Despite the active use of these structures (there are 88,000 of them in Britain, of which 22,000 belong to the National Grid, the organizer of the competition), their design has not changed since the 1920s. Each one reaches a height of 50 m and weighs 30 tons. At the same time, they are being built in the most picturesque places of the country, in beautiful natural landscapes, next to architectural monuments, etc., as well as in places with very difficult climatic conditions. More towers will be erected in the near future as the UK power grid will increase its capacity by 2020 by an amount equal to 20 new power plants.
Therefore, a new type of power transmission tower is needed (especially in connection with the reconstruction of the entire UK energy infrastructure in the next 40 years) - more efficient and attractive. The prize fund of the competition, which has collected 250 projects, is 10,000 pounds, but it is more of an idea competition. National Grid plans to take into account the ideas of the winners, but does not promise to implement them. Nevertheless, for the last jury meeting, which will take place at the end of October, the six finalists are preparing models of their work on a 1: 1 scale.
Designed with Jane Wernick Associates and sculptor Ann Christopher, Ian Ritchie's design is intended to remind of a spear heading towards the sky, sometimes black and sometimes silver.
The Bystrup option is a "serious" support in the form of a slender and compact tower that will fit into any landscape: depending on local conditions (for example, atmospheric pollution), it can be painted, galvanized, made of stainless steel or corten steel. The conductors are arranged in a triangular profile, which reduces the area of magnetic fields.
Landscape architect Katherine Gustafson, who worked with bureau Atelier One and Pfisterer, called her project Flower Tower: it resembles a bouquet of flowers or leaves. A multi-stem support is more stable than a single one, and platforms and bridges connecting them will facilitate access to the top for technical personnel.
Amanda Leavitt and the Arup engineers presented their work as "a poetic dialogue between structure and landscape." However, it is a fully functional form: curved profiles can expand and contract depending on local conditions, and the support can also be made in different sizes.
The team of Knight Architects, Roughan & O'Donovan, ESB International and MEGA proposed a Y-shaped structure: two legs covered with silicone rubber - an effective insulating material - significantly reduced the size of the mast, thereby reducing the "visual pollution" of the landscape.
New Town Studio architects and Structure Workshop engineers took inspiration from the existing openwork support: the element of permeability was maximized by it. The calm rounded shape they have chosen becomes more and more transparent towards the top.
Edward Cullinan, who was not included in the finalists, proposed to connect the power line support and the wind turbine: in his opinion, this would be an effective "green" solution, especially given the protests of residents against the construction of wind turbines and their indifference to the power lines.
The Make bureau, also unable to convince the jury, proposed supports in the form of giant rings of organic outlines, which, allegedly, are easier to blend into the landscape than ordinary masts.
UPD 2011-10-16 Bureau Bystrup became the winner of the competition.
