Unveiling the Hidden Beauty of UK's Cooling Towers: A Photogenic Journey
The UK's cooling towers, once a common sight, are now under threat of demolition, with only 37 remaining across five sites. But amidst their impending fate, these concrete giants offer more than meets the eye. The Twentieth Century Society has unveiled seven stunningly photogenic features of these under-threat structures, showcasing their architectural brilliance and cultural significance.
- The Tower Mouth: Are cooling towers the original 'Skyspaces'?
The tower mouth, a gaping opening, evokes a sense of awe, similar to James Turrell's Skyspaces. These functional structures, designed to frame the sky, create a unique perspective. Imagine standing before a cooling tower, gazing at the sky through its mouth, a sensation reminiscent of Turrell's creations.
- Internal Walkway: Cinematic Walkways and Cinematic Settings
The internal walkway, spanning the tower's width, showcases its immense scale. With a height of over 114 meters and a width of 30 meters, it's a sight to behold. These walkways have also been featured in iconic films like 'Brazil' and 'Among Giants', adding to their cinematic allure.
- Coffin Doors: Access Points with a Unique Design
These peculiar oval openings, known as 'coffin doors' or 'hobbit doors', provide access for engineers. Their design is a result of the tower's concave structure, a hyperboloid form. Despite their size, the reinforced concrete shell is only 17 cm thick, a testament to its strength.
- Eliminator Screen and Packing Level: Efficient Cooling in Action
Cooling towers' function within power stations is revealed through the eliminator screen and packing level. These features increase the contact surface area between water and air, ensuring efficient heat transfer. A fascinating process, indeed!
- Lattice of Columns and Curtains of Water: A Spectacle of Nature
As water cascades down, it creates a stunning curtain at the tower's base, with the lattice of concrete columns cloaked in spray. Only 2% of the water escapes as water vapor, and each tower processes over two billion liters per hour, a remarkable feat.
- Concrete Struts: Graceful Support for Tower's Weight
Surprisingly, cooling towers don't rely on substantial foundations. Instead, they're supported by slender V-shaped struts, creating an illusion of weightlessness. This design allows for natural airflow, cooling the water to around 20 degrees Celsius.
- Concrete Exterior: Textural Beauty Up Close
The concrete exterior, smooth from a distance, reveals a textural surprise upon closer inspection. The gridded shuttering marks from construction are visible, adding character. Some towers even used different aggregates to blend with the landscape, like the pink-tinted towers at Ironbridge B Power Station.
These seven features showcase the cooling towers' architectural brilliance and photogenic appeal. As the campaign to save them continues, these structures offer a unique blend of functionality and artistic beauty, leaving us with a lasting impression.
