Blooming Skyscraper Collects Dew and Generates Energy

Like a plant that opens its petals to collect dew, the Blooming Tower by <a href="http://cargocollective.com/mekene/#704457/Blooming-In-The-Wind" target="_blank">Mekene Architecture</a> responds to environmental changes with a kinetic facade that opens and closes throughout the day. The mixed-use recreational facility combines playgrounds, a library, a conference space and picnic areas under a lightweight tower covered in sail cloth material. The 170-meter tower designed for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/13/dubais-wave-tower-is-a-spiraling-seascraper/" target="_blank">Dubai</a> is also capable of collecting water and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/08/energy-generating-desert-towers-harvest-the-sun-and-wind/" target="_blank">generating energy</a>.

The tower responds to the climate during the day and night, opening and closing like the petals of a flower.

The eco tower designed by Mekene Architecture provides recreational and picnic space along with a children's library, conference space and a cafe at the top of the tower.

The wide base of the tower is sunken into the surrounding gardens and covered with a lightweight aluminum framed dome.

During the day, the white exterior protects the tower from the sun and serves as a solar chimney. At night, the exterior opens to collect dew and the panels catch the wind to generate energy.

The 170-meter tower sits in a large park. It was designed to serve as an iconic landmark for Dubai.

A cable-car elevator takes visitors to the top for views of the city from a cafe.

Some of the sail cloth flaps are opened during the day to allow light to illuminate the fields and recreational space down below.

Each sail cloth flap opens at night to collect dew for the building.

The pinnacle of the building is at 170 meters, and a terrace and a cafe are located at 155 and 150 meters respectively.

The main activity for the tower occurs on the bottom floor where the library, conference rooms, and picnic areas reside.

The structure is basically an inverted cone -- during the day it acts as a solar chimney, drawing hot air up and out while replacing it with fresh cool air.

The view of the tower from the top.

The tower can respond to various conditions throughout the day and night by opening or closing the sail cloth flaps.