For better or worse, the German city of Heilbronn hopes to join the action and become Europe’s answer to Silicon Valley as AI technology looks set to have a major impact in the years to come. To kickstart this vision, the company commissioned high-profile firm MVRDV to create a high-tech AI innovation center in the form of a large circular campus that boasts sustainability such as solar and wind. .
The Artificial Intelligence at Innovation Park spans 265,000 square meters (approximately 2.8 million square feet) and hosts laboratories, science buildings, and a startup center. It will also include housing and facilities such as restaurants and kindergartens, sidewalks, skate parks and running tracks.
Most of the buildings consist of simple rectangles about 88 feet (27 m) high, making construction relatively easy and efficient. However, there are exceptions, such as the striking round tower that hosts a communications center and is topped by a roof garden.
It incorporates ancient Roman trails and serves as the main north-south route, but significant landscaping includes pastures planted for AI agricultural research.
MVRDV
Jacob van Rijs, founding partner of MVRDV, said: “The campus’s striking shape helps attract and propel world-class talent onto the international stage. will be a destination where people can participate in this future of technology.”
According to MVRDV, campus energy consumption will be about 80% lower than typical developments of the same type and size. Insulated green roofs and energy efficient heating and cooling help minimize energy usage, and power is supplied by a combination of wind turbines and solar panels. These are connected to batteries, and even a geothermal system is mentioned.
Innovation Park’s artificial intelligence is an international architectural competition-winning design developed in collaboration with LOLA Landscape Architects, alongside Thornton Tomasetti, Studio Animal-Aided Design, Realace, Peutz Consult and Gruner Deutschland. However, it is still in its early stages and nothing has been announced as to when it will be completed.
Source: MVRDV
