Solar Energy as an Enhancement to Functional Requirement in Landscape Architecture

Abstract

A solar tree is a sculpturesque street light, comprising ten branches decorated with solar lamps, each one consisting of thirty six solar cells. Its concept typifies a holistic model that marries both form and function beneficial for aesthetics and lighting in parking lots and urnban landscapes. Often times, most landscape sculptures found in Nigeria roundabouts are aesthetically pleasing but dissociative and deficient in their functional requirements for dusk to dawn lighting. This paper comparatively evaluates the weak imitations and limitations of the former golf course roundabout in Jos, Plateau State, characterized by a circular array of convex, divergent branches and a dimly lit nucleus that is irregular in its power supply owing to its dependence on hydro electricty. The paper remodels the sculpture according to the conceptual functional principles entrenched in the design of the sculptures, because illuminating roundabouts using solar energy is more holistic and consistent due to its inehaustive source.