Sun Valleys in 2010 Shanghai World Expo

Source: Inhabitat, Shanghai World Expo


This incredible Sun Valley is one of a six giant funnel-shaped canopies that are currently springing up in Shanghai in preparation for the 2010 World Expo. When they are all completed they won’t just be a pretty sight – the towering LED-studded structures will also collect rain water and act as massive sun collectors that filter daylight to the causeway and levels below.

70 million visitors are expected to attend the upcoming World Expo in Shanghai next May to view the myriad of dazzling, green-themed international pavilions that will be on display. Construction on these eye-catching Sun Valleys is expected to be completed by the end of this year, and the main cone has has already been lit up at night to the bedazzlement of city residents.

The Sun Valleys will serve as hubs for the event and will cover the Expo Boulevard, a multilevel 1 km walkway that is the largest piece of real estate for the festival. Each of the six cone-shaped valleys stands 40 meters tall, and is constructed from steel and plastic. The sun valleys will funnel daylight to the levels below, and will also be used to collect rainwater, which will then be filtered and used throughout the grounds for irrigation purposes. The giant membranes will also shade the walkway below to help moderate the temperature for visitors.

Unique Features:

The Expo Axis is about 1,000 meters long and 110 meters wide with a total construction area of nearly 250,000 square meters. It employs new architecture style to be a semi-open structure, two layers underground and two layers aboveground. The roof design uses giant light cable-membrane structure, like white clouds floating in the blue sky.

In the whole structure, the 6 cone-shaped giant “Sun Valleys” constitute the most striking feature. The “Sun Valleys”, as the name suggests, are where the sunshine is collected. These steel structured “Sun Valleys” will be longitudinally distributed at the entrances and center areas of the Expo Axis.

Ecological Example:

△ Green Space Underground

The unique profiles of “Sun Valleys” help to disperse sunshine and air into the underground, not only improving air quality, but also saving energy consumed by the artificial lighting. During the Expo, the “Sun Valleys” will also be decorated with colorful plants. Carefully arranged, it will become an attractive ”underground garden” where visitors are unwilling to leave.

△ Automatic Regulation of Indoor Temperature

The employment of eco-technologies will achieve comfortable and pleasant interior environment for the Expo Axis. Under the giant public walkways lie 700-kilometer long pipelines for the ground source heat pump system achieving the role of heating and cooling effect with natural resources. In addition, as the Expo Axis leads to the Huangpu River, the river water can be introduced to regulate indoor temperature as the cooling and heating source.

△ Self-cleaning with Rainwater

Like the concept of rainwater collection in other pavilions, every “Sun Valley” is covered with a wide mouth vase-shaped circular glass curtain, which not only offers a better see-through effect, but more importantly collects rainwater as well. Substantial rainwater is stored in the basement. The collected rainwater will go through a series of filtration sections and become applicable for serving the “Sun Valley” areas, and perimeter pavilions for irrigation and flushing purposes.

Envision Beijing’s Sustainable City Center

Keywords: urban planning
Source: inhabitat

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) was recently awarded the contract to create a stunning new Central Business District in Beijing. The project will integrate into the existing downtown urban district and will improve transportation infrastructure while introducing energy-efficient buildings green public space. The plan also provides a framework for new sustainable growth that would result in eliminating 215,000 tons of CO2 per year, which is the equivalent of planting 14 million adult trees.

SOM is well known for its architecture and urban design projects, and is also responsible for San Francisco’s Treasure Island Redevelopment Plan as well as the plan for Jumiera Gardens in Dubai. Their plan for Beijing’s new CBD calls for the creation of three new areas – the Cultural, Chaoyang, and the Gateway Districts, which will be anchored around new parks and green boulevards. The CBD will comprise a network of smaller, more walkable city blocks to encourage pedestrian travel and time spent in the expansive downtown parks system. Additionally, all of the streets will be built to accommodate safe bicycle travel.

A new streetcar system has been proposed to link all of the new areas with existing districts and popular destinations, providing commuters with easy access to high speed rail service. Updated transportation infrastructure will also include express commuter rail service between the Beijing Capital International Airport, the CBD, and high speed rail service to Beijing South Station.

SOM’s redevelopment plan also defines strategies for growth and expansion. They have created a framework for new infrastructure and high performance buildings that will enable the city to grow in a more sustainable manner. If implemented, the plan could reduce energy consumption within the district by 50%, reduce water consumption by 48%, reduce landfill waste by 80%, and result in a 50% reduction in carbon emissions.

SOM’s exciting new plan combines many of the necessary elements of a sustainable city – transportation, open space, pedestrian and bike friendly streets, and energy-efficient buildings. The Beijing CBD Administration Committee has stated that the plan would “enable China’s capital city to grow as a global center for commerce, yet be a green and ecological setting for healthy life.”