A combined waste-to-energy-ski slope might sound like something out of science fiction, but the ambitious project broke ground in March 2013 and is currently under construction in Copenhagen. Envisioned by the ever quotable starchitect Bjarke Ingels of the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the Amager Bakke Waste-to-Energy Plant is a massive wedge-shaped building that will generate power by incinerating waste. Oh- and don't forget about the 31,000-square-metre ski slope on the structure's roof. The idealistic project should be completed in about three years, and Dezeen has a new video interview with Bjarke Ingels about the project. Along with changing the world and all that jazz, Bjarke reveals that he hopes the ski slope/power plant will "transform[s] people's perceptions" about public utility buildings, and even increase Denmark's medal tally at the next Winter Olympics.
Bjarke first had the idea for a ski slope because he didn't want to waste the large roofscape necessitated by his waste-to-energy plant design. The design also features a huge smoke stack that will puff illuminated rings of smoke whenever 1 ton of fossil CO2 is released. Don't expect 6-person ski lifts here; skiers will access the slope by an internal elevator that whisks them to the top. The slope itself with have three different gradients, equivalent to black, blue, and green ski runs. And non-skiers can still enjoy a green forrest area, a hiking trail, climbing walls, and possibly even a mountain bike trail.
So what does all of this have to do with Denmark's Olympic medal count? We'll let Bjarke fill you in:
BIG's combined power plant and ski slope will "turn science fiction into fact" from Dezeen on Vimeo.
What do you think, Curbediverse? Would you ski Bjarke's waste plant?
More photos below:
· BIG's combined power plant and ski slope is "turning science fiction into fact" [Dezeen]
· Bjarke Ingels Group [Official Site]
· Here Now, Bjarke Ingels' Ski Slope/Waste Plant Up Close [Curbed]
· Bjarke Ingels' New Waste Plant Will Also Be a Ski Slope [Curbed]