The design of this project combines passive design strategies and renewable energies. The building’s form, sculpted in response to environmental analysis and focuses on the natural ventilation, sun shading, high thermal mass, courtyards and vegetation.
The main architectural feature is a combination of eight wind chimneys which provide natural ventilation and cooling and grow from the ground level to the top of the whole structure. These elements constitute the basic energy and circulation cores of the project and serve as outdoor assembly spaces. The big structural roof canopy provides natural shading, permits the daylight to get inside the block and incorporates photovoltaic and solar panels to generate energy. Its aerodynamic shape allows the air movement inside the block. Furthermore, on the project are implemented water conservation strategies. The rain water is collected through water tanks suited on the roof, stored and used to irrigate the various shaded roof garden.
The main idea of the project was to create an ‘umbrella’ which covers the whole block and protects the life inside that. The project accommodates commercial, retail, cultural, industrial, educational and residential uses as well as food production. The image of a forest is transmitted to the project, creating a big wood structure which reminds tree trunks. It is developed of three vertical layers; the roof structure, the residential uses and the public spaces. The three layers are separated creating free spaces in between but at the same time are connected by the big wood structure.
