also in its use.

The smaller tower will generate renewable energy and feed it to the larger one, which is designed to draw in air and water from the surrounding lake, clean them, and put them back. Other greening features include pollution-absorbing coatings that purify the atmosphere, vertical gardens that filter even more pollution from the air, and the power system: Wind turbines, lightweight solar cladding, and hydrogen fuel cells all run using the buildings’ waste will generate all the power both towers will need, with the rest going to the surrounding area.

The design for the dual tower project is inspired by the Chinese yin-and-yang concept and the traditional symbols of the phoenix. The towers won’t just provide a pollution solution, but some entertainment as well, with restaurants planned for sphere shaped spaces that will be suspended high up between the two towers. While the architects begin construction, we’ll be right here planning a trip to central China.

Words: Modupe Oloruntoba
Image source: Fast Company