Solar Facade
Abu Dhabi
Building architect: Foster and Partners, London.
Environmental consultants: Battle McArthy, London
2005

This competition entry explored the possibilities of generating energy from the sun using photo-voltaic cells, while combining traditional shading and cooling strategies with high-rise residential accomodation.

The architects proposed three linked towers with large, high specification apartments that each included large external spaces shielded from the direct sun by movable glazed walls that incorporated laminated photo-voltaic cells. Because of the very high levels of sunlight in the middle-east acceptable levels of light are easily achievable just using the light that filters through small gaps between cells, in a process analogous to the use of lattice timber screens in the traditional architecture of the region. Large amounts of power were also to be produced by the cells all over the south west facade of the building which was to be fed back into the building's lighting and cooling systems, hopefully providing an indication of a way forward after the oil-era.

Where the open spaces were to face one another they were provided with stainless steel mesh screens with water running down them. This was to serve to cool and moisten the air on the balcony and also prevent overlooking from one balcony to another while providing a delicate play of light and shadow.