Inside A Sustainable Power Plant With A Ski Slope On Its Roof | Unique Spaces | Architectural Digest

Summary

This video highlights the innovative design of Copenhill, a sustainable waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen. Architect Jakob Lange and CEO Jacob Simonsen share insights on how the plant, which generates energy from burning waste, has been transformed into a multi-functional space with a park, ski slope, and other recreational features. The design incorporates sustainability, using recycled materials and minimizing CO2 emissions. The project showcases how future buildings can balance environmental impact with human experience, promoting hedonistic sustainability while addressing climate change and waste management.

Takeaways

• 😀 The building industry contributes to one-third of all CO2 emissions, and there is a need to reduce this impact through sustainable practices.
• 😀 Sustainable design is crucial for creating buildings that are energy-efficient, adapting to different climates, and reducing overheating or the need for heating.
• 😀 Jakob Lange, architect at BIG, emphasizes the importance of designing buildings with a strong focus on sustainability to positively impact cities and communities.
• 😀 Copenhill in Copenhagen features a unique roof design with a park and ski slope, showcasing how a waste-to-energy plant can integrate green spaces.
• 😀 Copenhill's roof is strengthened to support a variety of plant species, fostering biodiversity, with trees and plants growing on the surface, maintained by both landscape architects and natural elements like birds.
• 😀 The roof of Copenhill also includes a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, fitness areas, and the tallest artificial climbing wall in the world.
• 😀 Denmark's strong seasons influenced the design of the green spaces at Copenhill, ensuring year-round beauty with diverse plant species thriving through different weather conditions.
• 😀 The artificial ski slope at Copenhill was made possible through collaboration with Neveplast, using materials that simulate snow conditions for skiing without real snow.
• 😀 Copenhill's waste-to-energy plant processes 540,000-560,000 tons of waste annually, providing electricity and district heating for 90,000 households in Copenhagen.
• 😀 Copenhill features carbon capture technology to reduce CO2 emissions, further contributing to the mitigation of climate change by ensuring that no CO2 is released into the atmosphere.
• 😀 BIG's architectural firm aims to inspire the creation of more sustainable power plants worldwide, utilizing recycled materials, optimizing energy efficiency, and reducing CO2 emissions throughout the building’s lifecycle.

Q & A

What is one of the major challenges in the building industry, according to Jakob Lange?

The building industry accounts for one-third of all CO2 emissions, and reducing that is one of the major challenges.

How does sustainability relate to building design in the context of the video?

Sustainability in building design involves using sustainable materials and creating buildings that minimize environmental impact, such as reducing energy consumption and maintaining comfort without excessive heating or cooling.

What is the unique feature of Copenhill, designed by BIG?

Copenhill has a ski slope on the roof of a waste-to-energy plant, making it a blend of energy production and recreational space.

Why is it significant that Copenhill is a waste-to-energy plant?

Copenhill is a waste-to-energy plant that converts waste into clean energy, reducing CO2 emissions and producing electricity and district heating for about 90,000 households.

What is the material used for the ski slope at Copenhill, and why was it chosen?

The ski slope is made of an artificial material called Neveplast, which was chosen for its ability to mimic snow and provide a surface that allows skiers to practice on dry land.

What is the environmental impact of Copenhill's waste-to-energy process?

The waste-to-energy process at Copenhill is highly advanced, emitting only water vapor and CO2, with efforts in place to capture CO2 to mitigate environmental impact.

What role does the landscape play in the design of Copenhill's rooftop park?

The landscape on the rooftop of Copenhill includes a variety of tree species and diverse greenery, ensuring biodiversity and providing both aesthetic and environmental benefits, such as improving air quality and fostering wildlife.

How has the Copenhill rooftop park evolved over the years?

The rooftop park has grown in biodiversity, doubling the number of tree species initially planted due to the natural spreading of seeds by birds. It has also become a habitat for wildlife like foxes.

What is the concept of 'hedonistic sustainability' as applied at BIG?

'Hedonistic sustainability' refers to the idea that buildings can be both environmentally beneficial and enhance the well-being of the people using them, by incorporating sustainable materials and techniques that create a positive experience.

What future changes does Jakob Lange hope to see in architecture and waste management?

Jakob Lange hopes to inspire more waste-to-energy plants like Copenhill around the world and emphasizes the need for reusing materials and designing buildings that emit very little CO2 to help address the climate crisis.