Flowers have long been the inspiration for many artists and creative minds, and with today’s technology, now it can be that for architects as well. In fact, a number of bold and visionary architects have done just that — designed a building to resemble a flower. The results are jaw-dropping and inspiring. Bice’s Florist has put together a list of some of the most striking and beautiful floral-inspired buildings for you to enjoy.
Wuhan. Wuhan New Energy Centre. Photo: Soeters Van Eldonk
Calla Lily
Wuhan, China
Rising up like a bold, stylized Calla Lily, the flower which was the inspiration for the design, the Wuhan Energy Flower building is an amazing feat of green construction and is considered to be the most sustainable building in the world. The structure is the new home for the Wuhan Energy Center which is devoted to the development and research of new energy utilization. At the base of the flower tower are leaf-shaped buildings that house the laboratories. The main tower is where the business offices are located. The roof of the flower is tilted toward the sun not only to capture the sun’s rays with all of the solar panels on the roof’s surface, but also so that the tower provides its own shade to the offices below during China’s hot summers. The roof also acts as a basin to collect rainwater which is redistributed throughout the building to supply water to the bathrooms and roof-top garden. The golden “pistil” rising out of the roof has vertical wind-turbines to harness the wind for energy. This amazing flower-shaped building has zero carbon emissions and uses no fossil fuels for energy making it extremely energy efficient.
Lotus Blossom
Lotus Temple, Dehli
Lotus Temple view from above
Delhi, India
Designed after the lotus blossom, a flower sacred to India, the Baha’i House of Worship is an open structure with nine entrances. There are also nine clusters of 3 petals surrounding the interior dome which give this structure its floral shape. In accordance with the Baha’i faith, there are no carvings, pictures, or sculptures of idols for one to pray to, nor are there any priests or formal religious ceremonies. The Baha’i faith believes in the Oneness of Religions and Oneness of Humankind therefore people of all faiths, religions, and races are welcome to worship in the temple. The reflection of light as it bounces off the 9 reflecting pools surrounding the structure provides the decoration. These pools are also designed to make the Lotus Temple appear to be floating on water. On the exterior of the building are white marble panels which give the structure a pure and pristine shimmer look. There are 54 ribs located on the interior dome which also create the shape of a lotus flower, and the skylight at the apex resembles what the flower looks like as rays of the sun enter into its interior.
Lotus Inspired Conference Center in Wujin, China
Wujin Lotus Conference Center
Wujin, China
This building shows the lotus blossom as fully bloomed. The other 2 buildings next to show the lotus blossom in its bud form and fully ripe form.
Magnolia-like Qizhong Tennis Center
Qizhong Tennis Center
Shanghai
Inspired by the beautiful magnolia flower, when the retractable roof spirals open, it resembles the blooming of this elegant flower.
