London 2012: Solar Clouds for London’s Skyline
Written by S. Kim Henson
I know what you’re thinking, but no, these awesome bubbles are not pop-able. What you’re seeing is the Cloud, a conception by forward-thinking engineers, architects and designers determined to construct a landmark for London’s 2012 Olympic Park. Cloud technology is a growing trend for accessing information all over the world. London’s “Digital Cloud” will be made from clusters of solar-powered plastic bubbles atop tall, spiraling towers. Capable of displaying weather and digital data, the plans also include an observation deck and park that can be accessed on foot or by bicycle using ramps, stairs and lifts.
Off the grid and green, the Cloud is intended to produce all the energy it will use. Solar power will be collected through photovoltaic cells. And visitors will help out with every step they take; the energy required to descend will be “converted into electricity through elevators with regenerative breaking, similar to those on hybrid cars.”
And the financing for this sizeable enterprise? Instead of lump sums of money to make the project a reality, the design team is hoping for millions in micro-donations. "It's really about people coming together to raise the Cloud,” said an architect from MIT. But first, people have to decide whether this is a “sculptural spectacle” (in a good way), as named by Paola Antonelli from the Museum of Modern Art in New York, or like the Millennium Dome that some consider an architectural nightmare.
London mayor Boris Johnson has thrown his support behind the project, which he considers “a legacy.” Google is behind the “cloud-raising,” offering free advertising, a sponsored link at the top of the page for searches related to London 2012 and technology within the structure, such as information feeds. The project fits the Olympic Committee’s aspiration to make the 2012 games a “green Olympics.”
Now, it’s up to the public. Want to help make the Cloud a reality? Check out the site here.
What others have said
What a great look. I have just returned from a weekend vacation and blow me down I saw a group of adults playing with bubbles and then I see this article. Bubbles have made my week. Thank you!
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