Green Architecture

New Blogspot Address

2009-01-28T20:44:00.001-08:00

I am transferring to a new blogspot address combining all my other blogspots http://pupclass.blogspot.com,
http://modern-arki.blogspot.com, and
http://greenarki.blogspot.com.

My new blogspot would be
http://architectureoverload.blogspot.com.

Sorry for the inconvenience and hoping you visit my new site.

Consorcio Building Concepcion / Enrique Browne

2009-01-27T04:06:00.000-08:00

Architects: Enrique Browne y Asociados Arquitectos
Location: Concepción, Chile
Associated Architect: Patricio Browne
Collaborators: Enrique C. Browne, Sebastián Morandé, Davor Pavlovic
Project year: 2003-2004
Site Area: 1,096 sqm
Constructed Area: 3,789 sqm
Structural Consultants: Ruiz y Saavedra Ingenieros
Contractor: Ignacio Hurtado y Cia.
Technical Inspection: Juan Eduardo Mujica
Photographs: Guy Wenborne

The rainy city of Concepción, is located in the mouth of the Bío-Bío River, 520 Km south of Santiago. It has aprox. 220.000 inhabitants, but its threshold spans reaches some 630.000 people. The highlights of its economy are the elaboration of steel and the wood industry, both on wide exporting booms. We were asked to design a branch of the ‘Consorcio Nacional de Seguros’, National Insurance Consortium, in a corner site, in front of the only historic and antique church in Concepción, whose façade had been unfortunately reconstructed after an earthquake. Furthermore, it had a front fenced square that impoverished its quality and public character.

A first version was carried out. It consisted in a triangular building with the vertical circulation organized in a glazed tower in the south. Because the triangular building spun the first two floors in a double height space, a square was created, which joined to the church’s square, creating an environment of urban interest. In turn, the double point of the corner cantilever emphasized the building presence from the busy San Martin Street. The building was clad in copper. The glazed sectors had a ‘double skin’ with climbing plants on the North and West sides. This solution was eliminated for being expensive.

A simpler and more rectangular proposal was developed. The building also withdraws on the west to visually enlarge the square, which passes by the street, joining the old church to the new building. A interesting public space would be added to Concepción.

The building is composed basically by three elements:

a) A free plant “volume” that looks to the East, North and West, protected from the sun by laminated wood sections that support a “double green skin” with mature climbing plants. The wood use alludes to the regional production;

b) A “plan-volume” vertical to the South that flies over the square. Improves the energetic conservation of the building. It is clad in undulated metal plates, a material very utilized in the South of Chile in an economic version. Reminds as well the production of regional steel. Its tall and large windows allow views towards the hills of Concepción, but block the sight of the haphazard roofs of the city and;

c) A great “horizontal” cantilever roof that serves as an end of the building and protects the large balcony of the upper floor from the western sun wich has the view to the Bío-Bío river. In turn, emphatizes the relation with the small squate. These three bodies give the impression of detachment between them and are supported over a glazing membrane in the first two access and customer service levels. More ever, the main entrance is on axis to the church, on the other side of the square.

: type floor plan

: north elevation

: west elevation

: south elevation

: planting scheme

: planter detail

Heart Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Center

2009-01-25T03:09:00.000-08:00

The new Heart Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Center will greatly expand the functional capacity of the Cardiology Department. The new building is an intervention in the existing hospital complex and serves to express the vitality and dynamism of the rapidly changing medical community it serves. A curving all-glass wall acts as a counterpoint to the existing masonry buildings and provides panoramic views of its spectacular setting to visitors, patients, and medical practitioners.
Inserted between two substantial existing hospital buildings, the new facility will provide a full range of medical services, including Diagnostics, Ambulatory Surgery, Cardiac Catheterization laboratories, Medical Practice suites, Critical Care units, and an Education/Conference center. The new hospital will be connected to the existing buildings on multiple levels, facilitating the continuity of medical departments and functional synergies.The most prominent architectural feature, the multilayered, curved glass wall, suggests the forward-looking energy of the new institution, both technologically progressive and personally responsive. The seating areas behind the glass wall enjoy spectacular views of the Hudson River and the Palisades beyond. The double-glass construction allows for both energy efficiency and visual transparency. Electronically controlled vertical shades track the movement of the sun, maintaining a temperate internal environment and presenting a constantly changing façade. At night, strategically deployed lighting refracts through the glass envelope, which is suspended from the uppermost floor by a web of stainless steel cables.
The new Heart Center provides a full range of cardiac care on six levels, including vascular ultrasound, cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology, surgical robotics, practice suites, and an expanded ICU/CCU. A four-story atrium makes clear the vertical organization of the facility and brings to the interior natural light, spatial generosity, and a visual connection to the blue of the New York City sky.
The arrival from the principal patient drop-off area is through a tall, sheer glass wall, the transparency of which is an invitation to enter. Strategically placed art draws the visitor into the building and a curved and gently ascending ramp leads to the skylit glazed atrium. The education and conference center is directly accessible from the main atrium and provides reception space, an auditorium seating 200, and four flexible conference rooms. Fiber optic connection between the procedure/operating rooms above and the auditorium, as well as satellite uplink capability, will greatly enhance the educational potential of the center.An entrance and vehicular drop-off from 165th Street is accomplished via a landscaped arrival court under a sheltering glass canopy.

