Stockholm Or Whoville It May Be Hard To Tell

I think the coolest thing about this new design it that even a light breeze can generate power...now it's just getting use to the look of the thing.  Meet Straw Scraper.

All around the world engineers and scientists are looking for alternative power.  Buildings that can sustain themselves electrically. And here is the latest, it is the 'hairy skyscraper'. A radical eco-design covered in energy generating fibres revealed in this artists conception and plans are in the works to build the prototype in Stockholm, Sweden.

It looks unlike any other skyscraper ever designed - and appears at first glance to be wearing a giant wig. However, experts say this bizarre design could be the future of high rise buildings.The 'hairs' are in fact thin fibres that convert movement as they are blown about into energy, taking advantage of the winds on the higher levels of the building.

An artist's impression of the 'hairy skyscraper' planned for Stockholm. The 'hairs' are in fact thin fibres that convert movement into energy as they are blown by the wind

According to the Daily Mail the authors of the project write:

THE HOUSE BUILT OF STRAW

The straws of the facade consist of a composite material with piezoelectric properties that can turn motion into electrical energy.

Piezoelectricity is created when certain crystals’ deformation is transformed into electricity.

The technique has advantages when compared to traditional wind turbines since it is quite and does not disturb wildlife.

It functions at low wind velocity since only a light breeze is sufficient for the straws to start swaying and generate energy.

The plans have been created by Belatchew Arkitekter, who called the project 'Strawscraper'. The new tower is designed to be built on top of a building in the centre of the city.

'Belatchew Arkitekter wants to give Söder Torn its original proportions and at the same time explore new techniques that could create the urban wind farm of the future,' the firm says.

'By using piezoelectric technology, a large number of thin straws can produce electricity merely through small movements generated by the wind.  'The result is a new kind of wind power plant that opens up possibilities of how buildings can produce energy.  'With the help of this technique surfaces on both old and new buildings can be transformed into energy producing entities.'