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To maximize exposure to sunlight, some solar arrays track and rotate with the sun. Architect Ralph Disch took the concept and took it to its logical extreme by rotating the entire building to track the sun:
Called the Heliotrope, this innovative home by Ralph Disch essentially "takes full advantage of the sun by rotating with it, allowing daylight to course though its triple-pane windows and energize its large roof-mounted solar array and solar thermal pipes."
Techeblog has more pics and video clip of the Heliotrope in action: Link
Back in 1st century A.D. (or C.E., if it pleases you), the Romans were really starting to crank things up. Things like debauchery, poisoning of rivals, fratricide…basically setting the stage for their own eventual downfall.
Of the many Emperors who ruled over this lifestyle, Nero stands out as one of the nastiest. But you gotta give the guy points for trying to throw a serious bash. At the time of his rule, a Roman historian named Suetonius chronicled everything, including the construction of a dining room that rotated.
Now, archeologists think they may have finally discovered this room, which was filled in and built-over in 80A.D.
Quite how the rotating dining room worked is still a bit of a mystery; some think it was by the motion of canals under the room and others think it more likely that it was manually cranked by slaves but hopefully the new funding will enable the archaeologists to confirm one way or the other.
In addition to the rotating floor, the opulent room featured fretted ivory ceilings which would pour flower petals and perfume down on Nero’s guests. Jackie118 has more fascinating history of Nero’s Rome at the link!
Link | Image: Daily Mail
