In an effort to construct highly efficient, “green” buildings, architects have turned to nature for inspiration, and, in particular, the flower. Some of the most “certified green” and LEED buildings recently built also happen to flower-shaped. The visionary architects of these buildings realized the humble flower, with its elegant symmetry was the perfect muse for their design. Here at Carither’s Flowers we’ve put together a collection of some of the most striking and energy-efficient floral-shaped buildings in the world.
ArtScience Museum in Singapore
Lotus Blossom
ArtScience Museum from above
Singapore
Like a giant lotus blossom floating and spinning in the air, the base of the ArtScience Museum is buried deep below the surface which helps create this wonderful illusion. There are ten petals of varying height with each one housing a specific art gallery. The tips of the petals are flat, rectangular pets which allow natural sunlight to illuminate the indoor curving space of the galleries. The dish-shaped roof is designed in a manner so that it collects rainwater and channels it through a round opening in the center. The result is a waterfall that falls through the center of the entire buildings ending in an indoor pond at the lowest level. The water is then recycled in a loop to keep the waterfall always running while some of the water is diverted to the facility’s restrooms and landscaped areas.
Magnolia-inspired Qizhong Tennis Center
White Magnolia
Qizhong Tennis Center
Shanghai
This large stadium’s main feature is its retractable roof, which resembles a magnolia flower, Shanghai’s official flower. Each of the eight steel petals weighs 2 tons making this structure and design an amazing architectural feat. As the roof opens, it represents the blossoming of the magnolia flower which is mesmerizing as the petals move apart and connect again in a pinwheel, spiraling pattern. The whole thing takes a total of eight minutes. The retractable roof allows for sporting events to take place regardless of weather conditions. Besides tennis, of which there are 26 courts, the stadium can adapt to host other sporting events such as basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics.
Lotus-inspired Motisons Tower
Nightly Light Show at Motisons Tow
Jaipur, India
When the owner of this popular and well-known jeweler wanted an architectural update, the amazing results made his shop one of the area’s most popular tourist attractions. The Motisons Tower is inspired by the lotus blossom and three enormous leaves grow into the sky from each side of this rectangular building. The petals are colored in deep jewel tones and rimmed with gold fiberglass, symbolizing the beautiful gold and gem pieces house within. As stunning as this is to see in the daytime, at night is when the lotus flower really comes to life. Bright, differently-colored LED lights illuminate each petal with a dazzling array of pulsating light, color changes, and veins which grow within each one. It’s a spectacular display and represents a huge step in architectural design.
