* COAM Award, 2011

* Selected work Arquia/Próxima Award, 2010

* Finalist NAN Awards, category: Best Integration of Energy into Architecture, 2013

* First Prize International Contest Urban Trees. ASA (Association for Sustainability and Architecture), 2009

The Urban Tree is a sort of urban pet that serves as a meeting place for exercise and as a civic infrastructure for raising awareness about environmental issues. It is the result of an international ideas contest organized by ASA (Association for Sustainability and Architecture) to design a replicable prototype of an artificial tree. A device that helps citizens understand, through experience, the ecological importance of a tree in the city.

The canopy of the tree consists of an array of photovoltaic solar panels and aromatic plants oriented at different angles toward the sun. The base features a water tank whose weight provides stability to the structure. It also features some resting areas and four energy-generating exercise bikes attached to the sides of the base.

The Urban Tree is a space for collective care. On the one hand, citizens take care of the tree with their own bodies: when they pedal, the bicycles—which are connected to a series of transformers—generate energy that, combined with the energy produced by solar panels, pumps the water that waters the plants and powers the lighting. On the other hand, by pedaling, citizens get exercise and keep fit. During the hot months, the canopy sprays water to cool the air during exercise sessions. The installation thus creates a space for mutual care.

By producing its own energy through a combined system of power-generating bicycles and photovoltaic panels, the Urban Tree functions as an off-the-grid device. It also features a series of charging stations located at its base where people can plug in their devices and obtain electricity for free.

Through a series of indicators, the Urban Tree communicates with the citizens, revealing the energy management process and translating technical language into color codes that, while making energy processes understandable, create a bright, vibrant, ever-changing atmosphere. The battery status indicators are located beneath the solar panels and show how the battery level changes throughout the day, becoming brighter the more energy is being generated. When the battery is fully charged, the canopy lights up completely. As the battery discharges, the lights gradually turn off. When the critical charge level is reached—when only one light per panel remains on—the Urban Tree activates the emergency gauges located under the seat of each bicycle. These indicators draw attention of passersby and encourage people to sit down and pedal for a while until minimum operating levels are restored. While biking, once the system has built up sufficient momentum, the tree activates the generation indicator to show that mechanical energy starts to be converted into electricity and, therefore, the system is starting to recharge. All of the lighting consists of an energy-efficient, low-light-emission LED system that blends into the city's nightscape without disturbing the local birds in the area.

This way, Urban Tree opens its “black box,” making its energy management process accessible to everyone. Unblackboxing these processes, on the one hand, brings certain ecological controversies—such as those related to the governance of invisible infrastructure, dependence on fossil fuels, the questioning of solutions disconnected from networks of collective action and decision-making, the right to energy, or the role of normative bodies in ecological matters, among others—to the forefront. On the other hand, it establishes a framework for communication with citizens fostering an emotional bond of mutual care, like those you have with a pet or a “Tamagotchi.” By altering its appearance—making visible what is usually invisible—it becomes a sort of sensitive urban creature that modifies its image depending on its state, just like E.T.'s plant did. 

The prototype was installed in Alcalá de Henares and Santiago de Compostela. There, the Urban Tree interacted with citizens in various ways, serving as a gathering place and a forum for discussion for people of all ages. Under its canopy, a series of eco-spinning sessions were organized, featuring, among others, the Alcalá de Henares Rhythmic Gymnastics team. In addition, eco-picnic gatherings were held under the tree’s canopy, as well as other types of informal encounters of various kinds. Many of these gatherings took place to the rhythm of music provided by the Urban Tree itself.

Keep fit while you take care of the 'Urban Tree'!

* COAM Award, 2011

* Selected work Arquia/Próxima Award, 2010

* Finalist NAN Awards, category: Best Integration of Energy into Architecture, 2013

* First Prize International Contest Urban Trees. ASA (Association for Sustainability and Architecture), 2009

1. Urban Pet. Spaces that foster bonds and affection among citizens.

From moral instructions to ecological engagemenst.

2. Cosmotecnics. Integration of technological solutions and mechanisms for citizen collaboration.

Diverse, accessible, and participatory techniques.

3. Reciprocity. Architectures that are sustained by our bodies and, in turn, care for our bodies.

Shared care, mutual support.

4. Off-the-grid. Architectures that reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

Disconnecting from technological infrastructures but weaving civic infrastructures.

5. Capable bodies. Questioning normative bodies.

Which bodies, for what sustainabilities.

6. Cyborgcity. Urban creatures that burst onto the urban landscape.

Hybrid infrastructures within the body of the cyborgcity.

7. Translation. Indicators for communicating with citizens and making processes accessible.

Civic infrastructures, raising awareness.

8. Unblackboxing. Sentient creatures that change its appearance depending on its state.

Making the invisible visible, sparking ecological controversies.

9. Prototype. 1:1-scale cosmopolitical rehearsals to experiment, evaluate, and share learnings.

Ecological architectures, open processes.

* COAM Award, 2011

* Selected work Arquia/Próxima Award, 2010

* Finalist NAN Awards, category: Best Integration of Energy into Architecture, 2013

* First Prize International Contest Urban Trees. ASA (Association for Sustainability and Architecture), 2009

• Architects: 
• elii - Uriel Fogué, Eva Gil, Carlos Palacios

• Team leader: 
• elii - Enrico Forestieri (Proyecto)

• Collaborators:
• elii - Sara Castellote, Lucía Usera (Video + postproducción) 

• Video (project):
• Eugenio Fernández, Ana López, Ana Olmedo y Enrique Ventosa

• Developers:
• ASA (Asociación para la sostenibilidad y Arquitectura) 
• Porcelanosa Arquitectura
• Ayuntamiento de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid 
• Ayuntamiento de Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña 

• Contractor:
• Porcelanosa Arquitectura 

• Photography:
• Miguel de Guzmán
• (www.imagensubliminal.com)

• Area:
• 20.00 m2

• Date:
• 2010

• Locations:
• Plaza de Cervantes, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid
• Plaza Aurelio Aguirre de Conxo, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña