The Solar Tower complex was built as part of the ambitious socio-urban development project Sociopolis in Valencia. The new district is being built on an area of 35 hectares, and houses for it are designed by 18 architectural firms from around the world. Different in number of storeys, area and appearance, this housing for the most part is not commercial, but social, which means that the designers had to focus on the cost-effectiveness of solutions. The Solar Tower is no exception.
When designing an apartment building, Iñaki Abalos made a bet on the fertile climate of Valencia, where the bright sun shines for almost 300 days a year, and therefore its energy can and should be used. The complex shape of the building, which does not have sharp corners, is designed to minimize heat loss and ensure optimal orientation of the apartments: each of them has windows on two sides of the world, which allows them to be ventilated without the help of an air conditioner. The project uses windows that prevent excess heat loss on cold days and protect housing from excess ultraviolet radiation. By the way, it is for this reason that the architect abandoned panoramic glazing - it is problematic to use it without blinds in hot climates.
The bright architectural image of the building is created due to the contrast between the rich plastic volume, in the plan resembling a flower with many petals, and the minimalist decoration of the facades with aluminum panels.
A. M.
