The 2007 worldwide financial crisis has affected many countries each one of them on a different scale. Greece is among those countries and expects the year 2013 to be the worst year of her financial and social crisis. The results of this crisis are the economic and social inequality along with the appearance of racist phenomena.Greece in order to move forward, apart of its economic growth, also needs a symbol which will establish the new era of development, a symbol which will be born in Greece and will be the beacon of all the oppressed people in every corner of the world.
B.O.HU.R‘s target is to be the symbol of the new era, a symbol of economic, social and racial equality. B.O.HU.R has the ability to move each floor in such a way that, in a year’s circle the first floor can be lifted up to the top floor and vice versa. Whilst has also the ability to change orientation (towards North, East, South, West).
B.O.HU.R is a building of low cost rent apartments for 14364 inhabitants whilst on the base has two independent buildings which houses the maintenance and renting services.
B.O.HU.R’s design process has been guided by the four freedoms of Human Rights ie: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. This is the reason why it has been designed in absolute symmetrical way. It has four entrances, floors in the four sides, four lounges, four water ponds with statues etc.
B.O.HU.R has been designed as a symbol of society. The architecture idea for the base reminds a stadium in a center of which, there are the main stairs for the observatory’s elevator which like a temple.
B.O.HU.R uses renewable energy source from 400 solar thermal panels which produce 690MWh electrical power approximately per annum, while the specially designed rooftop collects the rain and directs the water to a hydro turbine at the bottom of the building through the main elevator well.
The floors are lifted up with a mechanism similar to that of the elevators. Beneath each apartment two spaces have been created for fresh water and disposals. These tanks are replacing their content when the apartments are still. That happens when the top or lower apartment changes its orientation (each floor has a 5 meter height of which 2 meters are covered by the water and disposal tanks). Every floor has a steady movement of 5 meters in a 7,5 hours period.
Each floor has twelve apartments and every apartment has its own small private garden. Every floor has four elevators who are connected with equivalent tangent balconies, giving access to the apartments, although the floor is on move. The building has 32 elevators for the apartments and 24 elevators for the observatory located at 660 meter height.
The ideal place for the construction of B.O.HU.R in Greece is the old Athens airport. The area of the airport, Ellinikon, is an undeveloped flat plot of land near the sea of 6.200.000 sqm. The old Athens airport is approximately twice the size of New York’s Central park and more than twice the size of London’s Hyde Park.
B.O.HU.R’s construction materials are reinforced concrete, reinforced steel, aluminum and glazing glass.
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| Ellinikon is a flat area of 6.200.000 sqm. Ideal for the construction of B.o.hu.r Ellinikon is the old airport of Athens Greece
Twice the size of New York's Central park and more than twice the size of London’s Hyde Par
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| An astonishing view from bottom to the top The glass elevator frame gives a memorable scenery to the passengers White aluminium parts with gigantic windows gives a bright perspective view of the sky The elevation from the base to the top is a beautiful trip with an extraordinary view |
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| A specially designed glass rooftop directs the rain to the observatory's elevators Four gigantic arms enclose the chains and pulleys of B.o.hu.r's elevation mechanism A well that is inside the main elevator, gathers the rain When the collected water reach at a certain weight, a hatch opens The water flows through a hydro turbine After that the water is stored to be used by the solar thermal panels At the top of B.o.hu.r is housed a three floor observatory at 660 meter height
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| Each floor has four elevators who are
connected with equivalent tangent balconies, giving access to the
apartments, although the floor is on move. The building has 32 elevators for the apartments and 24 elevators for the observatory located at 660 meter height. |
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Every apartment has its own small private garden
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Inside the floors can be found an interior public garden with the statue of human rights
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| 400 solar thermal collectors 2,7 sqm each about 3,200 kw per day about 690 MWh per annum Located at the top of the two maintenance buildings These two buildings host maintenance and renting services Each building has 15 meters height |
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| A black reinforced steel frame holds the concrete in the base
A specially designed shelter keeps the perimeter of the building untouched by the rain.
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| 4 statues represents the 4 freedoms Circle is the perfect shape for equality Life is a circle, no one is superior as we are all equal. |
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| Huge stairs and a pavement road for people with special needs gives access to the elevators for the observatory The design of the stairs reminds us of a temple, at the top of which are the elevators which transfers people closer to the sky Water fountains can be found next to the stairs The daylight passes through the 4 huge glazing windows of 600 meter height Indoor gardens can be found next to the elevators |
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| 24 high speed elevators gives access to the observatory The sunlight passes through the glazing windows, giving beautiful shapes to the floor tiles |
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B.o.hu.r has an underground parking area with four entrances at North, East, West and South
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B.o.hu.r is a building with respects to the environment
Large parks with trees and gardens gives a natural color to the building's substance Parks can also be found inside the floors, bringing people closer to nature. |
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| A subway station is located under B.o.hu.r Four entrances are giving access to thousands of passengers, for their daily movements |
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32 high speed elevators gives access to the 399 floors
The elevators can be locked at the moving floor until all passengers get aboard
Two steady indoor elevator balconies gives access to the 1st and top rotating floors
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| Four entrances represents the four freedoms A stadium design approach with parabolic shape, guides tho people to the center of B.o.hu.r Stadiums are for people and that what B.o.hu.r represents. |
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| B.o.hu.r is ideal for bycicle friends Specially designed bicycle paths gives access to every corner of the structure. The bicycle road is also used by runners |
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The apartments are lifted up with a mechanism similar to that of the elevators.
Beneath each apartment two spaces have been created for fresh water and disposals. These tanks are replacing each content when the apartments are still. That happens when the top or lower apartment changes its orientation (each floor has is 5 meter height of which 2 meters are covered by the water and disposal tanks). Every floor has a steady movement of 5 meters in a 7,5 hours period.  |
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| Elevation mechanism |
