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Green Island Spennistöð í þéttbýli by Xudong Zhu

Green Island Spennistöð í þéttbýli by Xudong Zhu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award í bronsi in Arkitektúr, bygginga- og mannvirkjahönnun Competition Category.


BronsArkitektúr· 2025

Green Island Spennistöð í þéttbýli

by Xudong Zhu

Client: T.e.n

A' Design Award í bronsi Winner in Arkitektúr Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Green Island Spennistöð í þéttbýli

Spennistöðin samþættir sjálfbæra hönnun og þéttbýlisvirkni til að endurskilgreina opinbera innviði. Tvöfalda húðin er með sólarplötur á suður- og austurhliðum fyrir aukna orkunýtni, á meðan gróðurbeð á grænum veggjum auðga norður- og vesturhliðar. Suðurhliðin dregur úr hávaðamengun og umbreytir svæðinu í línulegan almenningsgarð, sem skapar tækifæri fyrir gangandi umferð og samfélagslega samskipti. Þessi nýstárlega nálgun undirstrikar hvernig nauðsynlegir innviðir geta stuðlað að bæði umhverfislegri og félagslegri velferð.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award í bronsi

Green Island Spennistöð í þéttbýli vann A' Design Award í bronsi, mjög virta viðurkenningu sem veitt er framúrskarandi hönnunarverkum sem einkennast af sköpunargáfu, hugvitssemi og skarpskyggni. Sigurvegarar í bronsi eru ríkulega leiknir og áberandi skapandi gripir sem staðfesta víðtæka reynslu, ímyndunarafl og útsjónarsemi hönnuða sinna. Þess er vænst að Green Island Spennistöð í þéttbýli sé mjög metinn, dáður og elskaður hlutur sem er einstaklega fagmannlegur og nýstárlegur. Þetta hönnunarverk sem vann A' Design Award í bronsi felur í sér bestu starfsvenjur í list, vísindum, hönnun og tækni og er framúrskarandi fyrir athygli sína á smáatriðum. Green Island Spennistöð í þéttbýli fullnægir þörfum á dásamlegan hátt, snertir langanir, heillar tilfinningar og vekur forvitni.

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

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