At first glance,
Graft Lab’s dazzling complex in
Dubai
may appear to have a cluster of sparkling geometric pools at its base.
But upon further inspection, the web-like structures are actually
something even more desirable than a place to take a dip in the hot
desert – a means of collecting the scorching rays of the sun and
transforming them into
energy.
Dubbed the Vertical Village, this multi-use building and accompanying
massive array of solar collectors was designed to work smarter, not
harder, which is expected to earn it a LEED Gold certification when it
is completed.
The architects at Graft Lab (also responsible for the
unique and ethereal Bird Island) must have been taking good notes in their LEED classes because the
Vertical Village
incorporates the most basic mantras of energy-efficiency in hot
climates: reducing solar gain and maximizing solar production. Each
hockey-stick-shaped building within the village is self-shading on its
north side and on the east-west axis to reduce long-angle sun
penetration. A massive bed of
solar collectors
lies at the south end of the complex and has the ability to
automatically position itself toward the sun to maximize solar-energy
aggregation. The roof of the village has veins like a leaf which can
break up the solar field into smaller, more manageable portions.
Aside from its energy-harvesting
features, the Vertical Village is also quite breathtaking to behold.
The way that the buildings have been sliced and tilted gives each one a
unique, futuristic look. Residents and visitors will be able to take
full advantage of hotels, cinemas, restaurants, shops and a theater.
from inhabitat
