Green Energy Laboratory_Laura Andreini_9788855210737_WORDS & VISUALS PRESS PTE LTD

Author: Laura Andreini

Format: Hardback | 136 pages

Dimensions: 245 x 325 x 16mm | 1,227g

Publication date: 21 Feb 2022

The Green Energy Laboratory (GEL) is a research centre for low environmental impact building technologies on the the Minhang Campus of Jiao Tong University in Shanghai. Created in collaboration between the university and the Italian Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection, it was designed and built by the Florentine architectural firm Archea Associati in 2012.


This book features critical essays, technical drawings, photos of the construction site and the completed project, and illustrates the harmony of this structure through its perfect blend of tradition, architectural ingenuity, and sustainability. The GEL building is based around a central courtyard with a retractable roof. The top, or third floor, is recessed in relation to the main block, with a steeply sloped roof to house solar panels. The outer shell of the building's double skin is composed of terracotta elements designed to form pictograms common in the Chinese language. This landmark project represents a symbol of intercultural cooperation between Italy and China.