Tower Skin by LAVA: Turning Old Buildings into Eco Light Shows
Written by Jennifer Heyns
Sometimes, the best way to remodel is to do absolutely nothing to an existing structure. At least that’s what international architectural firm LAVA suggests. The company has designed a way to increase the aesthetics, functionality and efficiency of old commercial buildings by wrapping them in a special exterior skin.
LAVA’s tower skin envelopes the entire structure and utilizes several sustainable systems that can allow older, less eco-friendly buildings to transition into our modern green climate without bulldozing, rebuilding or undergoing major renovations.
The skin itself is comprised of a lightweight, three-dimensional, composite mesh material that can actually be stretched around an entire building’s walls and roof structure. Its ability to add function and efficiency to an old commercial space are only half of the picture; the tower skin also has a unique design that completely jazzes up an outdated building’s appearance, not to mention making it a light-show marvel when the sun goes down.
The initial speculative project for LAVA’s concept is the University of Technology (UTS) Broadway Tower in Sydney, Australia. The skin will rehab the exterior look of the 1960s tower and use PV solar panels to generate energy, collect rainwater and improve day lighting. With a cocoon around the structure, one might expect the interior of the building to darken somewhat, but in reality, the transparent skin helps to concentrate and maximize the natural daylight available.
The tower skin, which creates a micro-climate for the people within, also has the ability to change our perception of older structures. The invention turns them into instant eco-friendly, cutting-edge and awesome-looking icons. Well done.
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