Architectural styles and movements are numerous, each affected by historical epoch, geographic location, or even human conditions. Since the beginning of human life on earth, architecture has evolved in different practices: Ancient architecture such as Roman and Greek, Renaissance, Gothic, Islamic, Modernism, Deconstruction, and Contemporary, are well-known examples of architectural style.
Today, the world is speaking of a new movement – the Solarpunk movement. Emerged from the internet in 2008, solar punk is a movement where ecology and technology togetherly evolve. Architecturally speaking, practitioners see architectural solar punk as a movement combining sustainability, social justice, and collectivism.
Are there any primitive traces of solar punk architecture? Bosco Verticale, Urban Sequoia, Juwel Changi Airport, and Asian Cairns got the answer.
Asian Cairns – China
Designed by Vincent Callebaut and located in China, Asian Cairns is a good example of how architecture adheres to solar punk. According to the architect’s theory behind the project, “China’s population was expected to reach 800 million by 2020, where almost 75% expected to be urban by 2030”. As a result, Asian Cairns aims to create a three-dimensional city that is: multifunctional, multicultural, and ecological. This will be detailed through green and dense cities, information and communication technology, and sustainable development.
First, while the energy consumption reduction of green cities occurs through the relocation of rural production to urban centres, the reduction of energy consumption in dense cities promotes both social and functional diversities. This will lead to intelligent and environmentally viable cities offering services and respecting the standard of living for everyone.
Second, Asian Crain’s features Information and Communication Technologies. For example, optic fibres and satellite systems reduce travel costs, enhance economic dynamism, and increase the attractiveness of a city.
Third, sustainability and sustainable development are crucial in Asian Crains. Sustainable development must look for solutions for the economy that are in harmony with the biosphere and preserve all capabilities of future generations. By this, the restoration of cities focuses on shapes, strategies, and ecosystems through biomorphism, bionics, and biomimicry.
Juwel Changi Airport – Singapore
Juwel Changi is another example of solar punk architecture: Many activities are connected through one big garden and under one roof (Safdie Architects). This airport is a community-centric typology where users can visit markets and gardens. This will create a new realm of public attraction. In one place, landside operations, indoor landscape, leisure activities, retail, and hotel facilities create a new environment of solar punk architecture mixed-use buildings. The dome-like façade is fully made out of glass and steel frames. This dome accommodates several connections with a water oculus. Adding to this, this environment shows a multistory garden and a forest valley at the ground level.
Urban Sequoia
Taking the Urban Sequoia as a third example of Solar punks, this project is detailed on three layers: The design concept, carbon removal economy, and making cities part of the solution (SOM).
The project is a conceptual concept promoting sustainability, optimising the building design, and minimising materials. Moreover, biomass, biomaterials, and carbon capture technologies are finely integrated.
On a wider scale, Urban Sequoi is helping in the transformation of how to design and manage infrastructure. The captured carbon and biomass may be used to create biomaterials for roads, pipelines, and pavement. 120 tonnes of carbon per kilometre is retained by the former grey infrastructure: hardscapes are transformed into gardens, the creation of dense carbon-absorbing landscapes, and the upgrade of roadways with extra carbon-capturing equipment. Applying this solution in parks, public, and green spaces will ensure the saving of 300 tonnes of carbon on a yearly basis.
Bosco Verticale – Italy
Designed in Milan, Bosco Verticale is an architectural prototype of biodiversity and expresses a link between humans and other species (Stefano Boeri Architetti).
The project features two towers with 80 and 112 metres of height. These towers are housing around 800 trees which is equal to 30,000 square metres of horizontal wood.
Eliminating harmful effects on the environment, and creating a unique indoor climate, the plant-based shields all over the building are filtering sun rays.
In addition, this vertical forest concept – a home where humans, trees, and birds are living, holds its own urban and technological characteristics. The Twin Green Towers also highlight a unique architectural perception and qualities that are expressive.
Architecturally speaking, the identity of the project is given by the iterated cantilevered balconies, the porcelain stoneware finish, and the white stoneware elements.
On the ecological and biodiversity level, the project is showing a set of processes in the vertical greenery: these processes are partially natural and partially manmade, accompanied by a growth of the inhabited organisms over time. On a parallel line, this vertical project has spontaneously established flora and fauna recolonization in Milan by giving birth to a habitat for numerous animal species.
References:
Callebaut, V. Asian Cairns – Sustainable Megaliths for Rural Urbanity. [Online]. Available at: https://architizer.com/projects/asian-cairns-sustainable-farmscrapers-for-rural-urabnity/
Safdie Architects. Juwel Changi Airport. [Online]. Available at: https://www.safdiearchitects.com/projects/jewel-changi-airport
SOM. Urban Sequoai. [Online]. Available at: https://www.som.com/research/urban-sequoia/
Stefano Boeri Architetti. Vertical Forest Milan. [Online]. Aailable at: https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/vertical-forest/
List of Images:
1_Solarpunk. [Illustration]. Available at: https://brinklindsey.substack.com/p/why-we-need-the-jetsons-and-solarpunk
2_Asian Cairns. [Illustration]. Available at: https://www.cgarchitect.com/images/abf93e26-asian-cairns-by-vincent-callebau
3_Juwel Changi Airport. [Illustration]. Aailable at: https://www.changiairport.com/corporate/media-centre/changijourneys/the-airport-never-sleeps/what-goes-behind-the-construction-of-jewel-changi-airport.html
4_Urban Sequoia. [Illustration]. Available at: https://www.som.com/research/urban-sequoia/
5_Bosco Verticale. [Illustration]. Available at: https://www.designartmagazine.com/2013/08/the-urban-vertical-forest-is-one-of.html
