The Center for Sustainable Energy Technology (CSET) in Ningbo, China is a 1,300 square meter building that opened in 2008 as a new campus for Nottingham University. It was designed by Mario Cucinella Architects to host visitors, research laboratories, and classrooms focused on sustainable energy technologies like solar, photovoltaic, and wind energy. The building's design takes inspiration from Chinese paper lanterns and fans, with a dynamic folded facade entirely covered in glass with screen printed patterns. It employs environmental strategies like a large rooftop opening to provide natural light and ventilation, underfloor heating using geothermal energy, and being closed on the north side to protect from cold wind while opened on

1. Centre for
Sustainable Energy
Technologies
For :Mario Cucinella
Architects
DINA MOHAMED

2. Location: Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Area : 1300.0 sqm
Project Year : 2008
The Nottingham University has opened a new campus in
Ningbo. The Center for Sustainable Energy Technology
CSET, will be dedicated to the diffusion of sustainable
technologies such as those applied to solar energy,
photovoltaic or wind energy

3. designed by MCA hosts as well as a visitor
center, research laboratories and classrooms
for courses.
features a design inspired by paper lanterns and fan-shape of the
Chinese tradition. The facade of the building folds drastically to
create a dynamic form. The building is entirely covered with a
double skin of glass with screen printed patterns that evoke
historical buildings in the area and shows an aspect that turns from
day to night

4. The design employs various environmental strategies.
A large rooftop opening brings natural light to all
floors of the building simultaneously creating a flue
effect to allow efficient natural ventilation, while the
underfloor heating panels use geothermal energy to
heat and cool the environment.

5. The building was completely closed on the north side
and thus protected the building from the cold winter
and wind Partially opened on the other three sides in
order to provide sufficient lighting in the daytime.
Laboratories