The Skytree TV Tower in Tokyo hit the Guinness Book of Records while still under construction. After all, this gigantic design "grew" in record time - less than three years. What else is interesting about this building? And what is the meaning of the tower for the Japanese themselves? Read about it in our article.
Sky Tree (Tokyo): photo and general characteristics of the tower
Tokyo Broadcasting Tower is one of the top 5 largest TV towers in the world. Moreover, it is the absolute leader in height among other similar structures. The diagram below shows this clearly. It is taller than the famous Canton Tower in Guangzhou and almost a hundred meters higher than the Ostankino Tower.
The name of the Tokyo Tower is beautiful and symbolic - "Heavenly Tree" (Eng. Tokyo Sky Tree). He was chosen by popular vote via the Internet. The design height of the Skytree in Tokyo is 634 meters (including antenna). The total number of floors is 29. The tower has 9various TV companies and two radio broadcasters.
By the way, in the product line of the well-known Chinese manufacturer Loz, the designer "Tokyo Sky Tree" (630 items) is presented. It is curious that the total number of parts in it is 630, which is almost equal to the height of a real building. The constructor consists of modern nano-parts, which allows you to assemble a model that is as close as possible in appearance to the original.
Building process
By the end of the 2000s, Japan had to completely abandon analog television and switch to digital. However, it soon became clear that the main (at that time) Tokyo TV tower was too low and could not carry out high-quality data transmission to the upper floors of many skyscrapers. The Japanese made a decision: to build a higher tower.
Construction began in the summer of 2008 and was completed in May 2011. A year later, its grand opening took place. The pace of construction was truly impressive - up to 10 meters per week!
The parameters of the land allocated for the construction of the Sky Tree in Tokyo were minimal - 400 by 100 meters. Laying a traditional square foundation of the required dimensions on this piece of land was simply impossible. Therefore, the architects decided to build the tower on a triangular foundation with a width of 68 meters on each side.
Next, the creators faced another problem. It was necessary to build circular viewing platforms from where a 360-degree panoramic view of the city would open. The designers found a solution: the tower began to be built from a triangular base, gradually rounding its shape.
Architectural features and design
At least forty different layouts of the future tower were created at the design stage. As a result, the commission chose the project that was the most reliable. The design of the tower used arcs, very reminiscent of the shape of the swords of the samurai. The authors of the project also studied in detail the architecture of ancient Japanese temples with convex columns.
In general, the design of the tower can be described as "neo-futuristic", but with elements of traditional Japanese architecture. So, with some of its elements, the structure resembles five-tiered pagodas. Increased attention was paid to the issue of security. Thus, the Tokyo Sky Tree tower was built with the latest anti-seismic technologies and is capable of absorbing 50% of the earthquake energy. Theoretically, the Skytree is able to withstand even jolts of 7 points.
$812 million was spent on the construction of the "Heavenly Tree" in Tokyo. In total, more than half a million people took part in the construction work.
Observation decks of the tower
The roof of the "Heavenly Tree" is located at an altitude of 470 meters. Everything above is, in fact, an antenna. The first observation deck is located at around 350 meters. A high-speed elevator delivers everyone here, which overcomes this distance in 30 seconds. To transfer normallya sharp drop in altitude, it is recommended to take a few lollipops with you to the tower.
You can take the escalator to the second observation deck. Extreme lovers will appreciate this place, because here you can stand on a transparent glass floor at a stunning height. It is from here that a wonderful view of the multimillion-dollar metropolis opens. Tokyo looks especially beautiful from the Skytree in the evening.
Going down from the tower, tourists can also “shop” well. The first five floors of Tokyo Sky Tree is a shopping and entertainment center with cafes, restaurants, numerous shops, as well as an aquarium and a planetarium.
Tokyo Sky Tree Tourist Information
Extremely unpleasant moment: it will not be possible to purchase an entrance ticket to the Tokyo TV tower via the Internet. This can only be done by residents of Japan. Therefore, the ticket will have to be bought on the spot. Fortunately, there is a fast queue, designed specifically for foreign tourists. It is located on the 34th floor.
If you are planning to visit the Skytree Tower in Tokyo, we recommend arriving early. There are always a lot of people who want to come here. Often you have to stand in line for about half an hour. The easiest way to get here is by subway (Oshiage Station, Narita Line). Tower address: Oshiage 1-1-13, Sumida-ku, Tōkyō-to 131-0045.
The cost of the entrance ticket is 2060 Japanese yen (about 20 dollars, or 1200 rubles). For children, depending on age, there are various discounts. With strong gusts of wind, accessobservation decks may be restricted.
Conclusion
Tokyo Sky Tree for the Japanese is not just another architectural masterpiece, but also a symbol of national revival. Indeed, after a series of cataclysms that hit Japan, the construction of such a grand structure in just three years was a real miracle.
