faq

Who is David Fisher?
It is a very personal question, but I will try to reply: A simple person that loves people, though at the same time I feel that we are the most evil creatures in the universe and certainly we are the most intriguing things that were ever created as far as we know. I am a person who grew up with a strong sense of responsibility towards humanity, in the global sense, with the desire to change the world, improving it and making it better and better for the quality of human life.  I am a person that has an absolute conviction that everything is possible, we are part of a system that has no limits and no limitations.  And this is what we should aim at:  Toward infinity, in this space called life!

How old are you?
According to the birth certificate: 61, according to me: 27 and a half.

Where did you get the title “Dr.” from?
The University of Florence.

What is Architecture for David Fisher?
My belief is that Architecture starts with feasibility and this is the main issue when you design and put up a building.
The six "commandments" of Architecture, in order of importance, are according to me: Feasibility, Functionality, Engineering, Sustainability, Maintenance and Design.
Design and beauty are the last and least important commandments of architecture in my opinion.
Architecture should be a result of logic, and beauty a result of technology.  

How did your life change since you became so famous?
Nothing has changed, aside from becoming more busy, mainly as there is a request for a Rotating Tower from some countries and I am invited to present the project in so many conventions around the world and give lectures in universities.

Many people do not believe it is possible, it sounds wild...  What do you answer to the skeptics?
These people were around when the first electric bulb was invented and you saw them again when man was about to land on the moon...  In a way I feel flattered when people say it is not possible, and I explain to them that they should start to believe that everything is possible!

What reception have you received from your peers, the general public or the government?
From my peers in architecture and technology, I have received many compliments.  Though architects are very individualistic people, many ask to participate and to be connected with what they call “the future”.
We receive thousands of emails from the public, including questions and compliments as well as many requests to buy an apartment in one of our future rotating towers.
Governments: We received quite a good number of requests from heads of state, governments and mayors to meet with me, expressing their interest in having in their main cities the landmark of the future.

Among the conferences you gave until now which were the ones that you will best remember?
Wow… Let me see.
The first was the most difficult – the Real Estate Summit in Chicago, to which I was invited with very few days of notice.  The organizers said: «you broke the rules of Architecture, we will break the rules of our summit...» and I was given the floor just at the opening session in front of hundreds of participants, among them very important developers and several US Senators.  I was elated.
Another event was in Sao Paulo, in front of 1,200 young architects and interior designers, to whom I told that space is more important than the shell and therefore interior design can be considered a starting point that can shape the building «from inside out».
I also found out that speaking in front of a very large crowd is much easier, as your podium is very high.
It becomes a real challenge and stimulate to a good performance... you just have to make it!... A unique experience was speaking at a junior school in Florence, the same my two daughters (now grown up) attended as young girls.
Compared to important events about finance, real estate and engineering, in London, Paris and Moscow, the twelve year-old children of the junior school «Carducci» of Florence, had among the best questions I ever heard...

Are you Jewish?
Yes.

What is your favorite building in the world and why?
I like many buildings...  The one I like most is the Eiffel Tower (though it was built only as a symbol with no practical use), because it is one of the very few designed by logic, shaped by engineering and not as an external shell.

Is there a building from the past that inspired you?
The Pyramids...  As they are the most static and my buildings are exactly the contrary.  But the buiding that was for me a "starting point" is the Dome of Florence, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, building the largest dome ever built at this time, "defeated gravity" through a unique technology and the beauty of his work came out as a result of engineering.
 
Which architect influenced you?
Filippo Brunelleschi, who designed the largest Florentine Renaissance dome, challenging gravity. From him I took my philosophy that "correct is beautiful, beautiful is not always correct"... and that "art should be a result of logic".

If you could build anywhere in the world, with a panorama in mind, where would you build your house?
On the hill above Florence, but my house is really wherever I travel, i.e. everywhere.

What do you feel is your greatest architectural achievement?
There are several values to Dynamic Architecture.  One of the most important is to start to produce buildings in a factory, and i believe that most buildings in the future will be an industrial product.  Also the fourth dimension may become a great achievement, and Architects from now on will start thinking in 4D.
But the most interesting thing that came out is that many people start to understand that everything is possible and that the human brain can go very, very far.

