Impossible Builds

Creating the Scorpion Tower’s Silky Aesthetic

Clip: Episode 1 | 1m 24s

The exoskeleton of Zaha Hadid’s Scorpion Tower, officially known as One Thousand Museum, is created using glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC). Typically used as a decorative covering, these GFRC panels are instead being used as formwork — a mold for the concrete — to help support the structure and to create the smooth, luxurious finish from Hadid’s design.

Aired: 02/07/18 | Rating: TV-G

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More Extras From This Episode

• Buck Hoists Play an Essential Role in Building the Tower

  Clip: Ep1 | 3m 5s

• The Team Stumbles Upon a Problem Inside the Building

  Clip: Ep1 | 2m 38s

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