Transforming a chimney into an observation tower

[Alpha]

Large chimneys and TV towers built of concrete have much in common and so
it is an interesting idea to transform a chimney into a TV tower with observation deck. The smoke pipe had to be cleaned and an elevator installed there and a platform had to be installed on the top.
Interestingly according http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=568982&page=2, there are such plans for a 180 metres tall chimney of a never completed power plant at Pitesti in Romania. Was ever a chimney transformed in an observation tower? If yes, where?

[mctcm]

I think I remember seeing something like this done in Dublin, I'll see if I can find a picture

[muppet]

Theres such a project in Beijing, a 240m high chimney now in a business district:

[theWatusi]

What a great idea for the former PRR powerplant stack aka "the drexel shaft"


from skyscrapersunset.com

[muppet]

the London Steam Museum was disguised into a campanile when it was converted into a museum:

[TANGELD_SLC]

I wish the Kennecott copper mine would turn their chimney into an observation tower. It's the tallest free-standing structure west of the Mississippi, the 4th tallest chimney in the world and is about as tall as the Empire State Building.


photo from wikicommons

[Lecom]

Originally Posted by theWatusi

What a great idea for the former PRR powerplant stack aka "the drexel shaft"


from skyscrapersunset.com

heh heh... you said "shaft"

[LMich]

How about this half-assed attempt at turning an unused chimney into something silly?



It's the old South Cedar Street Substation in my hometown of Lansing. The chimney on the huge power station behind it was removed a little over a year ago as the station is undergoing renovation into a corporate headquarters. We've got tons of unused chimneys, here, that I wish could be turned into something more useful, but we're not exactly a tourist attraction. lol

[muppet]

for a while the top of the Tate Modern chimney (former power station converted to the worlds largest modern art museum) was capped by a glass box two years after conversion. Noone really knows why - intended as a viewing platform? It was taken down again last year:

then:



now:

[Eigenwelt]

Originally Posted by theWatusi

What a great idea for the former PRR powerplant stack aka "the drexel shaft"


from skyscrapersunset.com

I've been saying for years that the city should hold competition to desgn a sculpture/statue for the top of the Drexel Shaft. I actually did a sketch circa '96 of what it would look like. Shame I can't find it.

I personally would like to see a figurative female to compliment Billy Penn. Something like Ceres (the woman on the city seal) or an allegorical representation of Philadelphia. Cast in a clear or translucent resin, it would look amazing lit from below with lights in the actual chimney.

And while were at it, turning the actual power plant itself into a new contemporary art museum to compliment the PMA would be be a good idea.

[TANGELD_SLC]

Originally Posted by LMich

How about this half-assed attempt at turning an unused chimney into something silly?



It's the old South Cedar Street Substation in my hometown of Lansing. The chimney on the huge power station behind it was removed a little over a year ago as the station is undergoing renovation into a corporate headquarters. We've got tons of unused chimneys, here, that I wish could be turned into something more useful, but we're not exactly a tourist attraction. lol

It looks like a block-ended... uh... never mind

[theWatusi]

Originally Posted by Eigenwelt

I've been saying for years that the city should hold competition to desgn a sculpture/statue for the top of the Drexel Shaft. I actually did a sketch circa '96 of what it would look like. Shame I can't find it.

I personally would like to see a figurative female to compliment Billy Penn. Something like Ceres (the woman on the city seal) or an allegorical representation of Philadelphia. Cast in a clear or translucent resin, it would look amazing lit from below with lights in the actual chimney.

And while were at it, turning the actual power plant itself into a new contemporary art museum to compliment the PMA would be be a good idea.

Too bad the place is surrounded by rail yards and is virtually inaccessible.

[bbeliko]

Originally Posted by Eigenwelt

I've been saying for years that the city should hold competition to desgn a sculpture/statue for the top of the Drexel Shaft. I actually did a sketch circa '96 of what it would look like. Shame I can't find it.

.

here in mexico, they turned a chimney into a statue, i can't find the pics right now, but i'll try to post them as soon as i find the pics

[Gulcrapek]

I had thought about something similar for the stack at the Domino plant in Brooklyn. I wanted a private dining room to top it, accessed by a (teensy) central elevator and spiral stair. Crazy romantic views.