2009 Galleries
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Galleries // 2009 Spark:Pro // Turbinomics
Turbinomics
Winner - Silver
Competition: Spark:Pro
Designer: Rand Elliot & Design Team
Design Type: Architecture, Spaces
Company / Organization / School: Elliot & Associates Architects
The architecture is shaped by the forces of wind. It is known that wind turbulence occurs around high-rise structures. We have created a structure that allows the wind forces to drive circular belt turbines incorporated into the building skin. These 4’ tall carbon-fiber-finned belt turbines placed horizontally between each floor generate power for the structure. The belt turbines are independent at each floor and can be activated by wind from any direction. Flush fin doors can be closed over sections of the fins to ensure maximum benefit from the directional wind force. This design creates architecture that “works” rather than being static and energy-absorbing/consuming. Elliott’s design is a shapely skyscraper that incorporates vertical axis turbines in the interstitial space between floors. The turbines are used to generate power for the building. Environmentally friendly thin film solar coatings with low-E glass windows would provide additional energy conservation.