The material palette of the building, water-white glass, stainless steel, aluminum, and limestone is intended to represent the clarity, dignity, and enduring values of the institution it serves. (source)

Rush University Medical Center

2009-01-25T02:58:00.000-08:00

Rush is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

The project schedule calls for surface parking, the central power plant, parking, the orthopedic ambulatory building, and the supply chain and loading docks to be complete in 2009; the East Tower to open in 2012; the existing Atrium building renovations to finish in 2013 and 2015; and demolition of the oldest buildings on the west end of Rush’s campus to occur in 2016. (source)

University of Chicago Medical Center

2009-01-25T02:50:00.000-08:00

The futuristic, $700 million, 10-story, 1.2 million-square-foot New Hospital Pavilion, designed by renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, provides a high-technology facility that combines the optimal setting for patient care and collaborative clinical research with the flexibility to adapt to and drive forward rapid changes sweeping through medicine.

Rafael Viñoly Architects of New York and London, working with health care facility specialists Cannon Design of Grand Island, N.Y., developed the design. Viñoly designed the University’s award-winning Charles M. Harper Center for the Graduate School of Business.

The building’s innovative and efficient design will foster collaboration and interaction among clinicians while providing a haven for patients and families dealing with complex illness. It will be spacious, easy to navigate and filled with natural light.

The architects created that flexibility by basing the entire structure on an innovative grid system—a matrix of modular cubes, each one 31.5 feet across and 18 feet high. The repeating modules, 102 on each floor, can be reconfigured as needed to accommodate a wide range of purposes, from inpatient beds to radiology suites to operating rooms, without changing the basic frame of the building.

Besides fostering collaboration, driving technological change and creating an environment where patient care, research and education could be developed seamlessly, “there was a clear intention to create a facility,” said Viñoly, “where architectural quality and operational efficiency are not in opposition.”

Playing off the traditional courtyard layout of much of the University, the design includes a Sky Lobby on the seventh floor, “effectively lifting the social, contemplative, outdoor space of the campus quad into the air,” according to Viñoly. The Sky Lobby, an elevated public space that “breaks the building’s mass into two components,” will contain central reception, family waiting areas, a chapel, gift shop, dining areas and other public spaces. Its floor-to-ceiling glass walls will provide expansive views of the campus and Lake Michigan to the east, Washington Park to the west, and the downtown Chicago skyline to the north. (source)

Providence Newberg’s New Medical Center

2009-01-25T00:55:00.000-08:00

First hospital to earn Gold LEED
Architects: Mahlum Architects

Providence Health System's new medical center in Newberg was the first hospital building in the United States to acquire enough renewable electric power to meet all its needs. Providence has agreed to purchase 183,294 kilowatt hours per month of renewable power from Portland General Electric through PGE's Clean Wind program. By doing this, Providence will offset the need for conventional power generation that would have sent more than three million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere each year. The CO2 emissions avoided will be equivalent to taking 273 cars off the road.Providence Newberg’s medical center is breaking new ground in many ways. The project is the first hospital in the nation to earn GOLD LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, which is extremely rare for hospitals. Providence Newberg is demonstrating that a medical center can incorporate the most advanced technology and forward-thinking patient care design along with energy-efficient, environmentally sound construction.(source)

Providence Newberg is the first Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified hospital in the country. LEED is a certification from the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage and support construction of healthier, more energy efficient buildings.
The building location maximizes views and daylight for heating and cooling efficiency.
Courtyards increase natural lighting inside the building – every patient room has
natural light.
Specially treated windows improve heating and cooling efficiency.
Occupancy sensors control lighting and HVAC, cycling down systems when they are
not in use.
Our ventilation system does not recycle air inside the building. The air you breathe is 100 percent fresh.
The healing garden outside Ruth’s Café allows patients, visitors and employees to take advantage of spectacular views of nearby Parrett Mountain.

More pictures and information from Mahlum Architects

Green Hospital Articles

2009-01-25T00:41:00.000-08:00

The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care

Building Green Hospitals Checklist

Healthy Building Network and Health Care Without Harm

Green Building Priorities for Healthcare

Hospitals for a Healthy Environment and the NY State Energy Research & Development Authority

Green Guide for Healthcare

American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE)

Green Healthcare Construction Guidance Statement

CleanMed 2002

Green and Healthy Buildings for the Healthcare Industry

National Health Service (NHS) Estates

Sustainable Development: Construction and the National Health Service (NHS)

BUILDING GREEN HOSPITALS CHECKLIST

2009-01-25T00:39:00.000-08:00

BUILDING GREEN HOSPITALS CHECKLIST

1. Choose an Environmentally Friendly Site

[] Avoid farmland, wetlands, flood plains, environmentally sensitive lands, and hazardous substance sites.

[] Rehabilitate vacant areas as necessary.

[] Share existing parking/transportation infrastructure.

[] Minimize heat island (thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas).

[] Take advantage of existing transit, water, and energy infrastructure in the community.

[] Preserve local habitat, greenfields, and natural resources.

2. Design for Sustainability and Efficiency

Building

[] Prioritize parks, greenways, and bikeways throughout the new hospital area. Plan sufficient shade.

[] Investigate incentives available from the U.S. Department of Energy.

[] Consider (re)use of existing buildings, including structure, shell, etc.

[] Identify opportunities to incorporate recycled materials into the building, such as beams and posts, flooring, paneling, bricks, doors, frames, cabinetry, furniture, trim, etc.

[] Provide suitable means of securing bicycles with convenient change/shower facilities for those who cycle to work.

[] Design for durability-life cycle costing/value engineering strategy for finishes and systems to reduce waste.

