Mountains in an old land
Published Sat 21 Feb 2009
Like most post-Soviet states Azerbaijan is a country rediscovering its own identity, and its capital Baku is looking to the nation's landscape for inspiration.
The Zira Zero Island is a domineering collection of ‘peaks’ that take their shape from the geometry of a famous mountain in Azerbaijan, creating a natural silhouette and the basis for becoming Central Asia’s first carbon neutral city of 1,000,000 m2.
The self-contained island uses natural elements to its advantage. Using CFD software [Ansys CFX] to simulate the wind conditions on the island, the team at Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) derived a landscape plan from the microclimates created by the mountains. The patterns of wind moving their way through the seven peaks inform the planting of trees to influence wind speeds – high speeds off shore are captured to provide electricity, dense planting around the public areas maintain a comfortable living environment. Solar panels and pumps are used for temperature control and heating water; water is recycled, with constant irrigation and fertilisation supporting surrounding agriculture.
The visualsation was completed using AutoCAD Architecture 2008 and 3ds Max with V-Ray, with all angles capturing the mix between residential and public spaces amongst the mountainous structures. Each peak has its own shape, although as a whole provide a rolling landscape of illuminated crests.
Bjarke Ingels, founding partner of BIG, was adament that the project would capture not only the natural landscape of the former Soviet state, but the modern outlook of the country. “This new architecture not only recreates the iconic silhouettes of the seven peaks, but more importantly creates an autonomous ecosystem where the flow of air, water, heat and energy are channeled in almost natural ways,” says Bjarke, explaining that a mountainous environment has what is needed for sustainable living.
“A mountain creates biotopes and eco-niches, it channels water and stores heat, it provides viewpoints and valleys, access and shelter. The Seven Peaks of Azerbaijan are not only metaphors, but actual living models of the mountainous ecosystems of Azerbaijan,” he concludes.
