Comments on: ‘Air Tree’ Structures in Madrid produce Oxygen and Energy

By: liebana

liebana — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:31:37 +0000

Madrid has truly come to represent the most dynamic and progressive stage for architecture in Europe.

La Cuidad de Justicia,T4 Barajas,El Nuevo Prado,the Reina Sofia amplification(Jean Nouvel),Rio Madrid(M-30),Cuarto Torres,new Headquarters Telefonica,Repsol,Banco Santander and Europe’s most fabulous metro!

By: just a moron

just a moron — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:29:45 +0000

I might be spouting hot air, but don\’t trees and plants depend on the earth to cool their roots and provide water for survival? Weekend gardening has shown that pots hanging in the air are much less able to help with temperature controls for the plants they hold than mother earth. My vision of this construction is that it unfortunately wastes more space than simply establishing a network of panels on rooftops to harness solar energy and probably increases the amount of residual concrete in a given area. City planners like to think outside the box, but throwing the roots out with the bath water could be failing to realize how to establish real and safe parks that people would want to utilize throughout their lives rather than stare at once and curse later.

By: IgnorAmos

IgnorAmos — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:28:13 +0000

How cool to now be putting even the trees in cages – It looks like tree jail – if this idea is so revolutionary WHY DO WE KEEP CUTTING FOREST why not simply cage and harness THAT growth – much better than the miniscule amount of jump you will get from a wee caged sapling in a pot.
People – scare me. You are all – sheep. This is not smart – this is not ugly – this is outright stupid.

Why don’t they do it over/in a park? Why the need for concrete?
Why do they claim this; while continuing to clear cut forest?
Why do they claim this; while allowing farm land to be urbanized?
How do they justify the lack of urban trees in the ground; and yet this is feasible?
How will such large amounts of greenery get watered?
Where will the run off go, and how?
Does this require special spaces built just to handle the water, drainage, chemicals, and lay out?
How will the trees be moved, never mind the structure?
Will the trees ever be planted in the ground?
Was this proposed without looking into green/park space and energy conversion therein?
Who the heck thought caging a tree was “beautiful?”
What is the idea presented here – Humans have no nature they collectively believe they are above it, and will simply cage it?
Wouldn’t a park – more trees period – grass and such be more productive and have the energy effects been tested in these situations?
Where will the children play in this … place?
Will flowerbeds be illegal next?

I smell societal stink all ove this proposition, it’s a very unproductive “make work” project which not only limits human potential but the true potential and benefial effects of communing with nature – THAT vision present is nothing short of depressing. WHAT can a tree ever have done to deserve such a fate ,,, And looking at this constantly would have which subtle and subliminal effect on the human and emotional psyche?
I don’t buy for a MOMENT that this is about harnessing energy … Unless the harnessing is more like destruction and the energy is mostly human which is being destroyed.
I would thus suggest the trees in cages on display in a monumental type fashion is a play on the psyche far more than a boost for energy; regardless of how you look at it.

By: p bunyon

p bunyon — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:27:22 +0000

awe jeeze! there goes more priceless parking space-

By: BrianN

BrianN — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:57:27 +0000

I looks like a good idea, if it’s overgrown with whatever vegetation it will probably be OK, they can always tweak the aesthetics later. Main thing, will it really produce enough oxygen to make it worthwhile? Maybe they will learn that CO2 is not really a hazardous waste since those plants will want as much as they can get to convert to O2, and would flourish if they could direct the inside air from nearby buildings into that structure. Looks like they could even have more solar panels, but of course they can’t block the plants from Sun. I’d consider some mirrored surfaces inside and around the area to concentrate the sunlight somewhat. If they could design it to rotate with the wind, it could generate power as a windmill too, but it might confuse the plants. Nice idea.

By: simpson

simpson — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:38:41 +0000

All those who criticise have done nothing useful in their life. Evey invention will be ugly to begin with and
with experience and knowledge gained things will improve. By just condemning new ideas, no one will
ever try new ideas. Let these nay sayers show how to create better systems and then they may qualify to
make outrageous statements. The whole idea is novel and the creativity is slowly blossimng.

By: VerifyYou

VerifyYou — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:08:18 +0000

O2 is molecular oxygen. O3 is ozone. While you are correct, they didn’t say they’re creating H2O, they are creating O2. I will be interested in seeing what this looks like once the vines have grown to cover the structure.

By: Madrid Builds Air-Tree to Generate Oxygen and Electricity » Popular Fidelity » Unusual Stuff

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:14:41 +0000

[...] generate energy to sell to electric companies — through the use of solar panels and trees. Created by Urban Ecosystems, the “Air Tree” is supposed to have a beneficial impact on Madrid’s [...]

By: Travis

Travis — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:48:05 +0000

Upon closer look at the pictures. It appears that the plants on the inside will grow up the chain-link inevitably making it look like one big round plant with solar cells on the roof. I am doing the same thing on my balcony with morning glories and chicken wire. Give it a month or two and it will look fabulous!

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:06:49 +0000

Actually the shade from the structure prevents the hot arid climate in Madrid from evaporating all the moisture from the vegitation. The designers had in mind that these trees, in this given enviorment needed an extra element in helping them grow and produce O2. It’s innovative!

I would however plant trees at the base of the structure to help it from looking like a trashcan/crockpot.

By: aczar

aczar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:17:43 +0000

This is green? Using fuel to move vines or trees from polluted site to polluted site is not green. Using fuel to pump water for the plants upwards is not green. How about planting seedlings (very cheap) and let them grow? The solar panels and vines at the top will also shade the sun for plants below. As noted by other readers it is also hideous. My opinion, it is a architectural and city planners mastabatory fantasy and should stay a fantasy.

By: miguel

miguel — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:35:56 +0000

i am from madrid, and I do NOT WANT to see this large scale piece of junk in my city.
monumental structures like the Correos office (now madrid city hall), Cibeles fountain or metropolis building making parallels with this piece of shit. this sounds contrary to an urban eco system.

By: Davek

Davek — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:09:49 +0000

Great – a tree prison…

By: Tamara

Tamara — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:10:04 +0000

It is not beautiful, but it sure is futuristic and a great start for making clean energy and not just ugly useless cement constructions in poluted and overpopulated cieties.

By: Bette

Bette — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:57:46 +0000

All of the pictures show very few real trees in the backgrounds. All of the land appears totally barren of forested areas!!
To re-forest the land is the solution not some manmade contraption that is to do what a million trees now gone can do. And it isn’t nice to look at at all!!!!!!!!
Nothing can replace the natural beauty of real trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLANT LIFE…….FOR LIFE……PLANT TREES……..