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Warsaw’s Varso Tower shortlisted for International High-Rise Award

16.07.2024 09:00
Warsaw’s Varso Tower is among 31 buildings shortlisted for the International High-Rise Award 2024/25.
With its architectural height of 310 metres, Warsaws Varso Tower is the tallest building in the European Union.
With its architectural height of 310 metres, Warsaw's Varso Tower is the tallest building in the European Union.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The finalists have been selected from more than 1,000 new high-rises in 13 countries worldwide.

Launched in 2004 and held every two years, the International High-Rise Award is organized jointly by the City of Frankfurt/Main, the Deutsches Architekturmuseum DAM and DekaBank.

According to the award's website, “the evaluation criteria include sustainability, external design, and internal use of space, taking into consideration the social and urban planning-related aspects of the projects" as well as "innovative engineering and cost-effectiveness."

Designed by Foster+Partners and completed in 2022, the Varso Tower measures 310 meters in height, which makes it the tallest tower in the European Union.

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Its top is accessed directly from the ground via two panoramic lifts, with a viewing platform at level 53. This is the highest inhabited floor in Poland with uninterrupted views of the city.

The International High-Rise Award website says that Varso Tower “forms a gateway to the new development and draws people through the building towards the public plaza on its western end that connects to the neighboring buildings. The social heart of the project is a plaza enclosed within a glazed screen, animated with full-height trees and benches for people to enjoy the surroundings."

Varso Tower is part of a larger, multi-functional complex known as Varso Place. Its two remaining much lower high-rises, Varso 1 and Varso 2, were designed by the Warsaw-based studio HRA Architekci.

Photo: Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The five finalists and the winner of the International High-Rise Award 2024/25 will be announced on November 12.

(mk/gs)