What does Architecture mean for you?
Architecture for me means to create the proper space for people to live and work in.
In order to create a space we have to build a shell (walls) but it is the space we have to create, not the walls themselves.  The building should therefore be feasible, functional, sound from an engineering point of view, environmental and then...  It can also have an appealing design.  So Architecture is not design but sustainability.

How will this type of Architecture change the cities we live in?
I do hope that cities will adjust to our life and will be as sustainable as possible.  The Dynamic buildings are environmental not only as they are self-powered by wind, but also because the construction site of a factory-made building is a real environmental site:  Clean, quiet, with low energy requirements and limited waste, etc...


What do you consider to be the most important achievement of Architecture in the 21st century?  Which aspect of your buildings points to the future?
When professional magazines, business newspaper and school books describe my project as a “new era of architecture”, I already view that as an achievement.  How can I express my opinion about the most important achievement of architecture in the 21st century?  Only history will judge!

Where did you get your ideas about Architecture?
I choosed to study Architecture in Florence as I grew up being an artist, painting and sculpturing.  The strong impact I had with Florence, city of Renaissance brought me to understand that an architect should create a comfortable living space for human beings, instead of being a sculptor of big scale monuments.

When did you work at the University of Florence as a teacher? Or are you still working as a professor?
I was teaching after I got my title in 1976 at the Institute of Restoration of Ancient Monuments.
  Now I give lectures about the “Building of the Future”, being invited to many international universities.

Any message to young architects?
To the younger generations I always remind that being an architect is a mission: an architect should help people have better conditions of living and not design nicer homes!
Of course, beauty is an important factor, but in my opinion architects should remain focused on environmentally friendly, economically feasible solutions, which are also functional and enjoyable to live in.  Only after that comes the appearance.  In this respect I always quote Socrates: “Correct is beautiful, beautiful is not always correct...”.

Can you tell us something more about your 30-year research?
It started by teaching Architecture at the University of Florence, at the institute of restoration, dealing with preservation of ancient monuments – from Roman ruins to Renaissance churches.  It continued through developing construction methods for low-cost housing in Antigua and hotels in Aruba.  It went ahead to other special concrete and steel buildings.  Later on developing the most complex parts of the construction of a hotel: The bathrooms, via a prefabricated system.  Today, after being on construction sites all over the world, involved in design, construction and managment of industrial plants and doing real estate activity, I feel ready to challenge the ancient methods of construction and contribute to future architecture and smarter buildings.




 

How can you design such a tower if you never designed a skyscraper?
This skyscraper is easy to design...  It has a large number of identical floors that shape the building when you put them in motion.  For all special issues, such as the calculation of the core (the only vertical structural part of the tower), we are supported by the biggest names in skyscraper engineering.
For the structure: Leslie Robertson from New York and WSP Group.  For the MEP (mechanical electrical & plumbing): Lehr International from New York.  And for the vertical transportation:  Barker Mohandas, from New York.

Challenging traditional architecture, what innovative features have been incorporated in the Dynamic Tower?
The Rotating Tower will be a challenge to traditional Architecture, until now based on gravity.  Buildings will be from now on part of life, they will change their shape from spring to summer, from sunrise to sunset, they will adjust themselves to the weather.
Buildings will be alive.  They will have a fourth dimension: Time.
The apartments in the Dynamic Buildings will have swimming pools, they will be equipped with cutting edge technology devices, voice-activated systems and other innovative features that have to do with monitoring, safety systems and advanced devices. Among other innovations: in this skyscraper you will park your car next to your apartment. 

What are these prefabricated parts made of?
The prefabricated horizontal floors are made of steel, aluminum and carbon fiber.  All materials that allow prefabrication, maintenance and light weight structures. There is also large use of other materials used for example in the aircraft industry. 

Is the MEP work done before the tower is assembled?
Yes, everything is done in a factory and the site work is limited to mechanical connections from one segment to the other. 

What is inside the cylinder?  Are the elevator and service facilities inside the cylinder?
All vertical transportation systems, stairs and elevators, as well as the plumbing and electrical services, are positioned inside the core.

