Winner of an international design competition for the Wuhan New Energy Center in Wuhan, China, the “Wuhan Energy Flower” by Grontmij and Soeters Van Eldonk Architects is essentially a research institute in the field of new energy sources and sustainability. Inspired by the Calla lily, the zero energy building is gonna be the first to receive the BREEM outstanding accreditation in the world. Powered by solar and wind energy, the flower-shaped building is 140m tall and is surrounded by a number of laboratories resembling the leaves.
Harnessing natural resources, the sustainable building collects rainwater in the bowl to fulfill its water requirements, and the solar panels enclosing the roof produces renewable electricity to fulfill the energy needs of the structure. Featuring pistil made in vertical axis wind turbines to collect renewable energy, the building integrates a solar chimney in the middle to maximize natural ventilation, while the rim of the bowl works as sunroof to heat and cool the building.
