Copenhagen has begun the implementation of an exceptional and ambitious plan – it aims to achieve the status of a carbon-neutral city by 2025.
On this occasion, we participated in the Land Art Generator (LAGI) initiative, which involved creating a design and building an ecological, artistic urban installation that would produce renewable energy.
Our project – the Tree of Knowledge – created together with Unique Vision Studio, Natalia Jejer, and Omar Khaladoun Gharaibeh, was selected among the top 50 best designs out of more than 300 projects submitted from 55 countries! It was published in the “New Energies” album by Prestel and showcased at an exhibition at the Danish Design Centre, chaired by the European Union’s Climate Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard.
Idea
The proposed project touches on themes from the ‘Garden of Eden’ – a fairy tale by Danish writer HC Andersen. The sculpture producing energy is the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ and the ‘Four Winds of the World’ is a source of renewable energy.
” In the center of the hall grew a large tree, with luxuriantly hanging branches. Golden apples large and small hung like oranges among the leaves. This was the Tree of Knowledge.”
The roots of the sculpture wind through the wild and mystical landscape, evoking the image of a fairy-tale world.
The proposed sculpture and the hilly garden contrast with the industrial surroundings of Refshaleoen. After crossing the threshold of the garden, the visitor is transported from the urban reality of Copenhagen to another world, the world of fairy tales. The tree is a symbol of nature and knowledge and the purpose of this artificial landscape is to promote contemplation of the human impact on nature.
The site is located on the waterfront, opposite the “Little Mermaid” – a symbol of Copenhagen and one of the city’s main tourist attractions. Thus, the legacy of HC Andersen extends to both shores, creating a visual and thematic bridge between the two land masses. The “Tree of Knowledge” becomes a backdrop for tourist photographs and an everyday visual landmark for Copenhageners walking along Kastellet, Langelinie and Esplanade. At 70 metres high, the “Tree” fits like a glowing shadow into the industrial skyline of Refshaleoen. Its organic shape contrasts with the industrial forms of chimneys, turbines and warehouses.
Technology
The project combines two technologies – turbine and piezoelectric elements.
At the top of the tower is a small wind turbine with a capacity of 2.5 KW. The air flow is caused by the difference in air pressure at the ground and at a height of 70 m. The air flows through the roots of the steel structure to the crown, where the turbine is located to generate electricity. Additionally, two huge industrial balloons are suspended from the steel structure. Their surface is covered with PVC stems filled with millions of piezoelectric elements. The air flow and mechanical load caused by the movement of the balloons will stimulate the piezoelectric elements to produce energy. The power generated by the elements will also be used to light the entire structure.
The total energy produced is 468.8 MWh per year, which is enough to power 102 households.
The turbine will produce 3.3 MWh per year.
Piezoelectric elements – 465.5 MWh per year.
Total energy produced: 468.8 MWh per year.
Dimensions and list of basic elements
Tower:
Balloons:
Turbine:
Piezoelectric elements:
3m PVC stem filled with piezoelectric elements with dimensions:
Impact on the environment
The main goal of the project is to create a visually appealing sculpture that generates energy in an environmentally friendly way. The structure combines two methods of energy production making it unique. The first method of energy production will be a wind turbine. Wind turbines are generally considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly sources of energy. This is due to the lack of greenhouse gas emissions during the process of converting mechanical wind energy into electrical energy. The three main environmental concerns regarding wind turbines are noise, visual impact and threat to ecological systems (e.g. impact on birds and bats). The proposed project addresses these three issues. Installing the turbine inside the tower will eliminate the noise level, it will also be hidden so it eliminates the negative visual impact, and it will not have a negative impact on living creatures.
What’s more, piezoelectric elements are also very environmentally friendly devices. They have the ability to withstand bad weather conditions and operate in the temperature range of 0-70 ᵒ C and relative humidity of 90%.
The entire system is expected to contribute to total CO2 emission reductions of around 4.28 tCO2/year (Tower: 1.4 tCO2/year and Piezo: 2.88 tCO2/year), which will over time offset the levels of CO2 emitted during construction.
Tree of Knowledge
Project: BXB Studio, Unique Vision Studio, Natalia Jejer, Omar Khaladoun Gharaibeh
Team: Bogusław Barnaś, Rafał Barnaś, Natalia Jejer, Omar Khaladoun Gharaibeh
Visualizations: Unique Vision Studio
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Date: 2014
Client: Land Art Generator, Society for Cultural Exchange, 4729 Hatfield Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201
