Communal Power Plant

The project proposes the integration of renewable energy production into cities with coal mining history in Europe by distributing spaces for communities in the urban fabric. Reviving the strong communal bounds and re-establishing the connection of city and environs - both phenomena are historically rooted in the former mining industry - the project introduces a pathway system in the Spanish city Puertollano. Running through the former worker’s quarters of the town, the combination of a Solar and a Hydro path connects the city centre and its surrounding. Along this network, shaded pathways and green alleys connect punctual interventions: public plazas and Club Houses which are new neighbourhood centres. These architectural interventions for the community of the city are formed through the phenomena of water and light, while the production of renewable energy ensures the self-sufficiency of the new Communal Spaces.

Due to land scarcity in Europe, the implementation of energy production into cities is essential for future city planning. Furthermore, the EU‘s agreement to be carbon free in 2050 will strongly affect cities of former coal mining. Not only will they experience an infrastructural transition concerning their energy supply and labor landscape. Also, strong bonds of communities formed by the former coal industries will undergo a major shift.

Overlaying the cities which were heavily depending on the coal industry with Europe’s renewable energy map enables to pinpoint a specific energy potential for each settlement. This stems from the cities typologies: geothermal potential in hilly surroundings, hydro energy which can be harvested along rivers and due to the hot climate cities with solar energy, forming mines which are attached like satellites. The Spanish city Puertollano as an example for the latter kind is selected as site for the project.

In times of great influx to Puertollano due to the coal industry, informal worker’s settlements developed. These are characterized by small houses, high density and offer no public or communal areas. Connecting two systems which produce energy efficiently together - the solar and the hydro path - enables to offer well tempered spaces & gathering points for the community. Whereas the solar path produces energy with the techniques of Organic Cells and Concentrated Solar Power, the water path functions as an urban Pump Storage System. The network provides shaded pathways and green alleys which connect punctual interventions: public plazas - Markets - in unused and formerly for agricultural purposes used courtyards and new neighborhood centers - Club Houses - in empty plots.

urban concept model 1:500 | materials: pigmented plaster, 3D-printed elements, paper, overhead foil

Upper reservoirs store solar energy from surplusses in summer time, whereas the former coal mine is floaded once water is released in winter time in order to produce energy.

The project anchors itself in the social history of coal cities which developed strong communities, originating from Europe’s first worker’s parties as well as well fare system formed in the coal industry. However, this communal bound is at risk nowadays. For that reason, the project introduces interventions which revive the derelict worker’s areas.

Applied through a strategy of three scales of weaving the two types of interventions - Market and Club House - are structurally growing from the individual backyards, spanning over the empty plots and courtyards where they form communal spaces. Whereas the public plaza is covered by a dome structure which enables a play of colours enhancing the efficiency of the Organic Cells, the Club House is formed by a hanging roof, which para-bolic form intensifies the sunrays for the Concentrated Solar Power system.

Organic cells are Thin Film Solar Cells, functioning similar to photosynthesis. This is why attributes studied at leave canopies can be implemented architecturally - such as the increase of efficiency through layering, providing air circulation as well as predetermined more intense shadow plays in summer than winter. In this way the Market offers different spaces in summer or winter time for various activities according to the weather.

Water and plant basins form thresholds between areas with different degrees of privacy. Next to providing well tempered climates, after collecting the water in months of heavy rain in these basins, it is led through the intervention to then unite with the urban pump storage system.

Market model 1:50

materials: pigmented plaster, brass profile (roof), overhead foil

The Club House is covered by a canopy of moveable mirrors which are producing sun energy through the use of Concentrated Solar Power in summer time. In contrast, the mirrors guide the light inside the spaces in winter time. The construction of the tapered walls - which are warmed by the sun in the cold season - out of rammed earth and a permanent brick formwork serves as anchoring element for the hanging roof as well as thermal storage. Providing a cool climate in the hot season, it offers a comfortable ambiance emitted from the warm walls in winter time.

Spanning from the formerly for agricultural purposes used backyards of the neighbouring houses, the hanging construction of the Club House spans over the empty plot, forming the communal areas. Water and plant basins define areas of different usage. In this way, spaces for communal activities as well as private entities for guest are provided.

Club House Model 1:50 | Materials: pigmented plaster, 3D printed elements, brass profiles and wires (roof), polystyrol, transparent paper

The phenomena of water and light are shaping the spaces of the Club House. Whereas solar energy is produced in summer time, sunrays are guided downwards to basins which are filled with rain water in winter time, reflecting and filling the space with light. Reviving and revaluating the former worker’s quarters of the city, the interventions are distributed along a pathway network, inserting open space in the dense areas. While providing communal spaces for the inhabitants of the city and their guests, it is providing an efficient renewable energy provision for the city of Puertollano.