The race to construct the tallest building is back, and South Korea has just announced its plans to build a new skyscraper. Tower Infinity, at only 1,476 feet high (450 meters), will not even compete in the height competition. It will only be the 6th highest building in the world, barely surpassing the Sears (now Willis) Tower which is 1,451 feet tall. It will not even be the highest skyscraper in South Korea?the Light DMC Building reaches 2,101 feet. However, Tower Infinity will be unique for one reason: it will be the world’s first invisible skyscraper.

Equipped with 500 rows of LED screens and 18 high-definition cameras, Tower Infinity will have a reflective skin that will project real-time video in order to blend into the horizon. In other words, cameras will constantly take pictures and videos of the setting behind the skyscraper and project it onto the front. The building surface will evenly be divided into thirds to accurately depict what is actually behind the tower. The “anti-skyscraper” will be invisible at eye level and display completely different views based on the observer’s position and distance from the tower.

GDS Architects, the American architectural company that was given an official seal of approval by the South Korean government to build the skyscraper, explains, “instead of symbolizing prominence as another of the world’s tallest and best towers, it sets itself apart by celebrating the global community rather than focusing on itself.”The tower accomplishes its lofty goal through its slow-rising elevator.

Alex Knapp explains atForbes:At different heights of the tower, the elevator will stop, and a screen will show a high resolution, real-time view of another world monument, such as a real-time view of New York City when the elevator reaches the height of the Statue of Liberty. [Forbes]GDS architect Charles Wee points out:Korea is a great country. So if the world can see that we’re mature enough to celebrate other cultures, that’s a better monument to ourselves. It’s more powerful.… From our perspective, Korea is an advanced nation. It doesn’t need to show off. It doesn’t need to fall into the meaningless race of building the tallest building. It could, but why- So, we thought, we’d do the opposite- make it disappear!... We thought we could use this to showcase Korean technology- it would be a magical thing to make such a large building disappear. [Forbes]The number one rationale for constructing the tower is to generate more tourism-South Korea is attempting to increase its tourism industry, and the novelty of the building’s design is expected to be the centerpiece. Infinity Tower is aimed at tourists; therefore, the building is expected to have a 4-D theatre, numerous restaurants, landscaped gardens, roller coasters, and even a water park. Its observation deck, at 1,286 feet high (392 meters) will be the third tallest in the world. Construction will begin next year, and although the firm has no target date for completion, Tower Infinity is expected to finish groundbreaking in three to four years.

Cindy Sunghee Ryoo
Whitney High school
11th Grade