On Falcon Island it’s not just the holiday-goers that will be soaking up the sun – the island itself is set to be powered exclusively using solar energy.
Falcon Island – Courtesy of www.constructionweekonline.com
Man-made islands are nothing new in the United Arab Emirates – indeed, love them or hate them, the likes of The Palm and The World have long since been attracting guests to Dubai. The latest building project to rock the Gulf is much more than just a man-made island, however – it’s a showcase for pioneering eco-technology: a private island powered exclusively using solar energy.
Located in Ras al-Khaimah, Falcon Island encompasses a surface area of approximately 4 km² and is set to form home to 150 designer villas and an additional 11 decadent domiciles, each surrounded by lush parkland and well-manicured gardens. Set to be completed in 2016, the island is designed to highlight that luxury travel and environmental awareness are by no means mutually exclusive.
Each and every one of the luxury properties are planned to be zero-energy buildings – a true innovation in a region not famed for its commitment to environmental concerns.The green-thinking doesn’t just stop at the island’s electricity supply however – the street lights, desalination plant and various cooling systems are also set to be powered by the sun.
As Ras al-Khaimah-based construction company Al Hamra Real Estate finishes the final preparations before starting work on the island’s foundations next month, manager Benoy Kurien issued the following statement: “Falcon Island is the ultimate in sustainable waterfront living. We’re not just on par with some of the world’s best projects we’re actually topping them.”
“These luxury residences are built to the highest architectural and environmental standards, surrounded by the finest hospitality and leisure amenities,” he added. “We are proud of the sustainable aspect. The entire community will be powered by the latest solar energy technology and we will ensure this is a sustainable project with the highest environmental standards.”
Falcon Island is not the only ecologically innovative private island project to have boggled the mind of the Private Island News team, however. Some 3,000 km away in the Maldives, a bold hotel project (tentatively called “Solar Floating Islands”) has been designed by Frankfurt-based architect Bernhard Schenk, which as well as incorporating floating UFOs in the design, is 100% environmentally friendly.
Solar panels are set to adorn the roofs, walls and awnings of this luxury development, ensuring that the project can function without any further energy supplies.
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