Solar City Tower, RAFAA, world architecture news, architecture jobs

06/04/10 fast100fly, North Carolina

I agree with msawasy. This tower may have a net zero carbon footprint, but at what cost? Obsession with energy efficiency and production should not outweigh destruction of greenfield sites. Rio would do better to find creative ways to use land and buildings that are already developed than to plunk this tower off on a bordering island.

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06/04/10 msawasy, Los Angeles

Are you serious? An urban waterfall? This creates a visual blight that changes the beautiful coastal views as well as causing ecological damage to the coast line, the island and the surrounding water of the island. There is nothing urban about these islands or this project. There are a number of lagoons and inlets that are closer to the urban fabric of Rio that could be used. Some are adjacent to the Olympic venues.

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06/04/10 Isaac, Sao Paulo

Great project and design. However it will totally destroy the visual look from Copacabana beach, and ruin the little island. Perhaps a better way to make Rio 2016 greener is give up from Olympics; passing the responsibility to a city that will handle the torch as real matter.

06/04/10 George, NYC

Its a joke, right ? zero carbon because there's ton of solar cell to keep it going.
not to mention how ugly and pointless it looks in pristine landscape. i have lways thought of WAN as the Onion of architceture.

06/04/10 baxter, Los Angeles

I am now convinced that the Olympic Architectural movement is a theater of the absurd. It is bad enough that the host cities are left with a financial burden built on hubris. Now they have gone mad. This project proves the point. The island is a better representation of a sustainable environment.

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07/04/10 ben, tucson

There is not enough water in those tanks to last that waterfall for more then 5 minutes.

Oh, and to generate electricity you cant use a waterfall, you have to use pipes and turbines.

WHAT A JOKE

07/04/10 bettertimes, Curitiba

Terrible proposal!
‘symbol of the forces of nature,’ Are you joking?
looks more like 'the man's domination over nature.

07/04/10 Nicol, Aberdeen

a 'symbol of the forces of nature'?
or as usual a 'symbol of the people's egoism'?!!!

07/04/10 wera, Malta

I absolutely agree. The tower is impressive, but what is green about having building that sustain itself and has no purpose other than being symbol of human race domination over nature... and statement that this "mini tower" can actually produce energy for more than few buildings in Rio is not even plausible. It is like someone telling me that I can charge my laptop on a less than 1c size solar battery.

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07/04/10 Dan Euser, Ontario

A bold concept but difficult to implement as rendered. At flow depicted, 105m height, and based on New York's temporary waterfalls that were 1/3 the height, would need well over 5000hp (likely not enough)....plus water spray would be difficult to control and would saturate the island.

07/04/10 Keith Mason, London

While I agree with comments about the Olympic Games being essentially unsustainable (see below), this is a visionary project that Rio is big enough to handle. Presumably the writers of the negative comments would object to the Christ statue as destroying a pristine environment and have roundly condemned the Eiffel Tower or the London Eye. Or what about Sydney's two icons? Are they a visual blight? We can be too timid.
The designers need to be given the chance to demonstrate that it's zero carbon - the comments above are just guesses that they are wrong, based on no evidence.
But I think it's time to rethink the Olympics approach. How about building a permanent home for each sport, perhaps in the country with a strong reputation in each case: cycling in France, long distance running in Kenya, soccer in Brazil etc etc. these could also be used for the sports' world championships. 2020 vision: the Virtual Olympics!

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08/04/10 bobphilapa, Philadelphia

When calculating the carbon footprint of this foolish project, did they include all the energy needed to bring the boatloads of tourists and supplies needed to keep this attraction in business? To intrude so completely on what seems to be a pristine island and have the nerve to boast about a "net-zero" carbon footprint is the height of hypocrisy - and creative accounting.

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25/05/10 João, Madrid

I just love this. I thank the gods for architectural ingenuity... in providing my home town with another a great landmark. It suits the city in perfection.

27/05/10 Adriana, Zürich

I like the project but really hope that Rio will find a better place to build it. It interferes negatively on the landscape and it is too big for such a small island.

28/06/10 Thomas, Durban

Typical arty farty concept. Why don't the gentlemen get some engineering input for the , you know, problems! (and there are many). It will never be built!

16/07/10 Wilton, France

Unsuitable for the city of Rio. Anti-ecological and avoiur designed without knowledge of the city and its culture. Given the beauty of the sites on the coast carioca this project will create new environmental problems. Besides, I advocated that only Brazilian architects propose projects for Brazil. Of course the Brazilians are also open as the markets first world countries are open to Brazilians. ;)

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28/07/10 anas, Riyadh

Frank Lloyd Wright respected "Nature" with his Fallingwater residence...
Rafaa is violating "Nature" with an arrogant Rafaamade waterfall...

18/11/10 James, Paris

Funny: As i recall : i can't remenber even the existence of the island ! For Christ sake!!!

Good one!

Will it be build too??

Ask the Carnival Designers in Rio to build it from the sea!

22/11/10 awa, paris

I find that perfect project comes naturally to Brazil to try to show some of his genius. I do not think this will be the symbol of the domination of mankind over nature: we will not ask the French to destroy the Eiffel Tower because it is a domination of the human race on the world, we will not asked the Americans to move the statue of liberty as a domination of mankind over nature. Do not judge people too quickly and then it could be a great step for mankind to Ecology

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21/02/11 Wayne, Wash. D.C.

It's the tower of babel.

24/08/11 Watts,, TX

Am I on another planet?! What is up with all these NEGATIVE comments?! Are you all crazy?! This is a beautiful structure, even awe-inspiring. It is a wonderful blend of form and function. It is minimally invasive to the environment and no one will get sick from pollution or have to fight a war to keep it's energy working as long as the sun is in the sky and the water is in the sea.
As for the cost - if more brilliant architects and nations invest in such products, the price would eventually become not only manageable but cost efficient. Remember how much calculator's were 30 years ago. Now they come standard in some wallets for free.
It's ignorant and short sided thinking that keeps REAL progress in energy from global acceptance. Shame on you critics!

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10/04/12 Cj, Bella Vista, AR

It is beautiful. I would love to see it created. Congratulations on the concept.

RAFAA’s Solar City Tower for Rio 2016 games features energy-generating waterfall

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