Infographics project
The journey of Shukhov’s hyperboloid
Infographics project about Shukhov Tower around the world. The construction of this unusual tower in Moscow, by prominent Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov
Full size & Interactive project:
The tower design. Hyperboloid and gridshell
The tower has a conical shape and consists of six sections stacked on one another, each 25 meters high. The sections are rotational hyperboloids made from straight beams resting on ring beams. The beams in the first section are placed at a non-straight angle. The beams in the second section inter-sect with those in the second section, forming a gridshell. Shukhov’s design experiences minimal wind load, and less metal was needed for the shell, making the structure lighter, while also sturdier and more solid
Shukhov Broadcasting Tower
Moscow, Russia
The tower was originally designed as a 350 meter structure, reaching higher than the Eiffel Tower, while weighing three times less. However, Shukhov had to adjust the design due to financial const-raints and lack of metal, reducing the height by half. In 1922, the tower started serving as a radio broadcasting tower, and the Moscow Television Broadcasting Center opened in 1939. Like other gridshells designed by Shukhov, the tower had a unique shape and structure, inspiring the high-tech architecture at the turn of 21st century
Kobe Port Tower
Kobe, Japan
The Kobe Port Tower replicates the shape and design developed by Shukhov. It uses a combination of a gridshell with a central structural core. The tower withstood a major earthquake in 1995,
confirming the incredible stability of hyperboloid structures
Aspire Tower
Doha, Qatar
The Torch Doha tower was built as the focal point for the 15th Asian Games hosted by Qatar in 2006. It has the hyperboloid shape of the Shukhov Tower, the only difference being a traditional beam and column structure instead of a diagonal grid. The grid forms a surface with varying transparency depending on the angle at which its elements are placed. The tower is transparent from any angle, including when seen from above, without using glass or adding curved panels
Guangzhou Broadcasting Tower
Guangzhou, China
The highest tower in China and the highest broadcasting tower in the world. It combines a hyperboloid gridshell and a central core. The bottom and top sections have an elliptical form and are placed at a 45 degree angle relative to one another. This angle provides for the famous twisting effect that makes the tower so elegant. Shukhov’s inventions are inspiring not only by their functionality, but also their appearance
Corporation Street Bridge
Manchester, United Kingdom
This pedestrian bridge replaced an older one that was damaged beyond repair in the 1996 Manchester bombing. The bridge is shaped like a rotational hyperboloid and looks like a membrane stretched over the street. Triangular glass panels of varying sizes and shapes are fixed to a solid steel carcass. The bridge is a symbol of Manchester’s revival after the tragedy
Khan Shatyr
Astana, Kazakhstan
This asymmetric structure resembles a rotational hyperboloid, but is actually designed in the shape of a frustum of a cone with a tilted axis. Its creators sought to cover the largest possible space with minimal support. A single-mast design with a grid on it turned out to be the best solution. By the way, it was Shukhov who made the first suspended spans by using the tension characteristics of metals
St Mary Axe Tower
London, United Kingdom
A symbol of modern London, this cucumber-shaped high-rise consists of a gridshell and a central structural core. The grid is made of displaced straight beams that create a spiral. The building’s surface resembles a spindle, preventing downward wind currents, while air circulation provides for varying pressure on the facade. The building benefits from natural ventilation that substantially reduces energy costs
Shukhov inspires
Shukhov’s revolutionary ideas required meticulous and complex calculations, which limited their reach for a long time. However, with the advent of computer modeling, the gridshell technology was revived. Today, architects create impressive structures using the grids developed by the Russian engineer
Thank's for watching
Project by
Editor: Maria Potashova
Designer and illustrator: Natalia Filimonova
3D graphics and animation: Maxim Petrov
Maps: Anna Osyuk
Software developer: Andrei Bogachyov
Creative Director: Alexander Vershinin
Art Director: Anton Stepanov
Designer and illustrator: Natalia Filimonova
3D graphics and animation: Maxim Petrov
Maps: Anna Osyuk
Software developer: Andrei Bogachyov
Creative Director: Alexander Vershinin
Art Director: Anton Stepanov