[] Maximize daylighting and view opportunities (building orientation, exterior/interior shading devices, high-performance glazing, photo-integrated light sensors, shallow floor plates, increased building perimeter, etc.).

[] Designate an area for recyclable collection and storage that is appropriate and convenient with consideration given to using cardboard balers, aluminum can crushers, recycling chutes, and other waste management technologies to enhance recycling program.

[] Consider the installation of an on-site compost vessel.

[] Design for adaptability of building design as user needs change.

[] Establish a project goal for locally sourced materials and identify materials and material suppliers that can help achieve this goal; this reduces environmental impact due to transportation and supports the local economy.

[] Provide capacity for indoor air quality monitoring to sustain long-term occupant health and comfort (carbon dioxide sensors integrated into building automation system).

Energy

[] Orient building to take advantage of solar energy for heating and daylighting, and to encourage natural ventilation and passive cooling.

[] Consider heat recovery systems where appropriate.

[] Use computer-simulation model to assist in maximizing energy performance.

[] Install mechanical ventilation equipment.

[] Install high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment. Install a lighting control system.

[] Install high-efficiency lights, appliances, and fixtures with motion/occupancy sensors where appropriate.

[] Consider heating/cooling and energy from renewable sources (e.g., solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, bio-gas, etc.).

[] Minimize light pollution by proper and judicious illumination.

[] Design the building with equipment to measure water and energy performance.

[] Consider task lighting "opening window" technology, and underfloor HVAC systems with individual diffusers.

(Source)

Macallen Building Condominiums

2009-01-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

The Macallen Building, a 140-unit condominium building in South Boston, was designed to incorporate green design as a way of marketing a green lifestyle while at the same time increasing revenue from the project. Located in a primarily industrial area among highways, train and bus routes, and an international airport, the site presented challenges for the project team tackling air and noise pollution, addressing the urban heat-island effect, and creating local green space.

The green building features include innovative technologies that will save over 600,000 gallons of water annually while consuming 30% less electricity than a conventional building. This dedication to sustainable initiatives produces many benefits for everyone involved in the project: developer, architects, engineers, and residents alike.

This project was chosen as an AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project for 2008. It was submitted by Burt Hill with Office dA in Boston, Massachusetts. Additional project team members are listed on the "Process" screen.

Environmental Aspects

This LEED Gold project has a sloped green roof that controls stormwater drainage, filters pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air, reduces heating and cooling loads, reduces the project's contribution to the urban heat-island effect, and provides an ecosystem for wildlife. A 20,000-ft2 outdoor terrace incorporated into the building provides similar benefits as the green roof. In addition, a covered garage was integrated into the building to reduce overall square footage and contribution to the urban heat-island effect and stormwater runoff.

The building is well insulated and features several energy-saving technologies, including heat-recovery ventilation and water-source heat pumps. No potable water is used for irrigation on the site. Instead, rainwater and air-conditioner condensate are collected and stored for use. In addition, the project was awarded a LEED innovation point for the use of a system that treats cooling tower blowdown water without the use of chemicals for use in irrigation. (source)

Garthwaite Center for Science & Art

2009-01-24T21:21:00.000-08:00

The Garthwaite Center at the Cambridge School of Weston houses laboratory classrooms for biology, chemistry, and physics; lab prep rooms; faculty offices; meeting space; a science display atrium; a large community gathering gallery; a small, secure art gallery; an integrated studies classroom; independent study space; and a campus data center.

In addition to focusing on its environmental goals, the project team had to contend with space and budgetary requirements. The site consisted of sloping bedrock, and the school wanted to preserve existing trees. In addition, the building had to accommodate all-school art shows, blend in with the existing campus, and create a popular student space on campus,.

This project was chosen as an AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project for 2008. It was submitted by Architerra, Inc., in Boston, Massachusetts. Additional project team members are listed on the "Process" screen.

Environmental Aspects

The project team's environmental goals included preserving as many trees as possible to maintain the wooded setting of the campus. The building was designed to integrate with the site, with floor levels arranged to mimic the hillside they sit on. The partial green roof manages stormwater, lowers heating and cooling loads, and shades the building from solar heat gain with overhangs.

The building is oriented to the south to take advantage of daylighting and passive solar heating opportunities. A heavy timber frame was left exposed to minimize finishing. In addition, several of the building's systems were left exposed to offer teaching opportunities; an enthalpy heat wheel, a wood pellet boiler, and toilet composters can all be seen by students. (source)

Sidwell Friends Middle School

2009-01-24T21:14:00.000-08:00

The master plan for the Sidwell Friends School, a pre-K through 12th-grade Quaker independent school, focuses on meeting programmatic needs for its two campuses in Washington, D.C., and Bethesda, Maryland, including the unification of the campuses through coherent landscapes and enhanced pedestrian circulation.

The renovation and addition to the middle school transforms a 55-year-old facility into a school that teaches environmental responsibility by example. The 39,000 ft2 addition more than doubled the size of the existing building, providing modern spaces for music and art, science and computer labs, counseling, and a library while retaining and enhancing the value of the existing structure.

This project was chosen as an AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project for 2007. It was submitted by KieranTimberlake Associates, LLP, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Additional project team members are listed on the "Process" screen.

Environmental Aspects

Designed to foster an ethic of social and environmental responsibility in each student, the facility demonstrates a responsible relationship between the natural and the built environment.

