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Environmental Architecture (MA)

Xukai Lin

Xukai Lin is a Chinese architect who graduated from the Architecture Department of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, obtaining a five-year Bachelor's degree in Engineering. After one year of architectural practice, he joined the Environmental Architecture program at RCA for his postgraduate studies.

As a spatial designer, Xukai Lin endeavors to transcend the conventional framework of spatial design and explores the myriad possibilities of space. He engages in a dialogue with space and presents his ideas through various mediums. His works also reflect his contemplation of the environment, exploring the meaning of human intervention and design in shaping the environment.

3D Scan of an abandoned wind turbine

The global environmental crisis has accelerated the development of renewable energy. Greece, a country blessed with wind energy resources, has made significant investment in  wind turbine developments, through which, the Greek government hopes to stimulate the country's economy. However, while these developments do have many benefits, their environmental costs—although reflected in the environment itself—are generally uncalculated by those not carrying the burden of their reflection. 

Linked to the catastrophic wildfires of August 2021, wind farms are planned for North Euboea, an area not considered to be rich in wind energy. The environmental impact of the deforestation required to build the wind turbine is not limited to the loss of forest life—trees, animals, soils, and homes—but directly affects the local wind and climate by changing land temperatures and humidities that in turn alter wind patterns and ways of life. To further investigate and visualise these relationships, our film works with  concepts of surface roughness and metabolic rifts. We hope to make this film public and to challenge public perceptions of wind energy infrastructure through artistic visual representations that encourage people to reflect on their environmental impact.The film will be divided into three timelines—past, present and future—to reveal the environmental impact of mankind's excessive pursuit of energy.



Wind SimulationWhen the movement of wind is obstructed by vegetation, one of the main factors affecting the efficiency of wind turbines is the degree of attenuation and the directional changes of the wind, known as surface roughness
Wind flowing through forested terrain.
Wind flowing over smooth terrain.
This video shows the environmental and climatic consequences of a reduction of ‘surface roughness’ due to the absence of vegetation. Normally, vegetation blocks moist air and retains humidity within the forest, without this forest-wind interaction, humidity decreases, temperatures rise and wind speeds at the earth’s surface increase.
A video that simulates traveling through the Northern Euboean forest from the perspective of the wind, showing that when the wind is blocked by large trees, it can be stopped, change its direction of flow, and even experience turbulence as it breaks apart and continues on its way.

With the perspective of the drone, we immerse ourselves in the on-site environment, capturing stationary photo nodes that observe changes in the surroundings. These photo nodes change color in response to environmental changes, visually expressing the temperature's impact on the visual perception of the real Evia Island