Francesco Lipari: Hong Kong Noise Barrier
Italian architect Francesco Lipari has sent us good news concerning the Open International Ideas Competition for Noise Barrier/Noise Enclosure Design in Hong Kong: his stunning design, detailed below, received an honourable mention.
The noise barrier project consists of 4 pieces located in the city of Hong Kong along the streets of Tai Po Tai Wo Road and Gascoigne road: a cantilevered barrier 170 metres long and 6 metres high, a vertical barrier 140 metres long with a variable width from 20 to 23 metres, a vertical barrier 70 metres long and 4.5 metres high and a semi-full-cantilevered noise barrier 500 metres long and 6 metres high. The space frame structure of the noise barrier has been constructed from hot-dip galvanized 50 mm tubes for the main structure and 30 mm tubes for the secondary structure. The entire structure is covered with translucent polycarbonate panels with a differing range of apertures, each one with dimensions of 3 m x 0.65m. The panels change color with the daylight and react to the impulse of the shaft located at the intersection of every panel.
During the day, the new noise barriers form a harmonious unity with the surrounding landscape. They also integrate an innovative green system. The design is developed incorporating the natural growth characteristics of grass. What makes the design unique is that the construction itself; the sound barrier is a living, green unit. Light and shadow on the white panels establish a suggestive relationship with the surrounding landscape. After sunset, the artificial light illuminates the architectural body from inside, turning the shapes into a illuminated sculptures.
The focal point of the whole system is the blade named RICCIO ©, an innovative technological system that transform the air movement into energy and then, thanks to a generator, into electricity.
During the vehicle transit close by the noise barrier it produces a pressure wave with a kinetic energy and potential. This energy is transferred to the blade orthogonally to the wave front. Then the blade stimulated by the wave, begins swinging in analogy to a damped harmonic oscillator.
The electricity produced will be stored by appropriate capacitors. The electricity will be used to manage the noise barriers and to provide clean energy for the districts.
Credits
Plan's title: Hong Kong Noise barrier competition
Location: Hong Kong
Organizer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Project Design: Francesco Lipari
Project Team: Vanessa Todaro, Pierpaolo Pugliano
Timing: Design 2009
Web information: www.francescolipari.it
For more information:
http://www.noisebarrier-competition.hk/eng/comResult.htm
http://www.architetto.info/Hong-Kong-Noise-Barrier-menzione-d-onore-a-F-Lipari_spotlight_x_50.html
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