Waste-to-energy Power Plant Facility, Copenhagen, Denmark

Berlin-based studio realities: united have designed the smokestack as an installation named BIG VORTEX. Described as "a gentle reminder of the residues of waste burning" the chimney will gently blow clouds in the shape of smoke rings. It is claimed each ring, approximately 30 metres in diameter and 3 metres in height, will constitute exactly one ton of fossil carbon dioxide. At night the smoke rings will be lit up by heat-tracking lasers able to project a pie-chart onto the smoke that displays a quota of fossil-fuel CO2. Located in an industrial area on the outskirts of the city, the building, planned for waste-to-energy company Amagerforbraending, is the single largest environmental initiative in Denmark, with a budget of £400m.
The designers explain: "The rather abstract pollution aspect will be somewhat more graspable and understandable, something you can see and relate to. The smoke rings are spectacular and highly aesthetical, but linked to a controversial theme at the same time. Most of the recently built power plants are merely functional boxes wrapped in an expensive gift paper. We want to do more than just create a beautiful skin around the factory. We want to add functionality."