1. The Edge will be a building that harvests more energy than it uses
The air will be heated by the sun. The shape of the roof is designed to encourage the air to rise into the tall funnels. We will extract the hot air from the funnels and store it in the ground.
If we need to vent hot air from the building because it’s too hot, then this will be done out of the top of the funnels and will drive turbines to generate electricity, thereby making the excess hot air work for us.
The solar heat generated by the sun is estimated to be around five times greater than the total annual heating energy requirement.
2. Hear from people who live on “the Edge”
What can we learn from those who survive with limited resources.
3. Extreme landscapes
You will be able to journey through extreme landscapes such as deserts where you will see astonishing plant adaptations.
4. Channelled rain power will unleash water’s massive energy.
Water collected from the roof will bring the building to life, carrying Eden’s core message – all life depends on natural resources to survive.
The Edge will come alive when it rains. We are going to celebrate water and the life that it gives us.
The rainwater will enter the building through a large funnel in the roof. Various displays will come to life including lots of hands-on activities for children and adults alike to highlight all the resources water gives us.
We also want to create an area of flash flood when it rains heavily just as we see in the parts of the world represented in the Edge.
5. Largest oasis in captivity
The Edge will feature the largest oasis in captivity, and beautiful gardens where we can meet to transform our own communities and own lives
6. Radical new technologies
The Edge will showcase radical new technologies such as spray-on solar cells and green petrol-belching algae
7. Intimate theatres and grand gathering halls
The Edge will feature inspiring meeting places for exhibitions, workshops, performances and events.
8. Heat storage
Heat will be extracted from the warm air and stored underground in a water reservoir or in underground rock banks. The challenge is to capture as much of this natural energy as possible and store as efficiently as possible for use as and when it is needed. Heat exchange pump technology (like that used to generate cold in a refrigerator but in reverse) will be used to harness the stored heat and release it into the building when it is needed. Most of the heat from the sun will be generated and stored in the summer with the need for heat being primarily in the winter, particularly at night.
9. Underground chambers will be carved into the rock face
We asked the designers to design a building that would fit into the landscape that we already have in that part of the pit, so the Edge will actually nestle into the bowl that is already there rather than being dug into the ground.
The chambers will be opened to community groups to work with some of the greatest voices of the age – artists, writers, scientists and musicians – to share their stories and ask how society can be transformed for the better.
10. A Trading Post
You can spend time at the Trading Post, a vibrant, diverse, exotic meeting place with communal food, music and festival.
11. Amazing art
The Edge will also showcase climate-powered artwork such as storm kaleidoscopes and lightning on demand.