Bicycle storage and showers are available, and the building is located within walking distance of a subway stop and several bus stops. Parking is available in an underground lot. A green roof and constructed wetland reduce stormwater runoff, improve the quality of infiltrated runoff, and reduce municipal water use. The wetland treats wastewater for reuse in the toilets and cooling towers.

The building was sited to take advantage of passive solar design. Together with high-efficiency electric lighting, photosensors, and occupancy sensors, daylighting minimizes lighting energy use. Solar-ventilation chimneys, operable windows, and ceiling fans minimize the need for mechanical cooling. Rather than develop a utility plant for this building alone, a central plant was created to serve the entire campus. A photovoltaic array generates about 5% of the building's electricity needs.

Reclaimed materials include exterior cladding, flooring and decking, and the stone used for landscaping. Interior finishes were selected for their high levels of recycled content, low chemical emissions, and use of rapidly renewable materials. (source)

The Plaza at PPL Center

2009-01-24T21:03:00.000-08:00

The Plaza at PPL Center, Allentown, Pa.,
Robert A.M. Stern Architects, New York City
(In association with Kendall/HeatonAssociates and with support from environmental building consultant Atelier Ten)

The Plaza at PPL Center, an urban office building, was designed and built in 18 months on a suburban real-estate budget. Located in the center of Allentown, Pennsylvania, this eight-story building is the first new downtown office development in more than 25 years and represents a major commitment to the City by the building's tenant, the PPL Corporation, a regional energy company. While the PPL Corporation occupies most of the building, the owner, Liberty Property Trust, developed one floor as speculative office space, and the plaza level of the building includes retail storefronts.

Chosen as an AIA Top Ten Green Project for 2004. The Plaza at PPL Center was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects in association with Kendall/Heaton Associates with support from environmental building consultant Atelier Ten. Additional project team members are listed on the "Process" screen.

Environmental Aspects

Located in downtown Allentown on a previously-developed site, the building sits at a major public transportation node and forms a new public plaza at one end of the City's main business corridor. The highly transparent south façade animates the street scene and metaphorically opens to public view the activity inside. The building is a catalyst for economic development in the center of Allentown's business district.

A dramatic eight-story central glass atrium brings natural light deep into the core of the building, while extensive perimeter glazing provides abundant daylight to, and views from, all building spaces.

Carbon dioxide sensors insure that fresh air is supplied to each building area as needed, and zero-emitting or low-VOC paints, adhesives, sealants, carpet, and composite wood were used throughout. Two two-story, plant-filled winter gardens along the south façade of the building provide unique workspaces, bring daylight deeper into the floor plates, control glare, and improve indoor air quality.

The design integrates environmental moderation and control into the fabric of the building with high-performance glazing, brises-soleil, and a vegetated roof. The building's energy demand is more than 30% lower than code requirements, its water use is 45% below code requirements, and its construction materials contain over 20% recycled content.

(source)

Lake View Terrace Library

2009-01-24T20:56:00.000-08:00

Lake View Terrace Branch Library, Los Angeles
Fields Devereaux Architects & Engineers/GreenWorks, Los Angeles

Lake View Terrace Library is a branch library and multi-use facility for the City of Los Angeles. It is located in the San Fernando Valley within the Hansen Dam Recreation Area. The building program includes the library, a community room, an environmental display gallery, and an exterior courtyard.

The building plan responds to the desire expressed by the community to have a library that reflects the rancho tradition of the region, with interior spaces organized around an open central courtyard. A spacious main reading room stretches along the east-west axis and enjoys dramatic views of the park to the south.

Chosen as an AIA Top Ten Green Project for 2004. Submitted by Fields Devereaux Architects & Engineers, Los Angeles, CA. Additional project team members are listed on the "Process" screen.

Environmental Aspects

Public transit at the adjacent intersection provides convenient pedestrian access. Site stormwater runoff was reduced by 25% with landscaping features that include a series of radial bioswales that allow for efficient infiltration of rainwater. Over 75% of construction waste was diverted from landfills to local recycling facilities.

The Library's energy performance is over 40% more efficient than California standards. The building shell is high-mass concrete masonry units (CMU) with exterior insulation to allow night venting. Approximately 80% of the building is naturally ventilated with mechanically interlocked windows controlled by the building's energy management system. A building-integrated photovoltaic system shades the entry and roofs the community room, providing 15% of the building's energy. The design provides nearly 100% shading of glazing during operating hours. During a typical day, all public areas (93% of the building) achieve target lighting levels without artificial light. Daylight-dimming ballasts and occupancy sensors are used where appropriate.

The program called for a LEED(r) Platinum building as rated by the U.S. Green Building Council, and it is the first project of the city to attempt or achieve this level of certification.

(Source)

Vertical Garden - Contemporary Garden for Small Space

2009-01-22T04:21:00.000-08:00

Vertical garden is a new concept for you who bored with conventional garden layout. The vertical garden is made possible through a lightweigh system with a high degree of self-sufficiency. It enables a large number of species to grow on vertical surface, allowing for variety and artistic freedom in the design. Each vertical garden is given a unique design and mix of species. The composition of plants takes in consideration the specific environment where it will be built. Its a solution if you would like to have a garden in the small space. To get the fresh atmosphere at the limited area. Visit Vertical Garden Site

Madrid Barajas Airport

2009-01-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

(image via: E-Architect )

Spain recently opened the new Madrid Barajas Airport and it’s quite an improvement from the original, dating from 1933. The updated terminal is huge - 1.2 million square feet - and is capable of processing up to 75 million visitors annually

(image via: Giramondo1 )

The architects - Richard Rogers Partnership with Estudio Lamela - took pains to make the new airport’s passenger and baggage terminals as environmentally friendly as possible, orienting them in a north-south direction and using passive design features to reduce the need for energy-intensive heating and cooling as much as possible. Note that the ceilings used bamboo in a dramatic fashion.

