Ecocities of Tomorrow: Masdar City To Build "Positive-Energy" Building
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 03. 7.08
The folks behind Masdar City - the ecocity planned for the United Arab Emirates by Foster + Partners - have unveiled designs for the city's first piece of iconic architecture, a $300 million home for Masdar's corporate headquarters. The building will be "positive energy," meaning it will create more energy than it consumes. This will be accomplished by draping a massive canopy of photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, passive solar cooling and natural shading mechanisms over the building.
One of the building's architects, Adrian Smith, described the building (with no lack of hyperbole) as:
One of the most significant developments of our time. As a positive energy complex, the project will have far-reaching influence on the buildings of tomorrow.
The building will be a "mixed-use" development, housing private residences and local startups as well, and is expected to be completed by 2010, as part of phase one of the city. For a nifty fly-around animated perspective of the project, check out the architects' site here.
Masdar City is expected to be completed in its entirety by 2016. For more on what the experts think of the planned Masdar City, check out: Ecocities of Tomorrow: Can Foster + Parters' Masdar City in UAE be Truly Sustainable?
This post is part of an ongoing series examining current and future trends in ecological city building ahead of the 2008 Ecocity World Summit during Earth Day Week in San Francisco this April.
Via:: Reuters
Images:: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Wow! Incredibly beautiful AND not only functional, but productive! All buildings should be like that.
Truly amazing architecture! I hope it lives up to its anticipated positive energy performance.
Great concept! The sunshading of the PV panels cools and tempers the space beneath and lowers the cooling load for the building beneath.
\Haven't looked at the architect's site yet, but the building facade isn't looking too inspired from this image. Maybe it also has integrated PV in all of that reflective glazing.
With screens and shading fins and operable windows, and managed internal ventilation, they could eliminate a great deal of their air conditioning costs, and still have a tolerable interior for much of the year, even in that climate.
Jon, you need to check out the Foster and Partner's site, even though not all of their work has been extremely "green" , their work is incredibly and its wonderful to see such a large firm take such an incredible turn in the future of building!! I like it!
I would venture to say that building only truly becomes "positive energy" once the building has offset the entire amount of energy needed in both the construction of the building itself and the energy used to produce the building materials.
hello there
i think the whole "Masdar City" is an incredible idea..just the fact that there is people wanting and working on saving the world is amazing
but when you think of it, yes "Masdar" would have the effect on the reduce of carbon to the atmosphere...but it wont be THAT effective...the reduce might be simple compared to the other pollution that other countries are producing...
i've read somewhere that this project costs $22 billion!!!
i've asked myself, why wont anyone get that amount of money and try to solve the problem of the polluted water in Africa?? i bet it wont cost $22 billion...
and when that project is successfully accomplished, let them head to the masdar...but first start with the recycling
because seriously...the would have this "carbon&waste free" city...but why dont they look at Dubai?? huge city uses a LARGE amount of energy in its LARGE buildings and streets...why dont people go step by step then try to accomplish big plans???
thats all what i have to say and would appreciate any other opinions