The foundations of the towers only serve to hold the core cylinder?
Yes, the foundations support the core, which is a massive column, the only one to hold the building.
 

How much space is between floor and floor, where the turbines are located?
It depends on the various situations, such as the wind.  In any event, the space is about one meter. 

The first level also moves? Can people see the cylinder?
Yes, everything is rotating around the “cylinder”, so you can see it.

Does each floor in the Dynamic Tower rotate 360 degrees?
Yes, as many time as you like and in both directions. 

I would like to find out how you will handle vibrations from the turbines as they rotate.  And how will you reduce the noise that these turbines generate?  Won't the residents hear a constant hum from the turbine gearing?
The turbines are small, the shape and the materials that they are made of enable significant noise reductions.  Furthermore, vertical axis turbines, used for the Rotating Tower, are much less noisy than the larger horizontal axis wind turbines.  The remaining noise is taken care of by active noise systems, a method already used in other areas. 

What are the benefits the owners will get?
They will enjoy 360 degree views, they will have a different sensation of space when they see they are in motion, they will have also a living proof that everything is possible...  They can get whatever they desire.  In addition, they will live in a sustainable building.  A safer one, with better quality of finishing and when they will need to change the interior space of their apartments, they will find that it is not only possible but also very easy to do. 

How will the water supply and drainage systems be designed for a rotating building?
Vertical system will be in the core while all horizontal systems will be as in a normal building. On each floor there will be two smart connections that will allow the flow of water and of waste from a rigid system to a rotating system. I will disclose the details in due time but, trust me, it is quite simple. 

What about fire and safety?
There are existing systems, as in any other skyscrapers, to guarantee safety. Of course, in the case of fire the rotation will stop. The safety systems will respect the local codes.

How will the wastewater be treated?
Like in any normal building.

What water saving features will be included – will there be any water recycling?
All water will be recycled.

How will people enter the rotating buildings?
The core is not moving, so the entrance is like the one to a normal building.  When you step out from the corridor on any floor you will put your foot on a rotating floor.  But the speed of rotation is so slow that you will not sense the movement.

Who rotates the floor?
If you own the entire floor you will rotate it by voice command.  If there are more apartments on each floor, we may allow each owner to rotate the floor at certain moments in the week.  In this way, for the first time, freedom will come to Architecture.
The Architect, nominated by the developer or by the Mayor, will shape the building from his laptop.
These buildings will be designed by life, shaped by time...

The cost of maintenance must be very high?
Not really, the drive system is quite simple and does not require much maintenance.  All other plumbing and electric wiring and the other systems in the building will have immediate service as everything can be inspected easily and the smart sensors will advise of any needed maintenance.We therefore trust that the cost of maintenance in this building will be bellow the one of “normal” buildings. 

What do you predict the lifespan of the building will be? What factors are involved?
We believe the Dynamic Tower will last several hundreds of years as one can service all parts of the building.  The only part that will have a limited life time is the concrete core, but as it is made of a massive concrete ring and located in the centre of the building and completely protected, it will last much longer than any other reinforced concrete column.
It is mind-numbing to think that a building today is designed for a lifetime of 50 years, more or less the life span of an aircraft!...  Our buildings will last much longer, which is yet another contribution to the environment. 

"It is the beginning of a new philosophy, you said. What kind of philosophy? Dynamic Living!”  What is it?
We live in a dynamic society, everything is now in motion...  Everything is changing much faster than before.  Dynamic living encapsulates the sensation that everything is possible.   

What drove you towards Dynamic Architecture? Are there specific reasons?
The main drive was to develop new space solutions which could provide better living conditions. Not much has changed since the Egyptians built the Pyramids.  Architecture has been founded on the laws of gravity and has always remained static.
I wanted to create the architecture of the future, based on logic and sustainability.

What possibilities do you think moving architecture offers the contemporary architectural culture?
Just one: endless possibilities. Is it one? No, it's endless and likely it is not contemporary any more...  It is moving and dynamic, therefore it is futuristic.

