Kloster der Energien

The world is struggling with globalisation, overpopulation and climate change. One major turning point could be the sucessful operation of fusion energy plants in the future. As a tribute to this social and ecological topic we developed a new research center for fusion energy with educational insights into the process of a fusion reactor. Our „Monastery“ of energy is located in the Grimselwelt, a territory in the swiss alps which turned old and still working water plants into a touristic attraction. Already dealing with the topic of energy and being located in a farely remote and cold location is the perfect spot for our proposal.

concept

Placing ourselves on top of a former water canal which is now used as an acess tunnel, as well as on the former location of a cable car mid station we created a maximum acessability even in the winter month when the acessing roads and hiking paths are not usable due to heavy snowfall. In the first step of process a vertical shaft to the tunnel is created. The arosing material is used to build the fundamental concrete figures which represent the main steps of a fusion energy plant. In the rabbets of the concrete fundaments a thin steel framework is inserted which in the last step is filled with light steel constructions forming serving functions for the research center. The framework and the inserts are highly modular and flexible to adapt to an uncertain research in the future.

A visitor approaches by one of four possibilities; road or trail in summer and by cable car from the nearby „Grimsel Hospiz“ hotel and elevator from the underground tunnel system in winter. Either way, he will approach the complex from east combining the different arrival possibilities on the first monument at the noticable single standing concrete tube, the elevator shaft and cable car platform itself. From this point the visitor can start his tour through the process of the fusion energy technology. During his visit a user will always move on the top level of the concrete belts and light structures. When arriving at the first step of the process, the storage and preparation the visitor steps into the geometrical concrete tubes representing and supporting the silos. Walking on a thin steel bridge he gains theoretical knowledge through projections and engravement above him, while observing the practical insight of the process beneath him. This process repeats during the second insight when the visitor walks above the reactor core itself. In the last step he can observe the production of energy via heat and pressure by the large generators.

One level beneath the visitor on the inside the level of research is located. While the main aspect of a process step takes place in the concrete monument itself, serving secondary machines and tubing is located in the concrete belts of the monument

light modules

The scientists on the research level move in a centralized way through the „Kreuzgang“ (cloister) in the middle of the complex. This light translucent structure supported by the steel framework connects the three monuments with each other thus creating a central meeting and exchange hub. Just like the cloister in a monastery the center creates a physical but also spiritual connector for the scientists but also the visitors. The translucent walls give a shadowy insight for visitors and floods the rooms with natural indirect light, for optimal working conditions.

In addition to the central hub other modular light structures like small and big laboratories, housing modules and a workshop complete the complexes functionality. Constructed in the same way the light rooms are supported by the steel framework and mainly attach to the concrete belts. The housing modules however are connected by outdoor stairs and bridges in the framework. The modules share the same splitlevel layout, with a serving and acessing layer in the back, creating an easy to extend modular system for a flexible research.