A HOUSE AND A TREE FOR MADRID - Social Housing Project

For more than a decade, the Madrid government has had a social housing project which has been one of the largest in Europe, with wide use of renewable energy, new environment-friendly materials, advanced ecological technologies and effective architectural processes, making the city a dynamic and innovative housing test case.

The “Bamboo House” is a five-story residence in the south of Madrid, which has won the RIBA Award, the most prestigious architectural award. The ”Bamboo House” is covered with bamboo, giving it an original landscape image, and providing protection against the burning rays of the summer sun and the rain and snow of the frigid winter.

The ”Air Tree” is part of the Eco Boulevard in Madrid and is one of the three tree-styled exhibition halls, all of which are constructed with recyclable materials. Each “tree” is topped with several units of solar panels that generate 12,230 kilowatts of power each year. The air conditioning system used in the “Air Tree” works through networks of water spray working in conjunction with the installation of various species of climbing plants, honeysuckle and ivy. In addition, this process helps to remove CO2 and purify the air.

Madrid’s “Bamboo House” and the “Air Tree” will be replicated in the Expo site in Shanghai to showcase the city’s advantage in social housing, sustainable development and use of renewable energy.

BAMBOO HOUSE

The “Bamboo House” in Shanghai will be a rectangular building with an area of 2,923 square meters. It will also be covered with bamboo to filter sunshine and fully ventilate the building in order to sustain and control the climate.

The “Bamboo House” will contain various types of houses to let every visitor at the exhibition feel at home. The bamboo openings covering each house will be set in different sequences and in such ways as to create a constantly changing perspective of the building, imposing a spectacular visual effect of light and shadow.

The “Bamboo House” is both an exhibit and an exhibition hall. The extensive exhibition area will illustrate and promote Madrid’s practice and experience in social housing via multimedia and three dimensional models to showcase the open and dynamic Mediterranean city. The “Bamboo House” also includes a business centre, a restaurant, and a store, which is intended to convey the vivid experience of Madrid and its highly evolved culture.

AIR TREE

The “Air Tree” is a decagonal steel building in close proximity to the “Bamboo House”. It will be topped with solar panels to provide sufficient energy for self-sustainabilitity. Equipped with self-opening window shades and a fan with a diameter of 7 meters, it will create a comfortable climate in terms of temperature and shade for its visitors who can take a rest or probe Madrid under this desirable condition.

The decagonal shape of the “Air Tree” is covered by screens where images of Madrid and Shanghai will be projected, with a view which brings two cities and their cultures closer together.