 Nature seems to be the inspiration for this building, how important is sustainability in your philosophy?
Oh...  Sustainability should be the condition for whatever we create. An architect does not have to think about beauty! I started my architecture career as a painter, an artist.  I understood later on that buildings should be built in order to create a space for better life! For beauty we have sculptures but buildings should make sense, be feasible, sustainable, logic, and environmental: sustainability should the basis of our life.
My philosophy is the “Beautiful is not always Correct but Correct is always Beautiful”. 

How do you think people interact with these buildings? There are some “special” relations between human people and construction?
Today we are in the digital world, people have understood that almost everything is achievable and, above all, we can better relate to the most powerful dimension – time. In the near future we may even adjust the time to our needs…  So these buildings, being dynamic, get very close to the contemporary way of life and open to other experiences of the space around us – our homes and our work places, where we spend the largest part of our life. 

How will you answer people who say that high-tech buildings lack the human approach?
First of all we are surrounded by high-tech, who says that high-tech does not have a human approach?
It is our creation.  At the same time I think that my buildings have finally a human approach:  They are somehow part of nature, part of us, we can change them as we wish, according to our needs or mood! 

Do you believe most people could afford living in such buildings? If not now, will they be able to in the future?
I believe that most buildings in the future will be, one way or another, dynamic and “alive”.
This method of prefabrication will be used for any kind of building, also low rise, rotating or not. This is the future of construction:  Buildings will cost less, so more people will be able to afford a proper home.
In fact these luxury buildings will open the door for all homes to be built in a factory, which means that people that today do not have homes, will be able to afford them.

You say this innovation will change the philosophy of Architecture. What will become the new philosophy?
The new philosophy is Dynamic Architecture, having four dimensions and adjustable to our life.  In addition, Architecture shaped by logic, being sustainable. Not any more huge sculpture but an expression of our life and of our needs.

How did you get inspired in the building that changes its shape continuously?
"Architecture as part of nature" is a concept that always followed me: Buildings that adjust themselves to life, to our needs, to our mood. However the inspiration arrived in a precise moment in December 2004, when I was watching the view from Olympic Tower (51st and Fifth in NYC) and noticed that from a certain spot you could see the East River and the Hudson River, both sides of Manhattan...  I thought to myself: "Why don't we rotate the entire floor? So everybody can see the East River and the Hudson River...  And also Saint Patrick?"
That is how I got inspired to create a building in which each floor rotates separately, finding out that these buildings will change their shape continuously.
But it really all started during my childhood, when every evening I watched the sunset over the Mediterranean.  The huge red sun would slowly fall into the water, signaling that one day was over and another one was about to begin - this aspect of motion and its relation to the dimension of time really intrigued me.
When I grew up and then became an architect I understood that an architect should design buildings that adjust themselves to life, that adapt themselves to the space, the functionality and the needs that change continuously in our life.  Even to our vision of the sense of beauty, which is in continuous motion.

What is the philosophy behind Dynamic buildings?
These are the first buildings to have a fourth dimension: Time.
Today's life is dynamic, everything changes rapidly...  buildings as well  should adjust in real time and become part of nature.
These buildings are also the first ones to be really green, powered by wind and sun.
In addition they are also the first expression of an integrated industrial solution to construction. 

Please explain the essence of the dynamic design.
The Dynamic Tower is the world's first building in motion that challenges traditional concepts of architecture and heralds a new era of Architecture, becoming the symbol of a new philosophy that will change the look of our cities and our concept of living. Modern life is dynamic, so the space we are living in should be dynamic as well, adjustable to our needs that change continuously, to our concept of design and to our moods. Dynamic buildings will follow the rhythms of nature, changing their direction and shape, minute by minute, from sunrise to sunset, season to season, adjusting themselves to the environment. From now on, buildings will be alive, creating a fourth dimension of Time, to become part of New Architecture, and transforming the shape of the skylines of the world. 
These buildings will be designed by all of us, at any given moment, and will be shaped according to our needs, concepts of design and our moods – representing an expression of freedom, for the first time in history providing the ability to shape our homes and our cities.

Is there anything similar to the Rotating Tower it in the world? 
No, there is nothing similar. Some people may confuse it with a rotating restaurant but it is completely different.  In such restaurants only the floor, the “deck”, is rotating but not the entire floor – the ceiling, the windows, the plumbing and the electrical system are all stationary.  In addition, these buildings do not of course change their shape.
There is currently no other building in the world known to change its shape.

