Ivanov + Partners

Civilization 0.000 is a high-tech structure, placed at Cape Horn in Southern Chile, that uses locally-available renewable energy sources to generate electricity. Making use of the ample wind, wave, and tidal energy of this region, the structure would utilize a combination of 19 wind turbines, 4 wave power plants, and 6 tidal power turbines to create 100 million kWh of renewable energy each year. However, the electricity production is only one of many important features such as living space, education, resource management, energy storage, research and engineering.

The first 0.000 unit ever designed will be placed at Cape Horn, the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile. This unit will specialize in generating electricity. If we take a look at the global energy maps, we’ll recognize the enormous amount of wind, wave, and tidal energy concentrated in this area. The choice to design the first 0.000 unit there is almost self-explanatory.

Form follows force. There are three main forces that define the whole structure: wind, wave and tidal energy. Through a series of different experiments and optimizations according its aquadynamic and aerodynamic features, the building is composed of three main structural and functional areas - tower, platform & tidal power station.

The whole 0.000 unit is optimized to orient itself towards the best wind condition for generating a maximum amount of energy.

The tower contains 19 wind turbines, research units, living units, restaurants, sports facilities, social facilities, control center, educational units, etc. The cross section of the tower is developed similarly to a symmetric airfoil, concentrating the whole wind energy in the wind turbine areas, where about 40% of this amount converts itself to electricity. Even the smallest wind turbines produce an enormous amount of electricity because the wind speed increases exponentially, according to Bernoulli's Principle.

The platform contains a wave power station, 4 giant turbines, two harbor areas, a heliport, research units, living units, restaurants, sport facilities, social facilities, educational units, library, etc. The wave power station works on a special technology called Oscillating Water Column.

The tidal power station consists of 7 elements: one connecting element, 6 combi elements (one element = ballast tank + vertical axis tidal turbine), and one heavy, solid element to stabilize the whole building. The vertical axis tidal turbines work on a special technology called the Hunter Turbine.

Images by FlyingArchitecture