Foster + Partners’ Garden-Filled Bow Skyscraper Opens in Calgary

<a href="http://www.fosterandpartners.com" target="_blank">Foster + Partners</a>’ soaring <a href="http://inhabitat.com/calgarys-new-green-skyscraper-by-foster-partners/" target="_blank">new addition to the Calgary skyline</a> just opened, making it the city's tallest tower. The Bow is a new mixed-use building surrounded by lush landscaping. The sleek skyscraper features three six-story sky gardens, which help to naturally cool and filter the tower’s interior, cutting energy use and providing a tranquil indoor setting.

The Bow is Canada’s largest tower outside of the city of Toronto, rising to 777 feet on Calgary’s east side. Much of the tower functions as the headquarters for Encana and Cenovus, but the lower levels engages the Calgary community.

Restaurants, shops, cafes and landscaped public space welcome the public, encouraging social activity. The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/madrids-sustainable-ecopolis-plaza-is-a-versatile-public-space/ecopolis-plaza-16/">landscaped plazas</a> outside serve as extra green space for meeting or relaxing.

The tower was designed to work with the chilly climate of Calgary. Facing south, the building’s curvilinear shape helps to maximize daylight and natural heating from the sun, while also providing gorgeous views of the nearby Rocky Mountains on the outskirts of the city.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/curvilinear-lakeside-chenequa-residence-wraps-around-a-solid-stone-wall-in-wisconsin/">curved shape</a> also helps to deflect wind, creating an aerodynamic surface. Glazed windows act as a climate buffer zone, reducing energy consumption.

Each of the floors is linked visually through the glass façade and through internal stair cases. Each set of stairs links to one of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/mvrdvs-stunning-flowerbed-hotel-is-a-giant-greenhouse/">sky gardens</a>, giving each floor easy access to the gardens on levels 24, 42 and 54, which project over the floor-through atrium. The sky gardens infuse the space with fresh air, while providing a tranquil space for employees to break for lunch.

The Bow also has <a href="http://inhabitat.com/rhizotron-and-xstratas-treetop-skybridge-soars-above-londons-kew-gardens/walkway_james-morley/" target="_blank">covered linking walkways</a> to adjacent buildings, giving employees protection from the harsh Calgary winters. With its curving shape and sky gardens, The Bow is the new landmark for the city of Calgary.