Sustainable Design 2.0: Sweden's The Tenniscalator

We love it when we come across interesting and innovative architectural concepts, particularly when the materials are locally sourced wood. Take, for instance, the super non-traditional tennis complex proposed for Vaxjo, Sweden by Paris-based architecture firm David Tajchman.

He won an international design competition for what is aptly being called the “Tenniscalator”, which Inhabitat.com says may “look like a gigantic piece of shredded wheat,” but the proposed vertical form will take up only 10 percent of the site, as opposed to a sprawling horizontal plan.

So what else is so green about it? According to Inhabitat.com, “Stacking the courts not only leaves room for extensive grounds, but also takes advantage of economies of scale. Lighting, plumbing, heating, cooling and ventilation systems are all contained in one structure and can be more efficiently controlled. Locally sourced lumber, a sustainable material when responsibly harvested, would be used to construct the Tenniscalator.”

Also: “Lots of natural light filters in through the wooden structure during the day to help reduce lighting demand. When the center is not being used for tennis practice or competitions, it can also be used for concerts, fairs and conferences, making it a multi-use building.”