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Architecture

Flavours Orchard concept envisions eco-friendly, energy-producing community

By Adam Williams
March 03, 2014
Flavours Orchard concept envisions eco-friendly, energy-producing community
The Flavours concept is made up of three types of villa design within the settlement: the Mobius Villa, the Mountain Villa, and the Shell Villa (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
The Flavours concept is made up of three types of villa design within the settlement: the Mobius Villa, the Mountain Villa, and the Shell Villa (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
View 75 Images
Site Plan (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Site Plan (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
General birds-eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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General birds-eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa Site Plan (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa Site Plan (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa main birds-eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa main birds-eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa main pedestrian view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa main pedestrian view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa main interior view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa main interior view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa roof level (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa roof level (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa level 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa level 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa level 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa level 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa level 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa level 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa level1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa level1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa Section AA (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa Section AA (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa Section BB (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa Section BB (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa Section AA (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa Section AA (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa wireframe view of green roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa wireframe view of green roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa birds-eye view of green roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa birds-eye view of green roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa wireframe view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa wireframe view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa birds-eye view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa birds-eye view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa plans (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa plans (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa axonometric view 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa axonometric view 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa axonometric view 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa axonometric view 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa axonometric view 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa axonometric view 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa axonometric view 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa axonometric view 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mobius Villa bird's eye view of green roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mobius Villa bird's eye view of green roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa site plan (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa site plan (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa main bird's eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa main bird's eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa main pedestrian view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa main pedestrian view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa main interior view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa main interior view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa wooden roof level (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa wooden roof level (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa solar roof level (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa solar roof level (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa level 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa level 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa level 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa level 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa level 2(Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa level 2(Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa level 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa level 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa section AA (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa section AA (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa section BB (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa section BB (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa south elevation (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa south elevation (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa north elevation (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa north elevation (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa main wooden carpentry (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa main wooden carpentry (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa curtain wall 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa curtain wall 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa curtain wall 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa curtain wall 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa wireframe view of the solar roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa wireframe view of the solar roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa bird's eye view of the solar roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa bird's eye view of the solar roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa wireframe view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa wireframe view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa pedestrian view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa pedestrian view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa plans (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa plans (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa axonometric view 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa axonometric view 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa axonometric view 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa axonometric view 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa axonometric view 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa axonometric view 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa axonometric view 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa axonometric view 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa view from the Mobius Villa (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Mountain Villa view from the Mobius Villa (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa site plan (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa site plan (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa main bird's eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa main bird's eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
There's three types of villa design within the settlement: the Mobius Villa, the Mountain Villa, and the Shell Villa (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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There's three types of villa design within the settlement: the Mobius Villa, the Mountain Villa, and the Shell Villa (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa main interior view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa main interior view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa solar roof level (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa solar roof level (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa level 5 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa level 5 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa level 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa level 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa level 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa level 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa level 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa level 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa level 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa level 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa section AA (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa section AA (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa section BB (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa section BB (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa wooden carpentry (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa wooden carpentry (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa wooden carpentry (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa wooden carpentry (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa wireframe bird's eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa wireframe bird's eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa bird's eye view of solar roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa bird's eye view of solar roof (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa wireframe pedestrian view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa wireframe pedestrian view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa pedestrian view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa pedestrian view from the orchard (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa plans (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa plans (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa axonometric view 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa axonometric view 1 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa axonometric view 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa axonometric view 2 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa axonometric view 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa axonometric view 3 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Shell Villa axonometric view 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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Shell Villa axonometric view 4 (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
The Flavours concept is made up of three types of villa design within the settlement: the Mobius Villa, the Mountain Villa, and the Shell Villa (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
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The Flavours concept is made up of three types of villa design within the settlement: the Mobius Villa, the Mountain Villa, and the Shell Villa (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
View gallery - 75 images

Architect Vincent Callebaut has unveiled ambitious plans to create an energy-producing community comprising 45 futuristic villas in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming. Though likely to remain on the drawing board for the foreseeable future, the Flavours Orchard concept offers plenty of food for thought and some interesting renders to pore over.

Callebaut's practice is the same firm behind several other eye-catching, blue-sky concepts that have previously appeared on Gizmag, such as the Lilypad Floating City and the Shenzhen Farmscrapers.

The Flavours Orchard community is slated for location on reclaimed former industrial wasteland that measures over 9 hectares (22 acres). Once finished, the sizable area would sport rainwater-collecting lagoons, wind turbines, solar panels, electric bicycles, and driverless electric cars. Thanks to the abundance of food-producing plants and gardens, the inhabitants would be able to produce more than enough food for themselves to live comfortably.

Mountain Villa main bird's eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)
Mountain Villa main bird's eye view (Image: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)

There are three types of villa design envisioned for the settlement. The Mobius Villa takes aesthetic cues from an infinite ribbon design and features a large green roof, while the Mountain Villa is inspired by a large Chinese fan and features a dynamic facade that opens to follow the sun's path. The Shell Villa, meanwhile, resembles a Chinese hat and sports a large wind turbine.

All three villas are airtight, employ an automatic ventilation system, and highly efficient domestic appliances. LED lighting is automatically activated when an occupant enters each room, and the homes contain large triple-glazed north and south-facing windows. Heavy insulation, geothermal heat pumps, solar and thermal panels, and grey water recycling complete the shopping list of energy-efficient tech.

Callebaut rates the total energy production of the villas at somewhere around twice as much as what would be needed for the occupants to live comfortably, so there would be a large energy surplus. No figures are offered concerning how much the average harvest yield of the various food-producing gardens would be.

Hit the gallery for a closer look at this visually stunning concept design.

Source: Vincent Callebaut Architectures

View gallery - 75 images

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ArchitectureEnergyChinaSustainableEnergy-efficientVincent Callebaut
3 comments
Adam Williams
Adam Williams
Adam scours the globe from his home in Spain in order to bring the best of innovative architecture and sustainable design to the pages of New Atlas. Most of his spare time is spent dabbling in music, tinkering with old Macintosh computers and trying to keep his even older VW bus on the road.

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3 comments
ezeflyer
Orderly agriculture means chemical ag. Nature is not orderly. We can work with nature from anywhere (see Masanobu Fukuoka's "Natural Farming"). Trying to bend nature to our whims is always counterproductive.
Michael Crumpton
ezeflyer:Trying to bend nature to our whims is always counterproductive.
Wow, that pretty much rules out everything that man has ever done.
yrag
Sorry ezeflyer, I 'think' I know what you were trying to say, but Michaelc took your overly wide sweeping declaration and pretty much wrapped you up and discarded your argument in one fell swoop.