The buildings are designed to appear as boats, sailing on the lake.

The top floor of each building is designed as a leisure area.

Natural ventilation helps reduce the cooling load of the air-conditioning system.

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Sailing to sustainability

Skin deep

The design of the buildings aims to conserve the amount of energy used by inhabitants, and plans to incorporate alternative energy sources in the complex are currently in place.
Combined, the amount of CO₂ emissions from the estate aims to be 50% lower than that of comparable residences.

A double skin façade of aluminium and prefabricated concrete elements provides plenty of opportunities to install solar shaders.

In addition to the brise-soleils, the double skin comprises of both an open façade and an internal sealed façade.

Vertical elements in the open façade provide shading when solar angles are low, whilst the horizontal balconies have been sized and positioned to provide shading when solar angles are high.

These passive shading elements provide a balance between retaining a good level of daylight and providing attractive views, whilst reducing the heating effect created by the harsh local climate.

Meanwhile, semi-reflective glazing prevents excessive light and heat entering the building.

This helps maintain the nautical theme of the exterior design.

"From the inside of each flat is an extraordinary sense of being completely surrounded by water," says Nicoletti.

Natural ventilation is also possible as the outer skin is unsealed. Mixed-mode ventilation offers the opportunity to reduce the building's dependence on artificial cooling.

Comprising functioning windows and user-operated switches to adjust centralised air-conditioning in the units, the system allows occupants to choose between natural air and mechanically cooled air.

The domed 30m elevations of each building have been earmarked for meeting places and roof gardens, both of which incorporate plenty of open air space.

Moreover, brise-soleils are used to reduce the amount of solar gain.

"You have a very pleasant shadow on the top and at the same time you can see an artificial lake and the surroundings, but you're protected from direct sun," says Nicoletti.

Perhaps more striking than the form of the buildings is their sustainable design-an element that was not a design requirement in the initial brief.

"Each ‘sail' building expresses something magic, exclusive, exceptional and iconic," says Nicoletti.

"[Sustainability] is not something the client requested. [But] this is what we do in every design we make."

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