Not Your Average Starbucks: Solar-Powered Coffee House

Feast your eyes on the future Solar Winds Coffee House by Michael Jantzen. The structure will be fully self-sufficient, powered completely by the wind and sun. That device rising from the center of the coffee house is a built-in vertical axis wind turbine to generate power. There’s also an array of solar panels on the roof. The building will be constructed from natural, sustainable materials and will come with both a rainwater harvesting system and graywater recycling system.

The design mimics the forces of nature with wind blowing up and over – it’s what wind would look like if it weren’t invisible. It has a well-proportioned form that is harmonious and fluid. Jantzen’s design is sophisticated artistry.

The wind socks, if you will, provide shady areas and allow natural light to pour onto the deck. Large skylights on the roof help conserve energy while illuminating the inside of the coffee house.

This building is as visually exciting as it is ecologically friendly. And that’s a combination we’re likely see increasingly often as the need to preserve our struggling planet becomes more and more acute.

Posted on September 22nd in Going Solar by Beth.