When most people think of buildings, it’s unlikely they think of any that are flower-shaped. But believe it or not, architects are constructing extraordinary buildings that look like flowers. Modern architects are starting to look to nature for inspiration in designing buildings, especially green buildings. Rose Hill Flowers has put together a list of some of the most stunning flower-shaped buildings from across the globe.
Wuhan. Wuhan New Energy Centre. Photo: Soeters Van Eldonk
Calla Lily
Wuhan, China
Home to Wuhan’s Energy Centre is the Wuhan Energy Flower building, which is one of the most sustainable structures in the world and, just so happens to be designed based on the beautiful and elegant calla lily flower. The calla lily shaped office tower is shaped like the base and opening of the calla lily. The circular roof of this building is tilted at an angle in order to provide shade to the offices underneath. Also, it faces the sun and solar panels which cover its surface soak up the sun’s energy for use throughout the building. This structure has zero carbon emissions and employs no fossil fuels. Plus, located within the pistil are vertical wind turbines to harness the power of the wind. The roof also acts as a large basin to catch rainwater which is collected and redistributed throughout the building. At the base of the flower, there are leaf-shaped buildings where the research labs are located.
Lotus Blossom
Lotus Temple, Dehli
Lotus Temple view from above
Delhi, India
The Lotus Temple in Delhi is an extraordinary structure designed to look like a Lotus Blossom. Elegant and beautiful, the Lotus Blossom is sacred to India. The exterior has three rows of 9 petals each that encircle the interior dome. The top two rows curve inwards and the bottom row curves outward with the lower petals creating a canopy over the 9 individual entrances. The surface is clad in white marble panels to give the building a shimmery and pristine white appearance. Nine reflection pools greet visitors in front of each entrance. These pools of water not only provide cool fresh air within the temple but they also give the illusion that the Lotus Temple is floating on water. This interior can hold up to 2,500 people and visitors from all different faiths and religions are welcome. There are no idols or carvings within the temple that favor any one religion. According to the Baha’i faith, the Oneness of all religions and Oneness of all humankind is promoted.
ArtScience Museum in Singapore
ArtScience Museum from above
Singapore
This innovative structure is also based on the lotus flower but is asymmetrical in its design. With ten petals of varying heights creating a dynamic radiating design and the base of the structure exist mostly underground, the flower portion appears as if it’s floating above the land. Individual art galleries exist in each of the 10 petals, and each one is also capped at the top by a skylight so natural light can illuminate the galleries. The cupped roof is also a rainwater collection basin and through a central oculus on the top, rainwater is funneled through the center of the entire building in the form of a waterfall. The water is recycled to create an endless waterfall loop while also providing water to the restrooms and landscaped areas.
Lotus-inspired Motisons Tower
Nightly Light Show at Motisons Tow
Jaipur, India
Here is another remarkable design inspired by the lotus flower. Only instead of white, this structure has bright multicolored leaves in deep jewel tones to reflect what type of business it is. Three giant lotus leaves sprout from all four sides of the building. During the day this striking structure is a showstopper especially with each leaf rimmed in gold fiberglass. During the night, however, the building really comes alive as bright LED lights illuminate the lotus petals and pulse with different colors while veins move across the surface in a dynamic and organic manner. Not surprisingly, this structure is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area.
