A new project proposed for Rotterdam will harness wind to create energy. The Dutch Windwheel will be a wind energy converter that also houses apartments, a hotel, and a roller coaster. According to Gizmag, the windmill was designed to serve not only as an energy icon, but also as a tourist attraction and residential building.
The Dutch Windwheel is a 571-foot structure has two wings. The larger outer ring will house 40 pods on rails that move around the ring and provide views of the city and surrounding port. The inner ring will house 72 apartments, a 160-room hotel on seven floors, a panoramic restaurant, and a viewing gallery.
Using a technology developed at Delft Technical University, the windmill generates energy by harnessing the movement of charged water droplets in the wind. Since there are no parts of the attraction that move, it's essentially silent and easier to maintain than traditional wind turbines. Additionally, the Dutch Windwheel uses photovoltaic thermal hybrid panels to contribute to the generation of electricity.
The project is being planned and developed by the Dutch Windwheel Corporation, a consortium of Rotterdam-based companies: BLOC , DoepelStrijkers, and Meysters. The group says the windwheel could draw around 1.5 million visitors per year.
Related Stories
Industrial Facilities | Jul 24, 2024
Industrial construction slows, but demand remains strong
California and Arizona remain the most sought-after markets for development and operations, says CommercialEdge’s latest report.
Great Solutions | Jul 23, 2024
41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
AI ChatBots, ambient computing, floating MRIs, low-carbon cement, sunshine on demand, next-generation top-down construction. These and 35 other innovations make up our 2024 Great Solutions Report, which highlights fresh ideas and innovations from leading architecture, engineering, and construction firms.
Industrial Facilities | Jun 8, 2024
8 ways to cool a factory
Whichever way you look at it—from a workplace wellness point of view or from a competing for talent angle—there are good reasons to explore options for climate control in the factory workplace.
Building Tech | May 21, 2024
In a world first, load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer
A Germany-based construction engineering company says it has constructed the world’s first load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer. Züblin built a new warehouse from a single 3D print for Strabag Baumaschinentechnik International in Stuttgart, Germany using a Putzmeister 3D printer.
Industrial Facilities | May 9, 2024
Another new industrial facility breaks ground in hottest market for this sector
The Brickyards on Ellsworth in Mesa, Ariz., will eventually have eight buildings.
Laboratories | Apr 12, 2024
Life science construction completions will peak this year, then drop off substantially
There will be a record amount of construction completions in the U.S. life science market in 2024, followed by a dramatic drop in 2025, according to CBRE. In 2024, 21.3 million sf of life science space will be completed in the 13 largest U.S. markets. That’s up from 13.9 million sf last year and 5.6 million sf in 2022.
Industrial Facilities | Apr 9, 2024
Confessions of a cold storage architect
Designing energy-efficient cold storage facilities that keep food safe and look beautiful takes special knowledge.
Data Centers | Feb 28, 2024
What’s next for data center design in 2024
Nuclear power, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, and data centers as learning destinations are among the emerging design trends in the data center sector, according to Scott Hays, Sector Leader, Sustainable Design, with HED.
Designers | Feb 23, 2024
Coverings releases top 2024 tile trends
In celebration of National Tile Day, Coverings, North America's leading tile and stone exhibition, has announced the top 10 tile trends for 2024.
MFPRO+ News | Feb 15, 2024
UL Solutions launches indoor environmental quality verification designation for building construction projects
UL Solutions recently launched UL Verified Healthy Building Mark for New Construction, an indoor environmental quality verification designation for building construction projects.