Green Island Substation ya Magetsi ya M'mzinda by Xudong Zhu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award in Mapangidwe a Nyumba, Zomanga ndi Zomangidwa Competition Category.
BronzeZomangamanga· 2025
Green Island Substation ya Magetsi ya M'mzinda
by Xudong Zhu
Client: T.e.n
Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award Winner in Zomangamanga Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #166588The Design
About Green Island Substation ya Magetsi ya M'mzinda
Substation ya magetsiwá imaphatikiza kapangidwe kokhazikika ndi ntchito za m'mzinda kuti isinthe zomangamanga za anthu onse. Khoma lake lokhala ndi magawo awiri lili ndi mapanelo a dzuwa kum'mwera ndi kum'mawa kuti ligwiritse ntchito mphamvu bwino, pomwe malo odzalira pa makoma obiriwira akukongoletsa kumpoto ndi kumadzulo. Khoma lakum'mwera limachepetsa phokoso ndipo limasintha derali kukhala paki yotalika, ndikupanga mwayi wa zochitika za oyenda pansi ndi kucheza kwa anthu a m'dera. Njira yatsopanoyi ikuwonetsa momwe zomangamanga zofunikira zingapangire thanzi la chilengedwe ndi anthu omwe.
The Recognition
About the Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award
Green Island Substation ya Magetsi ya M'mzinda ndi mmodzi mwa opambana a Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award, kuzindikirika kolemekezeka kwambiri komwe kumaperekedwa kwa mapangidwe abwino kwambiri omwe amaonekera ndi luso lolenga, kuchenjera ndi nzeru zakuthwa. Opambana a Bronze ndi zinthu zaluso kwambiri ndi zolenga modabwitsa zomwe zimatsimikizira zochitika zazikulu, kulingalira ndi kuchenjera kwa opanga awo. Green Island Substation ya Magetsi ya M'mzinda akuyembekezeka kukhala chinthu choyamikiridwa, chosirira ndi chokondedwa, chaukatswiri wapadera ndi chatsopano. Mapangidwe opambana Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award awa amaphatikiza machitidwe abwino kwambiri a luso, sayansi, kapangidwe ndi ukadaulo ndipo ndi abwino kwambiri chifukwa cha kusamala kwawo zazing'ono. Green Island Substation ya Magetsi ya M'mzinda amakwaniritsa zosowa mokongola, kukhudza zilakolako, kukopa mitima ndi kudzutsa chidwi.
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
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
