Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Wind Dam - is this the answer?
















(above: Lake Ladoga - Nothern Russia)

(below: Red River Gorge - Kentucky)


UK based, Chetwoods Associates design a wind dam that generates power. How does this change the natural elements of the gorge? I remember many trips to the Red River Gorge in Eastern part of Kentucky and cannot imagine a huge wind dam blocking the natural environment. While a wind dam is an innovative design, there has to be another solution. How far will we go? What do you think? 

7 comments:

Anitha D said...

This is really an interesting possibility...I was reading that creating this wind dam would create turbulence, therefore making it more difficult to actually direct wind to the turbine. Also something this light, would it be able to withstand sudden winds in different directions?
But they are also thinking of placing these wind dams in specific places that have prevailing winds in predominantly one direction....

An interesting diagram of this wind dam can be found at:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/files/articles/winddam_main.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-02/wind-dam&h=344&w=485&sz=30&hl=en&start=1&um=1&usg=__drwCRn_R4YRguvEhV009cPYOoMI=&tbnid=_uhlwTsrWMT5xM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwind%2Bdams%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN

Robert B. Barnhart said...

I know, I also wonder how much energy can actually be generated from one turbine? It seems that you would need a lot to have any significant affects.

Paul said...

Although its innovative, it looks like an eyesore. Especially when compared against that pristine, untouched landscape in the lower picture.

Robert B. Barnhart said...

yes i agree. the image on the bottom is the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. We used to camp there all the time.

Joseph Rosenberg said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joseph Rosenberg said...

I think it is quite elegant functional art.
what makes it even more appreciative is [what seems] minimal impact to the land with anchors to the mountain side and river bed.
It looks like an art installation and reminds me of Christo's work.
Now i didn't say it was a perfect design, it can use some refining.

Carrie said...

So if we see architecture as intervention...

...then at some point we are going to comment on the pristine. Or is it off limits?

This is a great conversation for tomorrow!