Our
project seeks to bring to the forefront the incredible potential for natural
resources to produce energy and fuel through processes that minimize their
impact on the environment.   Our
intervention aims to generate a spatially and chromatically variegated
landscape that endeavors to engage, protect, and even restore the natural
biodiversity of native plants and animals.
The proposal is organized as layered fields of photoresponsive energy
generation systems that are also iridescent, phosphorescent surfaces
intersected by a system of viewing platforms.

Our
strategy employs local, renewable materials and resources--native algae and
vegetation, recycled glass and low-tech methods of construction--to reshape the
existing site into a colorful textured landscape. Modular solar collectors with parabolic
trough mirrors and lightweight composite structures are made of a high quantity
of recycled content.   The units are
designed and configured in accordance with leading examples of solar electric
generation systems that successfully operate american desert environments. The components are then layered with
iridescent coatings that reflect different fragments of the visible light
spectrum. Observation towers constructed of the same material are fitted with
convex mirrored reflectors to present views of the landscape on the ground and
shaded viewing platforms to enable visitors to birdwatch and to observe the
iridescent landscape and surrounding cityscape from an elevated vantage point.
ALGAE
POND AND MOGUL FIELD
Algae
Farm: A system of open saltwater ponds
supports the growth of algae for biofuel production. Oils are extracted from the algae and
converted to biofuel via photosynthesis, with a per-acre optimal yield of up to
10,000 gallons of oil per acre. The carbohydrate
content in algae can be fermented into bioethanol and biobutanol. The north edges of the ponds are formed by
retaining walls with niches for bird nests, while the south edges slope up to
grade. Sandbag berms subdivide the ponds
into smaller populations of algae to allow for greater control, better
maintenance, and more variety of algae species to capitalize on the varied
visual effects they produce in response to light. The open algae pond system is
also intended as a means to attract bird species to support the goal of
attracting and engaging the adjacent wildlife sanctuary.
Mogul
Field: The Power Station, Algae
Processing Center and Visitors Center are embedded in the mogul berms toward
the south that also conceal traffic and industrial park from view. The moguls begin at the southern edge of the
site and gradually invert to become ponds as the pattern moves north. The shoreline is elongated and wrapped into
the interior of the site to interlock the water and land together.
Chromatic
Phosphorescent Waterscape: Different species of algae produce different
spectacular colors, and some species have phosphorescent properties that allow
them to emit light at night. Water jets
would be embedded to spray the pond surface to produce phosphorescent effects
after dark.
IRIDESCENT
REFLECTOR FIELD
Solar
Energy Collection System: Our proposed
collection system is derived from solar energy generating systems (SEGS), a
series of parabolic trough power plants in the Mojave desert at Kramer
Junction, California, where solar collectors focus sun rays on an oil-filled
heat transfer tube network that transports the energy to an onsite power
conversion subsystem. The one we are
using as a precedent is about 230,000 square meters and produces about 150 megawatts
of electricity at optimum operating conditions.
Iridescent
Field: The reflectors are configured as
parabolic sections that are paired and broken at one-third their length into
two sections.   The two sections vary
height and angle to respond to requirements for views and shading, but
primarily maintain the optimal 20 degree angle for solar collection. The
reflector surface is coated with thermochromic microcapsules derived from Hypercolor
technology that change color depending on temperature to broadcast “hot spots”
of energy collection when viewed from above, while phosphorescent paint will
allow the surface to emit a glow at night.
The reflector structure is coated with Chromaflair that changes color as
one moves along it. Chromaflair is comprised of flakes applied in layers of
aluminum and chromium that act like a prism, interfering with the refraction of
light to produce color effects. The reflector structure is to be constructed as
a carbon fiber composite or alternatively steel or aluminum. The joint between
the larger and smaller reflector supports has an oval bolt hole that creates a
slip joint, allowing each component to translate and rotate in a limited range
of motion.
Bird
Hide: The reflector structures are
distributed along a series of control lines that follow paths through the
site. The components translate and
rotate to frame views of the city and the adjacent sanctuary. They also generate a bird hide and blind
system for wildlife observation that obscures observers from detection.
VIEWING
PLATFORMS
The
viewing platforms are tiered fabric-covered raked platforms that afford the
visitor the ability to see the polychromatic and phosphorescent effects of the
solar field and algae ponds and the spectacular cityscape beyond. The platforms are supported by a network of
crossing angled carbon fiber members and are reachable by a winding stair. The structure is clad with angled parabolic
mirrored panels with a convex orientation that reflect the surrounding
landscape down to visitors on the ground. The panels are attached at two points
so they have the ability to pivot in response to wind. They are perforated as they reach the top of
the structure and become guardrails for the platforms.
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
The
existing site is located at the end of Dubai Creek and adjacent to a bird
sanctuary. Our strategy is to treat the
ground as a surface for energy production that is also an attractor for the
local bird populations, which include flamingos, egrets, gulls, ospreys and other
water fowl. A second layer comprised of
a system of solar reflector structures collects solar radiation for conversion
to electricity, while a third layer is a series of observation towers that
afford spectacular views of the installation and the surrounding landscape.
The
environment for the proposed algae farm is ideal. Algae is naturally occurring in the climate
of Dubai and is typically seen as harmful to fish and plants, although it is a
staple of the flamingo’s diet. The algae
ponds will be controlled and separated from the Dubai Creek by a series of
concrete retaining walls and recycled-glass-filled-sandbag berms that will
encourage the growth of native vegetation.
This constructed groundscape should provide an appealing source of food
that encourages the local waterfowl to mate and nest. Bird hides lining the northern edges of the
ponds and dispersed viewing platforms are designed to conceal watching tourists
from the view of the birds.
The
climate of Dubai is humid subtropical, with extremely hot, windy and dry
summers of an average high around 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The high levels of insolation in this region
and the site’s proximity to major urban areas make this a prime location for
solar energy harvesting. The reflector
system we are proposing was developed for a very similar climate and has proven
to be a highly efficient technology with a capacity factor of 21% with minimal
impact on the site, producing virtually no emissions, and consuming no fuel
other than sunlight.