Hailed as a technological urban furniture, a self-sufficient climatic comfort generator and what not, the Air Tree – proposed for the Shanghai Expo – created by Ecosistema Urbano Arquitectos for the Madrid Pavilion is an experimental prototype that makes use of a big fan of 7.3 m diameter for ensuring sufficient ventilation.
Different technical layers (opaque, translucent, transparent, bright, interactive, open, etc.) of Air Tree offer infinite scenarios that adapt to the needs of visiting citizens. You will see its novel texture flaunting the climatic conditions of Shanghai in real time through sensors. The transforming appearance (on a daily or monthly basis) optimizes physical configuration and energy consumption to cause climatic comfort for the citizens.
A tensegrity structure in the center of the space allows a huge fan to lie suspended at a height of 11.5m. Depending on the climatic conditions, the fan’s exact position and speed is managed through a telescopic system that capably lowers it several meters for visitors’ comfort.
