With the design for the "Energy Tower / Burj Al-Taqa", the German architectural firm Gerber Architekten international GmbH in cooperation with the environmental engineers DS-Plan lately presented plans for a revolutionary ecological high-rise building especially designed to meet the particular demands of the Middle East. The Energy Tower is operated with zero primary energy and emits zero CO2. It thus actively contributes to stop the global climate change.

The Energy Tower transfers the traditional techniques of natural ventilation as used in the historic wind towers of the Middle East into cutting-edge building technology. The Energy Tower is highly energy efficient and 100% energy self-sufficient. It produces itself 100% of its own energy demand through renewable resources. The Energy Tower is thus defining a new generation of sustainable high-rise buildings.

The Energy Tower / Burj Al-Taqa was presented to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Bahrain and to the Arriyadh Development Authority in Riyadh in March 2007 as well as to the Dubai Municipality in September 2006. Project developers in all three locations are now preparing the realization of the project.

Transforming traditional architecture
The highly innovative building concept of the Energy Tower is based on the analysis of the so-called wind towers as part of the traditional Arabian architecture. In a region with temperatures reaching 50°C, wind towers provide an entirely ecological ventilation by using the energy of the wind only. The wind towers are transforming the hot wind into a cooling breeze inside the houses and thus maximise indoor comfort. The Energy Tower transfers these principles into the modern structure of a 60-story high-rise building by using the energy of the wind for the ventilation of the entire building. Thus any mechanical ventilation system becomes obsolete. By these and further means, energy consumption is reduced down to 40% of a common high rise.

100% self-sufficient
The Energy Tower produces 100% of its own energy demand by itself and only by the power of the sun, the wind and the earth resp. the sea. Hydrogen and hot water tanks store the surplus energy.

Wind turbine crowning the building
The top of the building is crowned by a wind turbine generating ecological wind power. The patented design (patent No.4-06-05-6331) is based on the Darrieus type, a vertically mounted turbine. Its outstanding, flame-like shape turns into a symbol of sustainability and the respectful use of natural resources.

Rotating Solar Shield
A newly developed sun protection device - the Solar Shield - rotates around the building while tracking the sun. It prevents the interior of the building from being heated up by the sun. Semi-transparent photovoltaics mounted to the Solar Shield produce solar power. Additional photovoltaics to cover the building's power demand are installed on the roof of the Beach Mall at the foot of the building.

Hanging Gardens
5 perimeter atria and one central atrium - all going up the entire height of the building - serve to transport chilled fresh air vertically and horizontally in the building. Hanging Gardens are installed in the perimeter atria to keep the air clean and rich of oxygen. These atria turn space that would normally be blocked by air ducts and shafts into exciting architectural space.

Wind driven ventilation / Multifunctional double-layered façade
The entire ventilation of the building is wind driven. A double-layered façade envelops the entire tower. It serves to evacuate the exhaust air of the building. Using the pressure differences that occur permanently through wind and thermal uplift it is powered entirely by natural forces.
Additionally the double-layered façade is housing in its gap the Solar Shield protecting it from being damaged through external influences. Newest vacuum glazing technology guarantees optimal thermal insulation and maximum daylighting at the same time.

Solar Cooling
Instead of using energy-intensive concepts of cooling, the supply air for the entire building is naturally pre-cooled through air channels buried in the ground or in the sea. Solar cooling continues to cool the supply air further down to 18°C. Solar cooling uses the energy of water heated up by the sun to turn it into cooling energy. Additional cooling is provided by an activated ceiling slab system. Chilled water is ducted through a dense mesh of tubes buried within the concrete slab, transforming the ceiling into a cold radiator.

Concept
All technical elements serve a significant architecture which meets highest demands in space and comfort. The Energy Tower combines office, hotel and residential spaces and was designed by Gerber Architekten international GmbH in cooperation with the environmental engineers of DS-Plan/Stuttgart (Germany), the structural engineers Bollinger + Grohmann Ingenieure/Frankfurt a. M. (Germany) and the fire engineers of Buro Happold/Leeds (UK).