Amber & Pearl - LAGI 2014 - Published Competition Entry
LUCIDITY
We envisage a joyful colourful light filled destination, which is arrived at by bicycle, water taxi or other small boats.
There are six tall bright glass towers, which will provide a visual focus and entice visitors to LUCIDITY.
They will harvest solar and wind energy. The transmitted colour will provide an intriguing and alluring pattern on the ground,
around and within each tower and the covered walkway. Each 40 metre tall tower supports a 20 metre diameter rotor.
The towers are staggered in accordance with computational fluid design analysis to best utilize the available wind.
An important element in the technology is the use of fuel cells, which act as batteries and even out the power generated.
Fuel cells are a Welsh invention (William Robert Grove 1842), which are on the cusp of a global impact to deliver clean energy
in applications ranging from cars to buildings on an industrial scale. Fuel cells can by-pass the need for a clumsy grid and bring
much-needed electricity to the developing world, in much the same way that mobile phones have by-passed landlines.
Fuel cells can release the full potential of renewables and can be deployed at all scales in all places: urban or rural;
developed or developing world. This universal application is one of their great strengths in addressing climate change and
also air quality. Hydrogen storage at the site will allow the fueling of boats and vehicles, including the water taxi.
The power rating of each of the 6 turbines will be 100kW, giving an estimated total output of 1,500,000 kWh of electrical
energy per year.The plan also allows for 50% of the south facing glass cladding of the wind turbines, and also the glass
roof area of the walkway to the water taxi, plus passenger shelter, to incorporate perovskites.
This will mean a total of about 1000 square metres of electricity producing PV cells giving an annual output of about 60,000 kWh.
Some of the total output of electricity from the wind turbines and PV cells can be used to electrolyse water, producing hydrogen.
This can be used to generate electricity (and heat) in fuel cells to partially meet consumer need for electricity during periods of low
wind. The hydrogen can also be used as a vehicle fuel, e.g. for the water taxi and, increasingly in future, buses, trucks and cars.
A covered glass walkway creates a route to the water taxi and a colourful celebratory arrival point for visiting the site and its many
pathways. The towers and supports for the structures will be marine grade stainless steel. The foundations will be low environmental
impact concrete. Perovskite solar cells are embedded into the toughened and laminated glass skins of the towers and walkways.
Additional colour is provided by silk screen printed enamel frit. The environments within and around the walkways and towers will be
luminous glowing fields of colour. The changing patterns of light throughout the days and seasons
will allow constantly evolving experiences for visitors to the site.
At the base of every tower there are especially designed seating places for experiencing soundscapes and music
created and recorded within Copenhagen by artists and composers.
Environmental Assessment - Biodiversity Value and Impact
The site contains no habitats or species that are of national or European biodiversity importance.
The site is post- industrial containing contaminated land, it has developed a grassland habitat which is of local bio-diversity
interest, supporting breeding birds (such as skylark), reptiles and invertebrates that favor open mosaic habitats..
The footprint of the turbines and covered walkways is 1,050 square metres. Loss of habitat will be negligible and compensated for
by biodiversity enhancements.The tendency of wind turbines near coasts to impact migratory birds is mitigated by the industrial setting
and surrounding buildings. Once construction is completed the biodiversity of the site will be enhanced by: planting shrubs to provide
roosting cover for migratory birds, creating reptile hibernation sites (piles of stones), scrapes/shallow ponds for birds and amphibians.
Biodiversity Conclusion: Net gain to biodiversity
Construction
It is estimated that the construction phase will take 6 months (all components fabricated off site)
Temporary disturbance to nesting birds during construction will be short term. On completion the site will have an enhanced biodiversity.
Construction will take place between August and March to avoid disturbance to breeding birds.
AMBER + PEARL
are Amber Hiscott and David Pearl