Via Inhabitat: Internationally acclaimed designer Michael Jantzen‘s newest brainchild, the Sun Rays Pavilion, consists of 12 massive columns that rise out of the earth like giant crystals reaching for the sun. Appropriate, because the acutely slanted building relies on the sun’s rays alone for power. Jantzen has many other designs for renewable energy pavilions, like his Wind Shaped Kinetic Pavilion or his Solar Wind Pavilion. This latest design is outfitted with photovoltaic film to generate electricity in order to power the pavilion and sell any excess to the grid.
At the top of the structure, the square ends of the pavilion are covered in photovoltaic film in order to generate electricity. The south facing roofs are angled in such a way to optimize energy generation for the site. Each glazed area is 20 by 26 feet and is also partially transparent, which allows light to filter down into the structure providing some daylight for the people inside. Any excess energy generated not needed by the pavilion will be sent to the grid. On the north side of the structure at the ground level, there are 5 large glass sections with doors that will ventilate the structure.
The pavilion will be approximately 150 feet tall, 250 feet long, and 130 feet wide and constructed from precast concrete rectangular columns. As with all Jantzen creations, symbolism and art play heavy roles in the design of structure and the columns are meant to represent the rays of the sun.