Why a building in movement? Which is the aim?
A building in movement allows us to have 360 degree views, but allows also to have endless shapes and a new concept of Architecture.  Buildings in four dimensions may also give us a different sense of space and life. 

Right now, you're creating something unique for the first time. Do you believe it will inspire more research or others will just follow your example?
Yes! Dynamic Architecture receives expressions of interest from architects all over the world, and mainly young ones and architecture students.  In addition, with respect to prefabrication, I believe that most buildings in the future will be produced in an assembly facility, just like my buildings.

According to you, time is the new element in the process of the creation of a building. Do you believe there will be timeless buildings in the future or functionality will come first?
In the future buildings will certainly first be functional and at this point, if you want, they will be also timeless... 

Which are the dynamic buildings parameters?
Aside from being able to move and change their shape, these buildings are produced in a factory, offering higher quality homes compared to the ones built on site, saving also construction time and construction cost!

How would you describe the rotating skyscraper – more like an architectural or a high-tech achievement?
Both, an architectural and a high-tech achievement, as you cannot divide one from the other.
The time when beautiful shape and design detail was considered to be the essence of Architecture is over.
Real Architecture is, in my opinion, a result of technology.
Indeed, the rotating skyscraper that I describe as a «machine for living», represents most probably the Architecture of the future. 

Why is the “Fisher Method” considered to be a revolution?
Today's homes are built very similarly to the way Egyptians built the Pyramids.  We still use the same materials such as wood and bricks.  The trowel is still the symbol of builders and the crane is very similar to the one used by the ancient Romans.
This is the first time buildings will be erected out of units preassembled in a workshop and then mechanically installed on site. 

Why prefabricate homes?
Any product today is a result of an industrial process and can be transported around the world. Buildings should not be different than any other product and therefore from now on be manufactured in a production facility. Otherwise it would have been like building a car in its own parking space or an airplane at the airport.  Dynamic Architecture allows to produce any kind of design solution in the workshop and then assemble it on the site.  The preassembled finished units arrive to the site finished and require only to be hooked onto the core.  In these buildings you can do immediate maintenance.  The buildings will therefore also have a long life span, longer than any traditional building – again, sustainability...

How many prefabricated units are needed to build one floor?
About 50.

What is the size of each unit?
In order to make it easy and cost effective, the basic unit is the size of a container.  However, from case to case, and mainly in connection to the logistics, the units can be much bigger. 

How much more does a Rotating Tower cost compared to a normal construction?
In some cities, such as in Miami, slightly above the construction of a «normal» building, in some others, such as London, the cost could go below normal luxury towers.
The off-site work, the prefabrication method and a low labor cost can make these towers quite competitive.
It needs to be remembered, however, that there is a huge premium on the price of property for iconic Dynamic towers!!! 

How exactly does pre-assembling the building save energy and costs?  What are the actual logistics of it?  Won't you use more energy transporting the ready-made sections of the building?
An industrial production, being more efficient, using the best available space of production and being fast, consumes less energy than a construction site requires.  Logistics: You put the segments of the finished parts of the building on a truck.  Just as you ship any other industrial product.  Transportation of a single unit sized container costs much less, by far, than sending hundreds of items to a construction site.  

Is this system of construction applied to other buildings, other than skyscrapers?
The technology of preassembling can be applied to buildings of any size.  Furthermore, since the modules are pre-assembled in a plant, the Rotating Tower can be feasible for any number of floors.  As a matter of fact, the additional amount of money needed to develop the high technology is balanced by the relatively lower cost of the industrialization of the building.  This means that portions of the building can be produced in India and then shipped to Australia.  We intend indeed to have also a facility in Asia, where we can find lower labor rates.  We believe that this is the future of construction, producing homes in an industrial facility and locating it in a low cost area – two good reasons to lower the cost of construction!

Has the factory in Italy already started building the elements of the tower?
The factory has just been completed and will start production in very few weeks.  The factory, part of the Dynamic Architecture Group, will be the main assembly facility for the Rotating Towers, where the Group will have also its R&D centre.
The intention is however to have more facilities in other countries.
 
