Hsinta Ecological Powerplant

Description:

POWER, MANGROVES, & SHRIMP: SYNTHESIZING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ENERGY

THE NEW TAIWAN POWER PLANT WILL FORTIFY THE REGIONS NATURAL ECOLOGY, ACCELERATE ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH AND BIND THE TWO WITH EDUCATION.

• REVITALIZE ECOLOGY; RECONSTITUTE LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS WITH POWER PLANT, MANGROVE AND SHRIMP

• STRENGTHEN ECONOMY; PROTECT CULTURAL LEGACY AND AMPLIFY LOCAL ECONOMIES

• PROMOTE EDUCATION; REBUILD NATIONAL WETLANDS FOR CONTINUOUS EDUCATION

Over the course of the 20th century, we have seen a 65% loss in global wetlands and a 35% decrease in the world’s mangrove forests. To bring the Hsinta site’s own mangrove wetlands back to full health, the building will be wrapped in a multi-functional envelope. This lightweight skin creates footholds for local flora and fauna and leverages a coastal location for passive ventilation and lighting to help reduce negative environmental impact. In order to further align international environmental trends with regional conditions, the plant maximizes usage of locally sourced, weather-resistant and recycled materials. Passive systems including the collection of rainwater for irrigation and cooling purposes will also be implemented. All plant functions will be monitored via a connected family of devices reducing the need for excessive manpower to maintain efficient systems usage. This will ensure the mitigation of high carbon and heat output.

The current site will be converted back to a brackish coastal landscape expanding the local wetland biotope. Within this reclaimed habitat, strategically planted halophytes, along with the dense root systems of new mangroves will expand to naturally define the site and prevent sediment runoff. Mandated intelligent and sustainable farming practices will bolster local mangrove forest health avoiding the replication of unregulated South-East Asian farming techniques. This organic growth will build consistent ecological resilience while maintaining fiscal returns for on-site shrimp farms.

To solidify this healthy growth, the proposed site typology will merge the Hsinta plant’s circulation with shrimping product distribution. Shrimp farming, once the cornerstone of the Taiwanese food economy, can be reinstated as a driver of sustainably consistent ecological and economic growth. This concomitant revitalization of the local ecology and farming industry stands to reposition Taiwan as a dominant force in the international trade economy.

Finally, the building has been designed to actively connect with the community and achieve symbiosis with its natural surroundings. Separate pedestrian circulation, public galleries and educational centers will allow civilians to easily appreciate connections between the building’s form, its sustainable operation and the reinvigorated biodiversity of the site. With the new plant design, Hsinta stands as a replicable prototype for seamless connection between man-made energy and nature.