The Moving Building

The Arc building in Hull is a moving building that will relocate to different parts of the city every four years.

building is designed to be a focal point and to symbolise regeneration for the city.

As such, community groups and local residents were consulted about how they wanted the building to look.

It is the first-purpose built architecture centre in the UK and is a learning resource for schools and education organisations.

Key features of the building:

• Made up of a kit of five parts, each part is small enough to fit on the back of a trailer.
• Powered by renewable energy sources and is almost carbon neutral.
• Has a mechanical garden of wind turbines and photovoltaic cells sufficient to power the lighting and computers. It also has a two-way meter recording both energy consumption and the amount unused that is sold back to the local energy company. Over the year it generates all the energy it uses.
• Is naturally ventilated. Air flowing across a trough of cool water is drawn into the triangular building through vents and rising warm air is drawn out through higher vents.
• Has a semi-translucent roof which allows some heat and light penetration.
• Has under-floor heating and wood-pellet burning boiler.