Energy efficient building for London
The Strata Tower, a new skyscraper built in London will have wind turbines built into it’s structure, a world first and will generate 8% of the building’s electricity needs. The 42 storey building is being completed next to the Elephant and Castle roundabout and will feature three wind turbines which will generate electricity for the complex which also features a smaller ‘Pavilion’ building.
Artist’s impression of how the Strata Tower will look once completed
The building, nick-named ‘the Razor’ marks an innovation for the building sector and offers 408 apartments which range from £230,000 to £2.5m. Other design features which will maximise the efficiency of the building include a natural ventilation system, making air-conditioning unnecessary as well as a combined heat and power plant.
Justin Black, director for Brookfield, the developer, said the decision to choose wind was a “conscious decision to experiment”. “The brief we gave to Hamilton’s Architects was we wanted a statement, we wanted to create benchmarks for sustainability and urban living. We wanted something bold, we wanted remarkable. It’s what I term Marmite architecture – you either love it or you hate it, there’s no in between,” Black said.
The wind turbines on the Strata Tower will have five blades instead of the conventional three, as this will help to reduce noise and four large anti-vibration dampeners will reduce the physical impact of the rotating blades on the building.