Renewable Energy From Slow Water Currents

2009-01-13T23:55:00.000-08:00

We can use slow moving ocean and river waves for a new, reliable and affordable alternative energy source. A University of Michigan engineer has developed a device that acts like a fish that turns the potentially destructive vibrations in water into clean, renewable energy. Read more at http://earthalternate.blogspot. com/

Biotecture

2009-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Biotecture is defined as architecture using organic materials (e.g. plants, minerals, organisms) for architecture purpose.

A growing awareness of the importance of the natural environment had led to the recognition that even a man-made environment could never be a wholly man-controlled environment, because it could not disconnect itself totally from the natural world around it.

Concern over pollution and depletion of natural resources led to a greater appreciation of nature expressed in “Natural Wood Walls, Bamboo Furniture, Greenhouses, and Indoor Gardens.”

A Biostructure grown by Architect R. De March on his “House Farm” near Stuttgart, Germany, consists of living Hazel trees bent into arched shapes as frameworks over which dense foliage plants have been trained to form protective walls.

Biotecture begins from the standpoint that nature itself is the ideal architectural construct.

Man-made structures and garden are not to be taken as new creations starting from nothing but rather as rearrangement of elements present, which are a small part of total structure.

Biotecture seeks to take advantage of the workings of nature to produce the desired conditions without unwarranted side effects, instead of expending great quantities of energy and material resource to create and maintain an artificial environment.

The goal of biological architecture is to produce a human habitat compatible with the habitats of the other life forms on this planet, and wholly integrated into the natural cycles of water and air circulation, using clean energy and reusable materials, and capable of changing in response to changing conditions.

Two Approaches used by Biological Architects:

Biomorphic – uses nature as a model and design buildings that apply the structural principles and decorative motifs found in nature.

Biostructural – nature does the actual construction work and make direct use of natural system for architectural purposes.

In essence the first concept makes use of nature as designer while the second takes nature as builder.

Principle of Biostructure

Natural processes should be employed to create structure according to human specifications.

Genetically altered plants that would grow into buildings and building components.

Crystalline materials that would be chemically treated to grow into pre-programmed shapes.

Building with materials available on site and on the immediate locality as many species of animals do.

Animals such as:

*Shellfish, corals build elaborate houses for themselves by extracting minerals naturally present in water.

*Spiders construct elaborate webs of great strength and flexibility byextruding a quick-hardening organic fluid from their bodies and can recycle an old web by absorbing the threads back into their bodies again.

*Certain termite colonies fashion natural systems for maintaining constant humidity, temperature, control, and deep-well water supplies sufficient to maintain indefinitely a population of over 2.000.000 insects; the source of power is the sun, building materials are those found in the area.

Hilbertz looks at ways to take architecture responsive to changes in its environment, as well as changing needs of its inhabitants.

His goal is to achieve a complete symbiosis between man-made and natural environments. In building environments that grow he envisions building with light, like in the use of laser beams to generate 3-dimensional holographic images, through the guidance of computers or in making autotrophic structures which are self-generating or self-building life the chambered nautilus.

“Biological Architecture” advocates the incorporation of living plants and animals into architecture, designing buildings that will realty like living things to changing environmental conditions.
The Green Machine is a comprehensive urban megastructure proposed be Glen Small from Los Angeles it is capable of restoring the environment of the entire Los Angeles Basin. It can support a population density high as 250,000 people per square mile on a biotecture concept.

The Green Machine combines high technology and ecologically sensitive design in a multi-story urban housing structure.

It also incorporates both active and passive solar heating, with parabolic disc solar collectors for power generation and hot water.

It conserves water by collecting rain-water and recycling waste water for sub-surface irrigation.

It has built in greenhouses which will permit recycling of garbage and produce food for residents.

It accommodates modular homes, travel trailers, artist’s studios. It has a housing project for low-income families and individuals.

Monaco House / McBride Charles Ryan

2009-01-07T02:10:00.000-08:00

Architect: McBride Charles Ryan - Rob McBride & Debbie-Lyn Ryan
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Project year: 2007
Photographs: Trevor Mein

This is a new 4 storey building located in a largely pedestrian lane (Ridgway place) at the East end of Melbourne’s CBD. Dominant in the lane is the historic Melbourne Club wall and the gigantic plane trees emanating from the Melbourne Club Garden which arch over the diminutive lane. The site with dimensions of 6.1 m in width and 17m in depth and a foot print of 102.5 sqm is a postage stamp.

Our brief was to provide a ground level entry and café, followed by two levels of office tailored for the Proprietors Investment and Philanthropic Organisation. The top level contains a small reception area primarily for official functions associated with the client’s role as Honorary Consular of Monaco.

The process of the Aggregation of the Melbourne’s allotments is now almost universally seen as a process which diminishes urban quality and diversity. There is now an earnest attempt, even in large block developments, to reintroduce fine grain urbanism that has been lost to the city. This project is rare; despite renewed respect of fine grain urbanism there are few willing to make the significant investment that this type of building entails.

