Plans have been revealed for an eye-catching building that will become the new world's tallest residential skyscraper. Named Senna Tower, it will be located in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and is designed to pay homage to the legendary racing driver Ayrton Senna.
For those unfamiliar with the name, Senna was an extraordinarily gifted racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1988, 1990, and 1991, but tragically died in a crash aged 34. His name continues to inspire, with some of his memorabilia setting a new auction record a few years ago.
It's important to emphasize that we're exclusively discussing residential skyscrapers here and not skyscrapers in general, the tallest of which remains the Burj Khalifa. That said, we don't have an exact height for the Senna Tower yet, but know that it will exceed 500 m (1,640 ft) making it significantly taller than the current tallest residential skyscraper, New York City's Central Park Tower (NYC currently boasts the top three tallest residential towers in the world). However, if the Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina gets completed in the meantime, it might offer some competition as it's slated to reach 517 m (1,696 ft).
The Senna Tower is designed by the racing icon's artist niece Lalalli Senna and will feature a base that tapers into a classic rectangular tower shape. The renders also show lots of lighting on its exterior. It will contain 228 residences, including 18 so-called "suspended mansions," and a pair of "mega-triplex penthouses," as well as six private leisure floors with amenities and a rooftop area for residents' use. It will also host entertainment, leisure and restaurant areas open to the public at the base, plus there will be an immersive space detailing Ayrton Senna's career and his life and achievements.
Senna Tower Design: A Tribute to a Legend
The Senna Tower is planned for Balneário Camboriú, a city in Brazil's Santa Catarina state that is known for its skyscraper-lined coastal skyline. Renderings show a slim, glass-clad tower. At its base, a section of the facade slips forward to create a series of terraces that are covered in pools and landscaping. A race track will encircle the podium, which will be part of an "immersive space" dedicated to Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, who died at the age of 34 as a result of a driving accident. The project is a joint venture between developer, construction and engineering firm FG Empreendimentos and the Senna Brand, the lifestyle brand of the late driver.
Architectural Vision: A Journey of Overcoming
The tower's design was inspired by Ayrton Senna's life, aiming to capture his spirit of striving for excellence and his relentless pursuit of goals. It was designed by Ayrton Senna's niece and artist Lalalli Senna to reflect his "heroic journey," with the horizontal axis representative of the "material" and the vertical, "the celestial and ideal." Bands of lights will run up the facade and around the base. At the top of the tower, the lights surrounding the crown are shown to project upwards. "The tower's architectural form was designed to symbolise this heroic journey of overcoming our ideals and the manifestation of our profound potential," said Lalalli Senna. "The hero is composed of flesh and bone and thus begins from the material axis. However, they seek qualities that belong to the realm of ideals, such as strength, skill, honour, and truth. The hero embarks on a journey towards what belongs to the celestial domain, striving to reflect these non-material aspects." "Eventually, the hero sheds their mortal shell and becomes pure light to complete their journey, symbolised in the crowning of Senna Tower."
Residential Amenities and Sustainability
At 500 metres tall, Senna Tower will contain 228 residential units, including 18 "mansions," 204 apartments, four duplex penthouses, and two "two mega triplex penthouses" spanning 903 square metres. Amenities will be distributed over six floors throughout the building, and a 6,000 square metre rooftop will also contain "leisure space." According to the developer, the project will pursue LEED Platinum certification, making it the "first supertall residential building" to achieve the feat if awarded and it will also be the first building in Latin America to use a Tuned Mass Damper (TMD), which reduces vibrations in tall and slender buildings.
Construction and Completion
The project has received approval from the city hall of Balneário Camboriú and local planning bodies Estudo de Impacto de Vizinhança (EIV) and Licença de Implantação Ambiental(LAI). Brazilian engineer Stéphane Domeneghini was cited by the developer as a technical lead for the project. She is executive director at FG Talls, the developer's arm responsible for producing high-rise buildings. Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2025. If completed, it will be the tallest residential skyscraper in the world. The project joins a Dubai skyscraper vying for the same title, set to be 557 metres tall. "This is our commitment: to transform an extraordinary intangible concept into something real and timeless, leaving a legacy beyond our generation, perpetuating the message for the future," said FG Empreendimentos president Jean Graciola. "To achieve this, we are involving the world's top names in architecture and engineering, ensuring excellence in a structure over 500 meters tall, which will be the tallest residential building in the world."
A Legacy of Excellence and Innovation
The Senna Tower is a testament to the legacy of Ayrton Senna, a champion of motorsport who embodied a spirit of excellence and determination. It is also a symbol of Brazil's ambition and its commitment to innovation. This project aims to create a landmark for the city of Balneário Camboriú and a lasting tribute to one of Brazil's most beloved sporting icons. The tower is more than just a building; it is a work of art, a symbol of human ambition, and a tribute to a legend who continues to inspire generations. With its stunning design, advanced technology, and commitment to sustainability, Senna Tower is poised to become a global icon, embodying the spirit of Ayrton Senna and showcasing the best of Brazilian architecture and engineering.