Did prefabrication inspire you to design a tall building this way?  Or did you want to build a tall building and thought prefab methods offered the best engineering solution?
Both occurred.
I was always convinced about bringing industrial processes to construction, which means prefabrication.  It was clear that prefabrication means doing things in a very simple way.  So, how can you design a particular shape if you want to prefabricate it?  The only way is to have "standard" floor plans and therefore the only way to give them a special shape is to rotate the single floors separately, so the shape is determined by the movement and not by the physical shape.
 At the same time, I always wanted to design and build a tall building and there was no doubt in my mind that the bigger the project is, the more important it is to do it in a smart way in terms of engineering and construction. 

What will be the size of the on-site team and where are the skilled constructors coming from?
About 90 people, coming from mechanical sectors such as bridge construction, aircraft industry, offshore construction. 

It is said that it requires fewer people to construct the building. How many and why?
Our skyscraper will have only 90 workers on site instead of over 2000 for a normal skyscraper, as most of the work will be completed in the factory..

Who are the project's main partners?
Engineering companies such as LERA, Lehr International, WSP Cantor Seinuk, Bosch Rexroth, CBRE and others.

What advice do you have for current property developers in dealing with multiple concerns, such as the current economic situation, the need to be environmentally conscious and still produce stylish, high end and desirable properties?
My advice to developers: to do a unique building such as the Dynamic Tower.  These towers can be built anywhere, in any city that can afford a luxury residential building or a commercial (office) iconic skyscraper. Today, more than ever, in many cities there is a market only very unique buildings. 

Where do you see future property development, in a world where everyone is going bigger, taller or more expensive?  What part do you think creativity and environmental consciousness play?
Instead of thinking bigger, taller or more expensive, I believe we should think sustainable, life-enhancing and dynamic.  Nowadays, as the budgets are getting tighter and there are more environmental challenges, creativity and consideration for the environment play an absolutely significant role.. 

How do you prevent the mechanism from freezing, mainly for the Moscow project – or from suffering from the heat in the UAE?
How does an aircraft manage to function in 40 degrees and as soon as it takes off, a few minutes later, in -50 degrees at high altitude?
Our engineers had to consider all these aspects.  Do not forget that Bosch Rexroth of the Bosch Group has a huge experience both in cold areas such as Russia and in hot climates such as UAE. 

We would like to know at what stage the project is, if it has been started.  Has some property already been sold and if yes, how many units?  Some world websites have relayed rumors that the projects in Dubai and in Moscow stopped, because of problems with water and current electricity installations?
Do you really believe that if a man can reach the moon he cannot transfer water to a floor in motion?  All technical issues were solved and we are close to starting production.

Which other projects are in the pipeline?
There are quite few cities in which we are working on advancing steps for the construction of Dynamic Towers.
Among them are: London, Paris, Milan, Mumbai and Shanghai.

Which are the environmental elements of the tower?
This is the first self-powered building.  Wind turbines, positioned horizontally between the floors, as well as solar panels on the roofs, will produce energy for the building.  They are therefore environmentally sound.  In addition, they are equipped with waste energy systems, which adds to their environmental friendliness.  Finally, a whole host of technologies are incorporated to the buildings, aimed at reducing energy requirements. 

You state that Rotating Towers are eco-friendly –I was just wondering how car fumes will be dealt with once they enter the building and what happens with petrol leaks and so on…
You don't drive your car into the lift.  You stop at the entrance of the building, you turn the engine off, you open the window and give the keys to the door man, only then your car, positioned on a conveyor is automatically moved towards the lift.  With your eye command the door of the lift opens...  You can then relax and within about 60 seconds you are at the door of your villa.
So the engine is off.  There are no fumes and everything is on the safe side – you can really relax.

 Are the Rotating Towers part of the contemporary answer to growing environmental issues?
The Dynamic Tower is environmentally friendly, with the ability to generate electricity for itself , making it the first building designed to be self-powered.  It achieves this feat with wind turbines fitted between each rotating floor.  An 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant.

Why are your buildings considered to be eco-friendly?
The buildings produce wind energy so they are environmentally sound, they are equipped with waste energy systems what make them eco-friendly buildings.