This was this client’s first foray into what may be considered contemporary architecture. Despite this inexperience, our client had a love of the design of cars, boats (particularly early 20C) and finely crafted objects. He bemoaned the loss of shape in the contemporary world. It was in the area of shape, craft and material that the architect and client found our common ground.

To meet cost constraints building elements had to be structured around crane sizes, and crane sizes around turning circles. Much of the external is pragmatic and unremarkable. It is in the 2 metre frontage zone where for many months we explored and discussed the nuances of composition. We wanted the building to be both abstract and awash with imagery. We looked at the plane trees, the gothic, surrealism, the heraldic, deco and the Prague cubists. We wanted the building to be above all else something that amplified its miniature urban grain and enriched the pedestrian experience of the city.

Within the office large apertures to the West are well shaded by deep balconies and the adjoining plane trees.
The workspace has good natural light and cross ventilation. . . Exposed windows have electronically controlled external blinds. Outdoor balconies provide areas of release from the office desk. The ‘green roofscape’ is a similar space but also adds additional insulation to the upper floor. Water is harvested and stored in the stairwell. Fixtures are selected for their low energy and water usage. There is a heavy emphasis on insulation with a combination of closed cell Styrofoam, air cell and bulk insulation reducing reliance on conditioned air.

From a technical point of view the complex geometry and use of such materials as Glass Reinforced Cement and its structural support demanded sophisticated use of 3d software and integration of those techniques with the off site production. This project may have brought us a small step closer to the ideal where our CAD software can integrate with production and enhance diversity, complexity and apparent craft without large cost impost.

Old Wreck Renovated into Modern Solar-powered Lofts

2009-01-07T02:00:00.000-08:00

The old Union Hall of San Diego’s Textile Manufacturing Business got a new lease of life thanks to the innovative design of architect and developer Jonathan Segal. The architect decided to revamp and reuse the old structure in tatters, instead of demolishing and building a new one, which not only saved time, but also building material. His sustainable design now includes a total of 13 new residential lofts. Some of these are available at the market rate while others are affordable despite the array of ergonomic features they incorporate. The innovative homes are powered by solar power for 50% of their energy needs and also are lit up by great natural ventilation. - via JetsonGreen

Boosting solar cell power

2009-01-06T19:08:00.000-08:00

Scientists are continuously improving the existing solar cells. Now they are taking the help of computer simulations and real lab testing. A group of physicists and engineers at MIT have discovered new methods to make the existing solar cells more efficient by 50%. Read more at http://earthalterna te.blogspot. com/

REI Round Rock Second Gen Green Store To Use 48% Less Energy

2008-12-27T03:43:00.000-08:00

by Preston Koerner

Mounting on the green building success of their previous stores, including the green Boulder REI we wrote about previously, REI today opens the doors to its second generation of green prototype store in Round Rock, Texas. The Texas store is projected to consume 48% less energy than a typical store and generate a portion of its power from a solar panel installation, building integrated photovoltaics, and a solar hot water system. After that, Round Rock will rely on Solatubes to displace a portion of articifial lighting and the purchase of green power generated from biomass digesters.

This second gen green store was built with highly efficient building insulation, efficient mechanical equipment and controls, a cool roof designed to reflect the sun’s heat, and water-efficient plumbing that reduces water usage by 30 percent.

Designed in partnership with Gensler, Round Rock incorporates extensive sustainable and recycled materials, including sunflower seed husks and recycled tennis shoes. It’s the second company store to be built under the USGBC’s LEED Retail pilot program. After studying both the Boulder and this store, REI will use the research for a third prototype and for application in other stores nationwide.

Research and Development centre in Istanbul

2008-12-26T01:58:00.000-08:00

Design for sustainable Research and Development centre
Located on the outskirts of Istanbul in the Tübitak Marmara Research Center Zone, this building serves as the research & development and technological centre for a private telecommunications company. Taking the site context, views and orientation into consideration the building offers a single storey entry, rising to four storeys on the office side. Owing to the fact that it is the technological center, the building exhibits the highest technological standards. Special attention has been given in the building’s design to ensure a low energy, ecologically friendly, sustainable outcome was achieved

School of Art Singapore

2008-12-24T07:55:00.000-08:00

This amazing architecture is situated in Singapore at the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University. It's a 5 story facility with an all glass facade to provide a high performance building envelope that reduces solar gain and heat load while allowing the benefits of natural views and daylight into creative spaces.Finishes are intentionally raw to act as a backdrop for the art, media and design projects. Concrete walls and columns, cement-sand screeded floors, timber railings and a neutral palette define the interior spaces which vary in shape and size. This amazing design seems to offer a new experience at every elevation or perspective fulfilling the intent that a school for art should inspire creativity.

Mile High Eco Tower

2008-12-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

This is a concept tower by Popular Architecture envisioned for Tower Hamlets in East London. The design is a reaction, at least in part, to sprawl issues. London is expected to need housing for 100,000 new people per year until 2016, and currently, most of housing that's being built is low-density projects in commuter towns. Popular Architecture' s Super Tower could house up to about 100,000 people with a seriously low site requirement (considering the number of people within the structure).

The 1,500 meter tall tower would have about 500 floors. You'd find floors or sections for needs such as a university, farmer's market, pubs, a town hall, sky gardens, etc. Anything and everything would be in the building. There's even a fire station on the 419th floor! Which raises the question: what do you do if there is a fire above or below the 419th floor?

