GIANT SOLAR POWER FLOWER: London Urban Oasis

Visitors to the recent Chelsea Flower Show in London were no doubt pleasantly surprised to stumble across the London Urban Oasis, a solar-powered urban art installation showcasing an array of clean energy and other green innovations in a large-scale artistic form. The 10-meter tall glass and steel structure, designed by Laurie Chetwood, can only be described as a marvel of sculpture, technology and engineering, displaying a veritable cornucopia of green and environmental technologies, from solar and wind power to rain catchment systems.

Laurie Chetwood, London Oasis, Solar power sculpture, wind power sculpture, Chelsea Flower show, floral sculpture, environmental technologies

During the day the flower opens and closes to reveal functioning photovoltaic cells in its “branches.” The central trunk of the oasis provides for a thermal chimney, which powers the wind turbine inside to generate even more energy and cool the area near the installation. In order to store the power obtained from the sun and the wind, it uses a fuel cell system, the first one used on an installation of this type. As if that wasn’t enough, it also catches rainwater to cool people and provide irrigation water.

+ Chetwood’s London Oasis

+ London Oasis by Arup Lighting

+ Flower Powered @ The Guardian

6 Responses to “GIANT SOLAR POWER FLOWER: London Urban Oasis”

Andy Says:

June 16th, 2007 at 6:24 pm

Looks really nice.

London has a lot of nice things.

meef Says:

June 17th, 2007 at 3:54 am

it’s great
this is what england should do 4 clean energy

mike Says:

June 17th, 2007 at 6:49 am

it looks more like a solar powered sky diver deterrent than a flower. Are parachutists a big problem in london?

collyn Says:

June 17th, 2007 at 6:56 am

I may be alone on this one, but Chetwoods just never do much that is particularly original. Their work seems to copy itself, year on year. The general theme being insects and caterpillars. Unfortunately this is a common problem for most small-mid sized practices. They find a style they really like, and just stay there. London does indeed have many interesting things, but let’s be honest with ourselves. They are interesting only if you’ve never seen any of their other work…

karl Says:

June 17th, 2007 at 2:22 pm

i agree that its nice…but is it useful also? …

solaesthetic Says:

October 16th, 2008 at 8:33 am

I think this is pretty great.
It is intentionally playful and gives an idea that following the renewable energy necessities needn’t mean given up on creativity.
But then I am bound to say that this is what I do http://www.solaesthetic.co.uk

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