‘sunflower umbrellas,’ madsar, UAE by LAVA image courtesy LAVA

giant umbrellas, with a design based on the principles of sunflowers, will provide moveable shade in the day, store heat, then close and release the heat at night in the plaza of a new eco-city in the united arab emirates.

the ‘sunflower umbrellas’ are one aspect of the winning design by the international practice laboratory for visionary architecture (LAVA) for the city centre for masdar in the UAE – the world’s first zero carbon, zero waste city powered entirely by renewable energy sources.

masdar is a planned city located 17 kilometres from abu dhabi. a government initiative, the city is being constructed over seven phases and is due to be completed by 2016.

the city centre includes a plaza, five-star hotel, long stay hotel, a convention centre and entertainment complex and retail facilities.

‘sunflower umbrellas,’ madsar, UAE image courtesy LAVA

‘sunflower umbrellas,’ madsar, UAE image courtesy LAVA

madsar project UAE image courtesy LAVA

madsar project UAE image courtesy LAVA

madsar project UAE image courtesy LAVA

madsar project UAE image courtesy LAVA

madsar project UAE – hotel image courtesy LAVA

madsar project UAE at night image courtesy LAVA

‘sunflower umbrellas,’ at night image courtesy LAVA

‘sunflower umbrellas,’ at night image courtesy LAVA

‘sunflower umbrellas,’ at night image courtesy LAVA

‘sunflower umbrellas,’ – how they function image courtesy LAVA

‘sunflower umbrellas,’ – section image courtesy LAVA

‘sunflower umbrellas,’ – section image courtesy LAVA