The design of the Sun Rock building by MVRDV, from its shape to its façade, is centered on sustainable energy generation and Taipower’s carbon free future
Located at the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park, near Taichung in Taiwan, Sun Rock is a storage and maintenance facility for sustainable energy equipment, designed to maximise solar energy production. The building receives a significant amount of solar exposure throughout the year, and so the rounded shape of Sun Rock is designed to optimise how much of that sunlight can be harnessed for energy. On the southern side, the building slopes gently downwards, creating a large surface area that directly faces the sun during the middle of the day. At the northern end, the domed shape increases the area of the building exposed to the sun in the mornings and evenings.
The façade maximises this solar potential with a series of pleats, which support photovoltaic panels on their upper surface. The angle of these pleats is adjusted to optimise the energy-generating potential of the solar panels.
At the heart of the building is the Data Room, a soaring atrium with real-time displays of data about Taipower’s operations and the amount of renewable energy the company generates. On the first floor, a gallery space provides a view onto the maintenance workshop, while the top floor has an additional exhibition space and the roof level, under the shelter of a dome of solar panels, has a terrace with trees for both visitors and Taipower employees to relax. The design of the building juxtaposes utilitarian and gallery spaces, making the building an essential communication tool for the power company.
Picture Credits: MVRDV
