Burj Zanzibar : The tallest timber apartment in the world will be a 28-story residential building constructed using hybrid timber technology on the island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The majestic high-rise, named Burj Zanzibar (the Arabic word “burj” means “tower”), will soar 96 meters above the ground. It would be referred to as a “vertical green town” and serve as a recognizable symbol for the island, all of Africa, and environmental protection as the first timber building of this size in history.
On October 1, a skyscraper in Muscat, Oman, with a mix of residential and business space and a whimsical beehive design was unveiled to the public. The building’s creator, Dutch-born architect Leander Moons, stated of Burj Zanzibar: “Burj Zanzibar is not simply an extraordinary structure; it represents a new environment for the future of living.”
Timber technology is currently enjoying a resurgence because of its durability and favorable environmental effects. Future construction materials are anticipated to include new wood products like glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT). Traditional concrete buildings account for 25% of CO2 emissions, whereas one cubic meter of wood may absorb half a ton of CO2.
The 266-unit residential skyscraper will be built in East Africa’s first eco-town, Fumba Town, which was created by German-led engineering company CPS. The expanding metropolis, which is close to the capital and where foreigners are permitted to purchase, spans along a 1.5-kilometer seashore on the southwest coast, is categorized as a strategic investment, and has the full support of the Zanzibar government. According to CPS CEO Sebastian Dietzold in Muscat, “Burj Zanzibar will be the highlight and natural continuation of our efforts to create sustainable housing in Africa, thereby empowering local jobs and enterprises.”
With its azure waters, white sand beaches, and old Stone Town, which is protected by UNESCO, Zanzibar has recently experienced a 15% yearly growth in tourists and a 6.8% economic growth. Earlier this year, the semi-autonomous archipelago, 35 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania, spread its wings even farther by starting an endeavor to draw $6 billion in revenue from African digital companies.
BENEFITS OF TIMBER
The world’s oldest building material is timber. Due to its durability and favorable effects on the environment, timber technology is currently seeing a revival. Future-proof building materials for structures include cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam, two new timber products. While traditional concrete buildings account for 25% of CO2 emissions, one cubic meter of wood may bind half a ton of carbon dioxide.
Once completed, Burj Zanzibar will be the tallest timber structure in the world and the first high-rise ever constructed in Africa. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat recently approved Milwaukee, US’s 86.6-meter Ascent Tower as the tallest timber hybrid structure in the world (CTBUH). The 385-meter office tower in Egypt known as the “Iconic Tower” is the tallest conventional skyscraper in Africa and is still under construction.
The 157-meter Ports Authority building in Dar es Salaam is the tallest structure in Tanzania. Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which rises 828 meters, is the highest conventional building in the world.
CONSORTIUM OF SPECIALISTS FROM NEW YORK TO SWITZERLAND
A hybrid timber tower called Burj Zanzibar is in the works. All necessary fire and life safety regulations are met by a steel-reinforced concrete core. A team of top experts from the US, South Africa, Tanzania, Austria, Switzerland, and Austria will carry out the project. The building’s carbon footprint is further diminished with green roof gardens and landscaped balconies. During the inaugural event, architect Leander Moons said, “Burj Zanzibar will be a widely visible new monument for Zanzibar and beyond, not just because of its appearance but also because of its building process.”
The ambitious green mega-skyscraper would benefit Tanzania and its huge land resources for agroforestry in addition to promoting locally accessible wood as a building material. A sizable forest development in Iringa in central Tanzania already occupies an area twice the size of New York; according to CPS Director Dietzold, “an expanded forest sector might produce hundreds of thousands of jobs in the East African country.”
PLAYFUL, ELEGANT STYLE FITTING ANY CULTURE
Modern urban trends are combined with regional culture in the fun architectural design, which is suggestive of a beehive with honeycombs. Lead architect Moons stated that “panoramic windows, enclosed green loggias, and a modular architecture would highlight the tower’s green nature and allow for adaptable apartment floor layouts, tailored to any cultural preferences.” Even on the top floor, residents can have their own outside garden.
The building offers a mix of studio, one-, two-, and luxury penthouse apartments, representing a young, energetic, and above all, ecological lifestyle. A terraced platform with stores, a public pool, and shared and private gardens supports the exquisite tower. Studios start at $79,900, while the largest unit costs $950,880. It is a sprawling penthouse on the 26th floor with a private pool. The Burj Zanzibar will establish a new standard for construction in the twenty-first century, said CPS director Sebastian Dietzold.
