“Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects” will design the biggest factory for processing waste into electricity

Danish architects “Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects” together with studio “Gottlieb Paludan Architects” will design the biggest factory for processing waste into energy. The choice of the two architectural companies was determined on the international competition for a factory in the Chinese city of Shenzhen. The new plant will process 5,000 tons of waste per day using the latest technology for processing waste, which will produce usable energy. Apart from the industrial work the plant will have an educational function for informing the citizens and visitors about alternative energy sources and the possibility to turn the waste into usable electricity.

“Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects” and “Gottlieb Paludan Architects” offer an idea that abandons the standard design of industrial buildings and avoided the rectangular shape, by proposing a circular building. The idea is that the circular shape of the object uses much smaller space for construction compared to the rectangular objects.

The roof of the plant will cover an area of 66,000 square meters and will be covered by 44,000 square meters of photovoltaic panels, which will enable better utilization of solar power and a new alternative source of energy for the whole city.

Despite its industrial operation, the plant will offer new educational and public space for citizens. Curious visitors can access to it through carefully arranged and large park. The entrance will be through high bridge, which offers views over the operations of the plant. The bridge goes in a circular path, which leads to a panoramic view and offers an opportunity to explain the working process. The “educational” path then continues into a 1.5 km long panoramic promenade on the roof overlooking the city.

(Photo Credits: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and Gottlieb Paludan Architects)