Green Island Ebe Nchekwa na Nkesa Ọkụ Obodo by Xudong Zhu

Green Island Ebe Nchekwa na Nkesa Ọkụ Obodo by Xudong Zhu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ụlọ Owu, Ụlọ na Ihe Owuwu Competition Category.

BronzỤlọ Owu· 2025

Green Island Ebe Nchekwa na Nkesa Ọkụ Obodo

by Xudong Zhu

Client: T.e.n

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz Winner in Ụlọ Owu Category

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The Design

About Green Island Ebe Nchekwa na Nkesa Ọkụ Obodo

Ebe nchekwa na nkesa ọkụ a na-ejikọta nhazi na-adịgide adịgide na ọrụ obodo iji megharịa akụrụngwa ọha. Ihu ụlọ mkpuchi abụọ ya nwere efere anyanwụ n'akụkụ ndịda na ọwụwa anyanwụ maka iji ike nke ọma, ebe ebe ịkụ ihe na mgbidi ndụ ndụ na-eme ka akụkụ ugwu na ọdịda anyanwụ maa mma. Ihu ụlọ ndịda na-ebelata mmetọ ụzụ ma na-agbanwe mpaghara ahụ ka ọ bụrụ ogige ntụrụndụ dị ogologo, na-emepụta ohere maka ọrụ ndị na-eje ije na mmekọrịta obodo. Ụzọ ọhụrụ pụrụ iche a na-egosi otú akụrụngwa dị mkpa si enyere aka n'ọdịmma gburugburu na nke ọha mmadụ.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Green Island Ebe Nchekwa na Nkesa Ọkụ Obodo meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Green Island Ebe Nchekwa na Nkesa Ọkụ Obodo ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Green Island Ebe Nchekwa na Nkesa Ọkụ Obodo na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The power substation uses a double-skin facade to create a “breathing, growing, and energy-storing” Green Island, blending infrastructure with vibrant public space. Solar panels on the south and east maximize energy efficiency, while the north and west feature green walls with planting troughs. The southern facade shields traffic noise and transforms the edge into a lively linear park, connecting neighborhoods and fostering community engagement.
Dimensions & Packaging: The project is located on a 50,000 mm x 70,000 mm site, with a total building height of 12,000 mm.
Tags: Green Island, Public Space, Urban Infrastructure, Ecological Design, Sustainability, Power Substation, Double-skin Facade
Production Technology: The design was developed using a research-driven approach, integrating sustainable strategies and advanced modeling techniques. A double-skin facade system was employed, combining solar photovoltaic panels on sun-facing sides for energy efficiency and perforated aluminum panels with planting troughs on shaded facades to foster biodiversity. Parametric design tools optimized the facade's performance, ensuring a balance between functionality, aesthetics, and ecological benefits.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was balancing strict regulations with innovative design. Local laws restricted changes to building footprints, limiting structural flexibility. Socially, the challenge was transforming a utilitarian substation into a community asset. Technologically, optimizing the double-skin facade for energy efficiency while supporting dynamic green walls required advanced simulations. Overcoming these obstacles involved integrating research, creativity, and stakeholder collaboration.
Research: This applied research aimed to transform infrastructure into vibrant public spaces, focusing on sustainability and urban connectivity. Using sunlight analysis, energy modeling, and environmental simulations, we gathered data with parametric tools. Community feedback and expert insights informed the design. Results showed solar panels enhance energy efficiency, while green walls improve air quality and biodiversity. The project highlights how infrastructure can unite ecological, social, and functional goals.
Inspiration: This project was inspired by a desire to blend essential infrastructure with urban vitality. Motivated by the potential to turn functional structures into assets for the city, I aimed to create a sustainable design that balances energy efficiency with ecological and social benefits. Drawing from research in green architecture, the project transforms a passive boundary into an active public space that fosters harmony between nature and the urban environment.
Project Duration: The project designed in September 2024 in Shanghai, China.
Operation Flow: This project combines energy efficiency and urban vitality by using solar panels on sunlit sides to generate power and adjustable panels that provide shade and shelter for pedestrians. The green walls grow with the seasons, creating a dynamic and eco-friendly facade. The design transforms the space into a welcoming park, reducing noise, improving air quality, and connecting neighborhoods, making it both functional and inviting for the community.
Image Credits: All credit to Xudong Zhu