Tower Of Light

The Tower of Light is a 40-metre-tall structure in Manchester's city centre that supports flues for a new low-carbon energy centre. The tower symbolises the council's commitment to clean energy while serving a practical function as a small power station near the city centre. To avoid a standard flue tower, which can often be an eyesore, a design competition was held to create a landmark for an important gateway to the city. The competition was won by Tonkin Liu, a leading London architecture practice, who designed a Shell Lace Structure inspired by natural geometries for strength. The tower is the largest Shell Lace Structure to date, and it's worth visiting just for the design.