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Rotating Skyscraper Dynamic Architecture Has Wind Turbine Power
A series of rotating skyscrapers based on Dynamic Architecture will be built around the world, starting in Dubai, U.A.E. The Dynamic Architecture concept was introduced by Florentine architect David Fisher.
(Rotating turbines provide clean power to rotating towers)
Rotating skyscrapers get their power from wind turbines that are placed between floors and which rotate freely with the wind. (The above illustration shows the only part of the occupied floors to emphasize the turbines.) Additional power is provided from solar cells on the tops of the individual floors.
Each individual floor is able to rotate slowly, based on commands issued by the owners of condos or apartments on that floor. I assume that the building owners can also take control, for coordinated movements of the floors. Note that the rotation of the floors is slow and uses power - the rotation of the floors does not produce power.
(Ease of construction with pre-fab components)
The building is constructed around a central core; each floor is composed of individual pie-like sections that are pre-built and hoisted up the central core. The builder claims that rotating skyscrapers can be constructed by just ninety people on the construction site; compare this to the typical skyscraper construction site, which may have up to 2,000 workers at a time.
Construction dates for the first building have not yet been announced, but the first one will be built in Dubai. Pre-fabricated units for the tower will be produced in a facility set up in Jebel Ali (a port 35 kilometers southwest of Dubai). The same units will then be shipped to eleven other major cities, including Moscow, Milan, New York and Tokyo, where similar towers will rise.
Science fiction writers have also made some use of this idea. In his eccentric 1972 novel The Godmakers, Frank Herbert writes about a rotating house:
"Lewis was just telling me how our place is very much like his home on Chargon," Polly said."Old-fashioned, but we like it that way," Bullone said. "I don't like the modern trend in architecture. Too mechanical. Give me an old-fashioned tetragon on a central pivot every time."
(Read more about the rotating house)
For an overview of the rotating skyscraper and a quick look at the dynamic architecture that underlies it, take a look at this video.
(Rotating Skyscraper built with Dynamic Architecture)
Be sure to take a look at another green Dubai building, one that was inspired by an ancient Middle Eastern design - Burj al-Taqa Dubai Energy Tower - High Tech Badgir.
Read this nicely detailed article on rotating skyscrapers and visit the Dynamic Architecture website; story via Futurismic.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 5/18/2007)
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