Self-sufficiency is the key to building almost anything these days. In view of increasing costs of living coupled with limited resources needed for survival, engineers and architects are showcasing novel building concepts to face these problems. Check out 10 of these self-sufficient skyscraper concepts that are set to wow audiences.
1. Burj Al-Taqa
The concept of the Burj Al-Taqa is testament to Dubai’s continued efforts to keep pace with the world’s demands. Making use of wind and solar power, Gerber Architekten, a German-based architectural firm, is hoping to make the Burj Al-Taqa skyscraper 100 percent self-sufficient in terms of energy. The tower will have natural ventilation and wind towers that will convert hot wind into cool breeze. A wind turbine covered with photovoltaics will be mounted at the top of the structure to supply energy. To ensure that the air is clean and fresh, the architects have proposed to install six hanging gardens.
2. Costanera Sur
The next on the list has little to do with humans. Designed exclusively for animals, Costanera Sur is a zoo concept by Visiondivision that will make use of leftover material from Buenos Aires’ old highways for its construction. A central pipe will draw water from a river nearby and transport it to the top of the building after which it will flow down to create a waterfall. This waterfall will then be used to generate energy through turbines and generators located at the building’s basement. Each spacious floor of the Costanera Sur will house the animals.
3. Dynamic Tower Dubai
Conceived by Dr. David Fisher, an Italian architect, the Dynamic Tower in Dubai lives up to its name by being the planet’s first building in motion. The 80-storied structure will have wind turbines installed in each rotating floor which will generate energy. What is even more unique is that each floor will be constructed out of prefabricated parts which will greatly cut down costs as well reduce the labor force required.
4. 10 MW Dubai Skyscraper
Another Dubai green building makes the list with the 10 MW Tower. Combining wind and solar power, the 50-storied skyscraper will have a concentrating solar system of 3 MW, a 5 MW wind turbine and a solar updraft system of 2 MW. The UAE-based designers, Studio Impact, say that the building will be able to give out 10 times more energy than it needs.
5. Self-sufficient Oasis Tower
The Oasis Tower has been conceived for Dubai’s Zabeel Park by Rahul Surin. Since lack of land is always an issue, the Oasis Tower hopes to combat this by providing space for urban farming. It is believed and hoped that the tower will be able to provide enough food to feed 40,000 people every year.
6. Gesterbine self-sufficient skyscraper
This next concept has been designed keeping in mind Greater Poland which receives very little rain. The Gesterbine skyscraper will use a collection of wind turbines, water and human resources to help power the building. The tower will use wind energy to power homes and offices around the area during the day while the nights will see the wind turbines powering pumps to transport water to the lands from a nearby river.
7. The Food City
The Food City is a green metropolis concept designed for Dubai. GCLA Architects have envisioned using atmospheric water harvesting systems and solar energy to power desalination systems. The sun’s energy will be the key in generating enough power for the metropolis which will have aquatic farms, generation of renewable energy and green walls. To offset explosions from methane collection, the gas will be extracted from sewage tanks on cloudy days.
8. Cidade Suspensa
The Cidade Suspensa concept may seem like something out of a sci-fi flick but it is moving towards reality and is hoped to be completed by 2016, in time for the Olympics. Literally translated into ‘Suspended city’, Cidade Suspensa is the brainchild of Charles Johnson and Coolie Calihan. A huge suspension system will lift the infrastructure off the ground while frameworks at the bottom will be anchored in the ocean. A biomass generator will take care of water recycling, fish farming and waste composting. The interiors of the Cidade Suspensa will house apartments, markets and green spaces.
9. Sustainable ecosystem inspired from dragonflies
This huge structure draws inspiration from the dragonfly’s wing. Proposed to be built in New York, the building is a vertical farm which will be able to accommodate 28 agricultural fields, including dairy production facilities. Aside from this, the architects of Vincent Callebaut have also included space for housing, labs and offices. The structure will harvest solar energy during winters while the vegetation will provide cool air during the summers.
10. Self-powered Eco-Cybernetic City
Designed by Orlando De Urrutia, the Eco-Cybernetic City will make use of nature’s renewable resources to power itself. The two-towered structure will be equipped with aerogenerators that trap air flowing between the towers to generate power. It will also be able to harvest vapor and rainwater. Photovoltaic lattices will trap the sun’s energy and convert it into power while bio-climate panels allow vegetation to grow, purifying the air.
