The Deathstar

Yet again in Dubai, another wacky proposal, this time is called the Deathstar (yes, like in Star Wars, though now, in modern times, it´s an Eco Deathstar). This has been a project for some years now, and the fact is that there is a technopark being built in Dubai, where is also supposed that this building will be constructed. But it´s still a project.

Anyway, here´s what we may see in the future if this becomes real:



This project is also known as the Technosphere, and is said that it´s not, apparently, based on Star Wars’ infamous Deathstar, but instead on a Japanese Panasonic radio from the early 1970s.

It replicates the Earth as a structural concept. Inside the eco-sphere is an entire world which serves as a vehicle to explore the issues of self-sustaining life on a smaller level. The Technosphere is meant to reflect the state of our planet in current and future times. Proposed as an iconic building for the Technopark of Dubai, the eco-sphere would be a carbon neutral tourist attraction as well as a place in which to live and work.

The Technosphere is a mixed-use building providing office and residential space as well as a hotel and public courtyards. This living, breathing building operates in a similar fashion to the Earth itself, providing energy, recycling water, and providing sustenance to its occupants. The exterior forms a shell around the interior spaces and will house solar panels for electricity generation. Inside, sky gardens act to shield the interior spaces from the sun and filter the air to contribute fresh oxygen to the indoor environment. Water will be recycled and efficiently used.

The project was designed by the architect James Law, known for his work in `cybertecture´, which is a combination of advanced technologies, architecture, and multimedia experiences for users. This new design, the Technosphere, was presented at the UltraFuture Conference in 2008, during which the Future of the Built Environment was explored.

Who knows if this will ever be built, but seeeing all this craziness with mega building projects, sooner or later a building similar to this will become true.

Here´s another picture of the project: