Imagine a sustainable building inspired by flowers and mathematics that manages to look terrific and also be energy efficient. The stunning building, designed by Ian Simpson Architects, is a conference and seed production complex for the National Wildflower Centre in Liverpool, England.
Highlighting the complex relationship between nature, mathematics and physics, the inventive design uses the Fibonacci Sequence, one of the most recognizable mathematical theorems related to nature, to generate the layout and form of the Wildflower Centre.
Inspired by a wildflower head, the main Conference and Educational Space will sit alongside the established wildflower beds as a distinctive new element. A series of ‘petals’ are arranged around the external surface of the flexible space, reflecting focused points of light onto the ceiling of the space.
Aside from the stunning visual innovations, the proposal incorporates sustainable construction and design, rammed earth construction, low-tech and passive shading and a ventilation design system created to minimize energy demand.
The designers planned for possible Zero Carbon status for the building by reusing the existing PV installation, installing a 100 kW biomass boiler for heat and energy generation, in addition to a 50 kW wind turbine for cost-efficient electricity generation and implement of energy monitoring over 1-2 years to ensure optimization of systems and building controls.
Ian Simpson Architects won the RIBA Competition to design the educational, conference and seed production complex at the National Wildflower Centre in Liverpool ahead of 144 international entries.
Visit: http://www.iansimpsonarchitects.com/
Via: Inhabitat
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