If built, Popular Architecture' s concept would be three times larger than anything in London. Construction would occur in 20-floor phases, with the final height of 1,500 meters subject to completion of the entire phased construction program.I must admit, however, when I first saw this skyscraper design, I thought to myself, maybe mile high is too tall. I mean, do we reach a point where there is a diminishing margin of returns in terms of ecological, financial, or community benefits? There must be a highway system of elevators for all the back and forth needs of 100,000 people. I can't even comprehend the extent of the safety issues that might be presented as well. So, how on earth do you contain all that in one building?

Ballard Library

2008-12-24T06:45:00.000-08:00

(image via: Woodschool)

Seattle has a thing for cool libraries, it seems. The Ballard Library is a public project that stresses green design features without compromising convenience and accessibility for book readers.

(image via: Greenroofs.org)

Built in 2005 at a cost of just under $11 million, the Ballard Library features an innovative “green roof” consisting of native grasses and sedums planted 4 to 6 inches deep in a custom growing medium topped with a biodegradable coconut fiber mat.

Consortium Library

2008-12-24T06:34:00.000-08:00

The Consortium Library at the University of Alaska Anchorage is designed to take the heat off students sitting next to its windows. Yes, even in Alaska! The washtub shape reflects direct sunlight downward while still admitting ambient light.

ECO•LABORATORY: Seattle’s Exemplary Eco Community

2008-12-23T20:04:00.000-08:00

The Eco•Laboratory is an exemplary green complex designed around a vibrant community garden In Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. Conceived by Weber Thompson, the project recently won the Natural Design Talent Competition at Greenbuild. The innovative design focuses upon energy systems, natural ventilation, community aspects, renewable energy, and indoor air quality, resulting in a spectacular example of what green building is about - interdisciplinary teams designing living buildings.Situated on an infill lot in downtown Seattle, the Eco•Laboratory will house a neighborhood market, residential, office space, vocational training center and a sustainability education center. The project is planned for a 7,200 sq ft plot of land known as the P-Patch, and the development offers local residents plots of land for gardening and features three historic cottages that house local writers-in-residenc e. The goal was to not only make the space more usable for the community, but also to make it financially viable. The designers of the Eco•Laboratory concentrated on the six petals of the Natural Living Building Challenge in order to create this design.

Site:
The project incorporates the current buildings and community aspect into a more functional space that benefits a greater number of local residents. Additionally, since the community garden is so important, the design team highlighted the outdoor landscape and extended it into the building with indoor vegetation.
Materials:
The designers sought to minimize the introduction of new materials while carefully considering the resources required. All demolition waste is used on-site during construction. Concrete walls are composed of a fiber-optic aggregate that helps reveal the systems within the building and pulls light into interior spaces. Additionally, the main living modules in the building are composed of repurposed shipping containers.

Energy:
The project makes excellent use of both passive and active systems to reduce energy consumption. The passive ventilation system uses Earth Tubes to pull outside air in, creating a stack-effect thermal control system. To generate energy, solar, wind, biofuels and hydrogen fuels will be used.Indoor Quality of LIfe:
The Eco Laboratory promotes healthy indoors, and brings nature inside. Again, the Earth Tubes play a huge role in natural ventilation, while occupants have direct control over air flow, and lighting. Solar passive design promotes the stack effect and natural lighting. Vegetation, both indoors and in the gardens, enhances occupants’ indoor environmental quality and health.

Water:
Conservation of water is a very important aspect of this project. Water is collected through impervious surfaces and sent through a living machine filtration system, which converts black and gray water to usable resources. This water is used for building’s residents, indoor vegetation and outdoor gardens.

Beauty & Inspiration:
The structure and design are definitely aesthetically pleasing, but as the design team says: “Beauty and Inspiration are not only found in aesthetic form, but in the aesthetics of performance, through the experience of place and lasting value for visitors and residents, with the satisfaction of a site’s potential brought to fruition.”

A Low Impact Woodland Home

2008-12-14T06:49:00.000-08:00

The house was built with maximum regard for the environment and by reciprocation gives a unique opportunity to live close to nature. Building from natural materials does away with producers profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings.
(see full article: simondale house

Rødovre Tower

2008-12-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

Rødovre, an independent municipality of Denmark, was looking for a new residential tower and MVRDV, with co-architect ADEPT, rose to the challenge. On Monday, it was announced that their “Sky Village” concept won a design challenge to create the next Rødovre skyscraper. The 116 meter (~381 foot) tower will feature apartments, retail, offices, an hotel, as well as a public park and plaza. The architects’ contemporary design is based on a flexible grid of boxes, or “pixels,” which are ~646 square feet each and arranged around the building’s central core.
Rødovre Skyscraper was designed with sustainable features in mind, such as a greywater circuit, use of 40% recycled concrete in the foundation, and energy producing devices in the facade. It’ll also follow Danish environmental standards and implement various green technologies to meet those standards.
The bottom of the tower is slim to make room for the plaza, retail, and restaurants. As you move up the building, the residential units jut out to the north and create open spaces for sky gardens. The top portion of the building is reserved for the hotel where guests enjoy views of the center of Copenhagen.
Because the building is built in pixels, it can be modified to conform to market and economic realities (see model above). Barring any of those type of changes, however, the initial plans call for 10,500 sf retail, 170,000 sf offices, 39,300 sf housing, 21,500 sf hotel, and a basement of 146,000 sf containing parking and storage.

