With latest figures for climate change predicting an increase in average global temperatures between 1.8 – 4.0°C this century (IPCC, 2007), it is clear what effects our global consumer society
is having on the environment. In

light of this, the Bioclimatic Tower project seeks to challenge the tall building standard model – the high-energy consuming, air-conditioned glass ‘box’ that exists
in countries and sites around the world – and instead explores the potential for environmentally responsive skyscrapers, set within the existing high-rise context of Canary Wharf.

The programmatic brief for each project was derived from site studies and research, with the majority of the towers looking to enrich the overtly commercial area through residential provision. Particular emphasis is placed on tall buildings’ abilities to generate a proportion of their energy on-site from renewables, through harnessing of wind and solar power.

The project began with a fieldtrip to London,whilst the normal system of weekly tutorials and routine design reviews were supplemented by video presentations of the design proposals available at: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/sbe/tallbuildings/EducationMain.htm