PDEC European Union Project

Evaporative cooling was traditionally used in hot, dry climates to generate architectural forms such as Persian wind towers. The research in question aimed to ascertain the application possibilities of this traditional technique in modern office buildings. Water sprayed by micronizers creates a downward flow of cool air that is exploited by the building through a system of glass towers passing through the foundation slab. In a building with a deep floor plan, the towers serve to convey natural light and cool the air directed to the core of the building, saving on both installation and operating costs.

The efficiency of the new building type has been evaluated using special software, wind tunnel tests, and the construction of an experimental building. The results show that widespread application of this technology would significantly reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the Mediterranean basin.

Type: Research project Joule III
Client: European Commission
Surface area: 5,000 m²
Project: Mario Cucinella Architects
Team: Mario Cucinella, Elizabeth Francis, James Tynan, Elisabetta Trezzani, Danilo Vespier, Simona Agabio, Edoardo Badano, Francesco Bombardi
Partners: Brian Ford Architects, University of Malaga (ETSII), De Montfort University UK
Consultants: Peter Heppel Engineer DEGW, OVE ARUP & Partners, Lausanne Polytechnic, Università di Ancona
Structural engineering: TPE Ingegneria
Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon Consulting

‍

Evaporative cooling was traditionally used in hot, dry climates to generate architectural forms such as Persian wind towers. The research in question aimed to ascertain the application possibilities of this traditional technique in modern office buildings. Water sprayed by micronizers creates a downward flow of cool air that is exploited by the building through a system of glass towers passing through the foundation slab. In a building with a deep floor plan, the towers serve to convey natural light and cool the air directed to the core of the building, saving on both installation and operating costs.

The efficiency of the new building type has been evaluated using special software, wind tunnel tests, and the construction of an experimental building. The results show that widespread application of this technology would significantly reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the Mediterranean basin.

Type: Research project Joule III
Client: European Commission
Surface area: 5,000 m²
Project: Mario Cucinella Architects
Team: Mario Cucinella, Elizabeth Francis, James Tynan, Elisabetta Trezzani, Danilo Vespier, Simona Agabio, Edoardo Badano, Francesco Bombardi
Partners: Brian Ford Architects, University of Malaga (ETSII), De Montfort University UK
Consultants: Peter Heppel Engineer DEGW, OVE ARUP & Partners, Lausanne Polytechnic, Università di Ancona
Structural engineering: TPE Ingegneria
Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon Consulting

‍