Author: Anna Stenning
Title: Forward Thinking Architecture For Incineration Facilities

Article: Incineration facilities may not seem likely candidates for attracting the attention of top architects – and indeed, for the most part, this is true. It is not a glamorous business like high finance; it is not grand like national parliaments. No, only architects with a certain degree of flexibility or imagination will try and transform the grubby image of incineration.

Industrial isn’t the word. Well, ok, it is. It is industrial; getting rid of things by incineration is definitely industrial. It’s not cool. But have any architects managed to make it look cool? If not cool exactly, at least visually appealing in some way?

What features do incinerators around the world have in common then? Well, a massive chimney is certainly a pre-requisite. Any incineration facility architect that forgets to put a chimney on his design, is probably not the material that a incineration builder is looking for. Joking aside, the chimney can be a feature of the plant that can be transformed into an iconic part of the whole place.

The SYSAV plant in Malmo is a huge incineration facility that can deal with 25 metric tons of household waste. While it may be impressive in terms of dealing with waste – it is not the prettiest incineration plant in the world. It is essentially a large box shape with a large chimney and some smaller ones rising up above it.

But not all incineration pants are so lacking in engineering imagination. The striking Spittelau Incinerator near Vienna in Austria offers a new way of looking at such industrial buildings. Every aspect of the building mechanics has enjoyed the attention of the architect. The various corners of the building appear to be straight blue poles, each of which is topped with a golden sphere. This majestic look is at odds with the reputation of the vast majority of incinerators.

The main feature of this incineration facility is the large, futuristic looking chimney which rises above the building. It has a pleasing kitsch sci-fi look to it, with a bulbous mid-section. Shiny, colourful materials typify this building. The front wall surrounding the facility is adorned with a semi-chequered pattern and various non-industrial looking illustrative features.

Both for the people who live near this facility and those who work inside it, the building totally changes the way incineration plants are looked at. For those who work inside, it must add a certain vigour to their working day, while those who live nearby must appreciate the attractive, playful nature of the building’s design.

As this article discusses, these kind of plants do not need to look unattractive – they can actually be inspiring public structures. It certainly takes bravery for any municipal authority to invest in such off the wall industrial architecture – but those who do might be handsomely rewarded in time. Anna Stenning is an architect with an interest in industrial buildings. Find out more about incineration at http://www.glosfume.com/

Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com

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