Designed to operate temporarily at different installation sites, this panoramic tower restaurant is a self-standing building which, while requiring no foundation work, can withstand very severe environmental conditions (e.g. wind).
The panoramic tower restaurant consists of a stabilizing base made up of 12 containers assembled around its external circumference. The restaurant proper is made up of 12 radial elements connected to a sliding cage by means of structural hooks. The cage slides vertically along the tower, being driven at constant speed by 4 steel wire ropes. The lattice girder features an internal spiral staircase and, on the top of the tower, an engine room containing 4 winches driven by a hydraulic unit.
The restaurant, which can reach a maximum height of 35 m., is designed to accommodate 66 guests. The floor inside the restaurant rotates around the tower axis, completing a full rotation in about 45 minutes and allowing the guests to enjoy a 360° panoramic view.
Category: Panoramic towers
Date: 2016
Height: 35 m
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Costumer: Hennie Van der Most
Objectives
The main objective was to conceive, design and calculate an itinerant panoramic tower that would be spectacular, structurally safe and suitable for accommodating the guests of a fine restaurant.
The distinctive features of the panoramic restaurant were to be its rotational movement and its placement at the top of the tower. The stabilizing structural elements at the base of the tower have been arranged to accommodate an additional restaurant area featuring a ring-shaped foyer.
to be met
The main challenge was to make the entire structure of the restaurant and tower transportable on trailers, in order to allow the owner to move it periodically from one installation site to another. The tower was to be supported by a self-standing structural base designed to withstand the most severe operational conditions in terms of environmental loads.
A further challenge was to ensure restaurant guests’ safety even in case of emergencies (e.g. fire) or structural failure of any mechanical components (e.g. collapse of the ropes lifting the restaurant).
and results achieved
The design for the panoramic tower has been carried out successfully by paying special attention to the modularity of the different sub-assemblies and their transportability on trailers.
In case of emergencies (fire, electric blackouts), guest evacuation occurs through a panic door leading to the spiral staircase inside the tower.
In case of failure of all the lifting ropes, the sliding restaurant is automatically controlled by a magnetic brake system and moved down safely at constant speed.