In an effort to build extremely efficient, “green” buildings, architects have turned to nature for inspiration, particularly the flower. Some of the most “certified green” and LEED buildings recently erected also happen to be flower-shaped. The visionary architects of these buildings realized the simple flower, with its elegant symmetry, is the perfect muse for their design. Here at Ron and Alicia Robinson Florist 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 in the air, the base of the ArtScience Museum is buried below the surface which helps create this incredible illusion. There are ten petals of varying height with each one housing a particular art gallery. The tips of the petals are flat, rectangular skylights that allow natural sunlight to illuminate the indoor the galleries. The dish-shaped roof is devised in a manner so that it collects rainwater and channels it through a round opening in the center. The result is a waterfall that goes through the center of the entire buildings ending in an indoor pond on the lowest level. The water is then recycled in a loop to keep the waterfall always running while some 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 depicts the blossoming of the magnolia flower which is mesmerizing as the petals move apart and connect again in a pinwheel, spiraling pattern. The whole motion takes a total of eight minutes. The retractable roof allows for sporting events to happen 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 for their new building, 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 sprout from each side of the 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 depicts a huge step in architectural design.
