The observation tower acts as a sundial.

China Open Architecture is nearing completion of the Sun Tower project, an observation tower that acts as a clock to mark the changing of the seasons, in Yantai.

The 50-meter-tall Sun Tower, located on the beach, was inspired by the history of sun worship and famous local watchtowers, New Atlas reported on July 1. These watchtowers were used to warn the king of possible attacks at sea.

Structurally, the Sun Tower is made of white concrete, carefully shaped to match the orbit of the Sun. Circular holes on the exterior of the tower are connected to pipes that bring natural light into the building. At night, the windows are designed to be lit up to resemble a starry sky. By encouraging natural ventilation and reducing the need for air conditioning in the summer, the Sun Tower allows visitors to experience the changing seasons and the natural flow of energy.

At the base of the tower there will be a plaza with a shallow pool, misting facilities and fountains. A specially designed water channel cutting through the plaza will act as a time scale. This is the line along which the shadow of the Sun Tower will travel on the equinox (the moment when the Earth's equatorial plane passes through the center of the Sun).

The paving will be a series of elliptical rings. The intersections of the rings and water channels will mark the shadow of the building at certain times of the day during the equinoxes. On one of the outer rings, a series of fountains are designed to mark the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese calendar. On normal days, they synchronize with the high and low tides, according to Open Architecture.

Inside the Sun Tower there are exhibition spaces, a library, an observation deck near the top and more. The building also includes an open-air theater with impressive acoustics thanks to the tower's unique shape.

The basic structure of the Sun Tower is now complete. On June 21 - the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere - Open Architecture held a topping-out ceremony. The tower is being completed and is expected to open in 2024.

Thu Thao (According to New Atlas )

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