ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
rising temperatures , the country ’ s leaders are looking for solutions that take the form of radical largescale steps – steps that should not only preserve natural habitats but also steer China ’ s technological and economic efforts in a sustainable direction .
Before its transformation into the Expo Cultural Park , the inner-city recreational area was occupied by a coal-fired power plant and a steelworks . It was then remodeled as the location for Expo 2010 . As part of the project for the new Greenhouse Garden , the steel structure of a former industrial hall was used as a geometrical superstructure that was then enhanced by organically shaped pavilions .
The twin dualities of industry and nature and tradition and future mark the historical turning point at which Shanghai now finds itself . The municipal administration ’ s decision to refunction such a huge , centrally-located piece of land as a high-quality leisure area offers clear evidence of the overall trend towards the more intense planting of the core urban zones of Shanghai , one of the largest cities in the world with a subtropical climate .
As greenhouses generally consume large amounts of energy , one particular aim of this project was to create a zero-energy building . This was achieved by the use of single glazing – a choice based on simulative calculations that showed that double glazing would be less energy efficient due to the fact that the reduction in heat loss would be more than canceled out by the impact of the artificial lighting required by the plants .
Opening windows in the perforated roof can be adjusted to permit the natural ventilation and passive cooling that creates the optimal climate for the specific plants .
A pool adjacent to the pavilions not only provides cooling but also supplies energy to the greenhouse from PV panels that are located just below its surface .
The first pavilion recreates the radical aridity of the desert , with a sandy and rocky landscape that embodies the home of plants that can withstand drought yet are threatened by extinction in every continent . In contrast , the second pavilion contains the tropical vegetation of the rainforest , while the vertical flower gardens of the final pavilion offer space for traveling exhibitions .
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