The “Lion City” is one of three city-states in the world, and is known for its blend of urban and natural elements, as almost half of its land is covered by greenery, including nature reserves and parks. Now, the city has taken its blend one step further. A building called Wind Arbor in Singapore shows what the future will look like, thanks to its 500,000 metal flippers that can potentially replace turbines. It is an architectural marvel and could inspire a revolutionary change in renewable energy.
Finding a replacement for turbines in urban regions
The world is gradually transitioning to renewable energy in the hopes of lowering greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, to mitigate effectively the effects of climate change. While renewable sources are the preferred alternatives to burning fossil fuels for power, most of the sources and their technology are very limited when it comes to their applicability in certain environments.
Urban regions in general prove to be more challenging in incorporating renewables, such as wind energy. According to SolarTime with Martyna, turbines are less effective in urban settings due to the following:
- Turbulence and obstructions
- Low wind speeds
- Limited and challenging installation space
- Vibration and noise pollution
- Visual pollution
To address these issues, we may have to turn to new and innovative solutions to power buildings in urban regions. Perhaps turning to artistic designs for inspiration could be the answer to what the future of energy will look like.
Wind Arbor shows what the future will look like
The “Lion City” or Singapore, is known to be quite sunny and hot in general throughout the year, and attracts many tourists annually. While the pleasant weather is attractive to many, it can cause buildings to overheat, including the luxury hotel Marina Sands Bay. To overcome this problem, a unique artistic design was created to provide shade for its lobby.
Environmental artist Ned Kahn was approached, and in collaboration with architect Moshe Safdie, they created a functional artwork named Wind Arbor. This artwork blocks 50% of sunlight and heat, thanks to a cable net structure comprising 500,000 hinged aluminum elements that move with the wind, revealing its patterns. Four vertical acres of the lobby’s glass facade were covered with this structure.
This functional artwork reminds us of a kinetic sculpture that dances without energy, as it also utilizes the kinetic energy of the wind to create a dynamic aesthetic. While it may not produce power, it could certainly show us what the future could look like.
Combining artwork and technology could be the answer
Singapore has been researching small-scale wind harvesting and hybrid energy systems to generate power for sensors and small devices, according to a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) report. This is to address the energy issues that are faced by urban regions. However, other cities have already thought bigger and more colorful, as they incorporate renewable technology with artwork.
Incorporating renewable technology with artwork or aesthetic designs is not a new idea. In fact, more and more collaborations are happening. An example includes colorful facades that are utilized to generate renewable power for buildings while considering the consumer’s preferred color and taste. While the concept is not new, it has taken quite some time to make these designs functional and efficient.
The modern world has lost its unique architectural designs, especially as urbanization skyrockets. Now, it could all change, as the future becomes more innovative and aesthetically pleasing thanks to innovative designs that are being incorporated into the renewable world. Soon, buildings will be covered with dancing, colorful facades to produce record-breaking power, or we could see more rotating buildings to address warmer days and seasons. Only time will tell what the future will hold.