ENERGY TOWER Competition, EXPO 2015, MILAN
Tower building that, in addition to hosting office spaces and dining activities, has as its primary function the production of renewable energy. The energy is mainly generated through the activation of photovoltaic elements and small wind turbines. The photovoltaic component of energy production is dominant; for this reason, the building’s morphology and orientation are dictated by the pursuit of maximum exposure to the sun and light, allowing the largest possible surface area for panels.
From an architectural point of view, there was a strong demand for a low-density structure, focused on isolated, as slender as possible elements, without any structural prominence. Complementary to its energy function, the building also serves to host large office spaces and reception and recreational areas, which are located on the upper floors. The concept of a "machine" expressed by the overall design was also applied to the solutions adopted for these functions. It was decided to structure the entire system in such a way that it could accommodate "modules" of habitable spaces, with their insertion into the structural and distribution scheme being identical, regardless of the number and vertical arrangement of the modules.
The structure is based on a standard section in the shape of an octagon, with a central reinforced concrete core that has a perfectly square layout, defined by the intersection of lines connecting the ends of the opposite sides of the octagon; on the north side of the octagon, there is a second core with a rectangular layout. At the vertices of the octagon, vertical columns are placed; these points are connected to the central square core by beams extending from its sides. Outside the columns, Y-shaped elements extend to support the plates for the photovoltaic panels. At the ends of the Y-shaped elements, a second series of vertical elements is arranged, which works in tension, supporting the wind turbines and serving to stiffen the structure and support the plates.
