The newly completed Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects (DMAA) in Shanghai reflects the shifting global recognition of nature as a critical part of our living environment. This latest project integrates DMAA's technical and cultural knowledge in greenhouse design, presenting a new approach that prioritizes sustainability at every level.
In Shanghai's Pudong district, known for its growing skyline, the Expo Cultural Park now stands as a sustainable urban solution amid rapid development and the environmental pressures of urban expansion. Shanghai's environmental challenges, including high pollution, water shortages, and rising temperatures, have prompted the city to pursue radical, large-scale projects aimed at preserving natural habitats and pushing forward China's sustainability agenda.
From industrial site to urban park in Shanghai
Once home to a coal-fired power plant and steelworks, the site of Expo Cultural Park was remodeled for Expo 2010 before being reimagined by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects as a large recreational space and greenhouse in central Shanghai. The new project repurposes the steel structure of a former industrial hall, integrating organically shaped pavilions beneath this framework. This duality of industry and nature and of tradition and future illustrates Shanghai's historical turning point toward a greener, more sustainable urban core.
Traditional greenhouses are energy-intensive, and the architects' design aims to counter this by creating a zero-energy building. Single glazing was chosen for the structure based on simulations showing that it would be more energy-efficient than double glazing, as it reduces heat loss without the need for artificial lighting.
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