What sustainability and environmental aspects have been added to the building – one that will have a huge carbon footprint I suspect?
Aside of the wind turbines, we use natural materials.  However, the method of prefabrication also makes the building more environmental as we have saved power through the construction process and the site itself is very sustainable..

About sustainability in recent projects, we know that we are technically ready to build in a cleaner way.  What do we need for the world to actually implement such practices?
That is a very big challenge, but certainly possible: All buildings should save energy and produce green energy.  I am sure that in the future all buildings will be self powered, and we should start having them now!

Am I correct that an environmental building such as yours aims at increasing efficiency with which it uses its resources?  How will this work in practice?
The wind turbines and solar panels will supply energy for the entire consumption of the building.  The energy for the rotation is minimal and will be covered by the extra power that the turbines and panels will produce.

Does sustainable architecture have its limitations?  Could a concept that is today considered cutting edge be deemed obsolete in the future?
I believe there are no limitations to anything.  Mankind can certainly achieve buildings that are completely self powered by nature.  So yes, if today it looks “cutting edge”, it will become part of all buildings in the future.

How experimental is environmental Architecture?  As development of the idea progressed did you need to keep an open mind on modifications to your original vision?
Sustainable Architecture is still under development.  Nothing has been really modified in our buildings.  However we are still bringing improvements to the wind turbine systems every day.

What is the payoff when it comes to incorporating environmental Architecture into a building such as yours?  For example reduced operating costs, improved occupant health, reduced environmental impact?
It is quite clear that if a building is self powered the benefits are huge for the building, its occupants and the environment.  Environmental buildings will reduce operating costs, will improve the health of its occupants, and will help us all to have a better life.

Will the building use any natural materials that are made locally?
Yes, we will use steel, aluminum, glass and other locally-made products.

Where are the environmental aspects of the tower?
This is the first self-powered building. Wind turbines, positioned horizontally between each floors will produce energy for the building.

Do you think implementing environmental concepts is expensive?  How does the cost compare to conventional ways of construction?
It is not really expensive.  Environmental buildings, like in this case, can cost the same or less than normal buildings. 

Does the design of the rotating towers take into consideration energy saving aspects?
The Dynamic buildings are environmental, not only as they are self-powered by wind and solar, but also because the construction site of a factory-made building is truly environmental:  clean, quiet, with low energy requirements and limited waste.

Dynamic Architecture seems to be common sense.  Why do you think it has taken so long to realize that the best thing to do with the forces of nature is not to fight them, but to yield to them and use them?
This was my comment as far as wind is concerned.  Wind has a very negative impact on high rise buildings.  So instead of fighting the wind we decided to use it to create energy.
As human nature is so aggressive, fighting is a primal instinct when people find themselves in difficulty.  Hopefully man has now become aware of the fact that it is better to yield than to fight.  It is in fact my belief that it is smarter to join forces with nature than to fight it.

The use of the turbines to generate energy from the building seems as basic as catching rainwater in a basin, but it seems to have eluded other builders.  How did this brilliant idea come about?
I just thought of using the wind instead of fighting it.  As a matter of fact, wind has a very negative impact on skyscrapers, so I decided that instead of fighting nature I should try to be friendly with it.  One of my thoughts was to let the wind go through the floors, by leaving between the floors empty spaces, and then I thought that I could position the normal wind turbine, horizontally, in these spaces between the floors.  The solution is a building that is a true green power plant.. 

I would like to find out how you will handle vibrations from the turbines as they rotate.  And how will you reduce the noise that these turbines generate?  Won't the residents hear a constant hum from the turbine gearing?
The turbines are small, the shape and the materials that they are made of allow to reduce the noise.  The remaining noise is taken care of by active noise systems, a method already used in other areas.. 

How much energy is required for the Tower to rotate?
The floors rotate with electric power, the rotation requires very few KW for each floor.  On the other hand, the wind turbines will produce energy that will be sufficient for the entire consumption of the building, and possibly sold to the grid. 

Which sustainable technologies set to feature in the building are tried and tested, and which are new?
Most of the systems are of existing and proven technologies.  They are applications from other fields, such as offshore platforms, cranes, bridges, the London Eye, the automobile and aircraft industry.    

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