Masdar Headquarters

2008-12-12T08:21:00.000-08:00

MASDAR HEADQUARTERS
MASDAR CITY, ABU DHABI, UAE

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture has won an international competition to design the Masdar Headquarters, the first building in the zero waste, zero carbon emission Masdar City outside of Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates. The Masdar Headquarters will be the first mixed-use positive energy building in the world. AS+GG worked with MEP engineers Environmental Systems Design and structural engineers Thornton Tomasetti on the design.

Mona Vale House by Choi Ropiha

2008-12-12T06:10:00.000-08:00

Architects: Choi Ropiha

Location: Mona Vale, NSW, Australia
Client: Graeme Jessup & Barbara Elkan
Environmental Systems: Graeme Jessup
Landscape: ExParrot
Engineering: Simpson Design Associates - Northrop Engineers
Construction: Graybuilt
Photographs: Brett Boardman

The client for the project has a long standing interest in building sustainability developed through working at the Sustainable Energy Development Authority, a government agency in sustainability.

With this interest in mind, the client approached Choi Ropiha to design a house that would demonstrate and test a number of active and passive sustainable initiatives whilst accommodating a contemporary coastal lifestyle.

The project is sited on the south side of Mona Vale Headland and has expansive views over Mona Vale Beach to the south. This south facing aspect and the narrow site proportions combine to limit the passive design potential and accordingly establish the key design challenge for the project.

Our response orients the house toward the view to the south, but opens up the roof at the centre of the house with a large north-facing skylight to admit winter sun to the south facing living areas and to trap and hold the warmth of the winter sun using the thermal mass of the structure.

The building is of reverse veneer construction. It utilizes low embodied energy and low thermal mass timber cladding to the outside and heavier thermal mass of concrete and blockwork to the inside.

The house is able to be ‘zoned’ to 3 separate areas; the sunroom at the back, the bedroom and hallway, and the living area to the front. This assists in the retention of heat in the winter months.

Cross ventilation is carefully considered through the whole house. The front living area ventilates through a series of louvres in a bank of high level clerestory. The bedrooms also have cross ventilation via fanlight windows above doors.

Other sustainability measures include a 15,000 L rainwater storage tank combined with grey water recycling to minimise water usage, the use of evacuated tubes for in floor hydronic heating and hot water supply, and photovoltaic solar panels to provide electricity back to the grid.

The house is a ‘test-bed’ for these and other sustainability initiatives and the performance of these will be measured after occupancy.

Green Machine for Living

2008-12-02T04:19:00.000-08:00

Joel Sanders completes eco-friendly NYC penthouse

This Noho loft for real estate developer Matthew Blesso offers a fresh take on green architecture, demonstrating that you don’t have to forgo high style in the interest of saving the planet.

Designed by New York architect Joel Sanders with associate architect Andrea Steele and landscape designer, Balmori Associates, the design of this 3200 sq ft loft is predicated on the notion that if you merge building and landscape, by bringing nature in and pushing living space to the outdoors, unexpected things can happen.

The loft’s interior is awash in lush vegetation, sustainable woods and natural fibers. Exterior wood decking and plants flow into the heart of the penthouse forming a “planted core” that separates the private and public realms. A glass wall separates the bathroom from the planted zone, allowing the owner to bathe surrounded by vegetation. This “living wall” links the interior to the roof. An open staircase provides access to a rooftop garden planted with grasses and sedum, which has been transformed into a veritable “living” room furnished with a mini-kitchen, a large movie screen, and an outdoor shower surrounded by lush vegetation.

The Eyelid House

2008-12-02T04:04:00.001-08:00

Turning this tight and difficult inner city site into a home for a family of five is an important contribution to contemporary and sustainable design practice, where issues of energy efficiency and waste loom large in society.

The starting point for this project was a typical single fronted Victorian terrace, pokey and dark. Transforming it into a generous, light-filled open plan, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was the challenge.

An important aspect of the design is how it responds to the difficult site conditions, in particular:

• The heritage overlay

• A super-tight site with restricted access

• A domineering three storey apartment block on one side

• A three storey hotel at the rear

Clearly, the lack of space and privacy were major issues. To resolve them, a key feature of the design is the roof form of the extension. Its shape has been manipulated like an eyelid, to screen off the three-storey neighbouring giant, and to provide shade and weather protection to the rear glass façade. The unusual internal spaces that result are emphasised with tessellated plywood panelling and translucent materials.

Program and Client Needs

The clients’ lack of pretension and relaxed lifestyle meant that a pristine white box with designer furniture was not something that would work for them. With young children, they wanted spaces to be informal, warm and functional. The design used a layering of ideas to respond to the brief, but mainly the result was achieved by:

• Stitching the original part of the house to the new with a smooth flowing transition that maximised the available space

• Combining rough and smooth materials with random and ordered elements for informality and definition of spaces

• Creating a sense of the familiar by imbuing the work with the clients’ memories of special places, for example, memories of a family house in the country with its great, functional kitchen, and memories of a sister’s house at Byron Bay

• Incorporating decorative elements, including contemporary designs for stained glass and routed ply screens, that complement the collection of old Turkish rugs and rustic furniture

The resultant design is contemporary, but one that simultaneously creates an ambiance of romance and the rustic.

Sustainability and Cost effectiveness

Generally energy usage is reduced by passive design features, including:

• Deep roof overhangs

• Fenestrations that minimise heat gain during summer and facilitate natural cooling and ventilation with cross-breezes

• Gas boosted solar hot water and gas heating

• Timbers and veneers from renewable forests

• The option to collect water from the old roof of the house

• Toilets and shower heads that have water saving functions

The cost effectiveness results from:

• Keeping the palette of materials consistent

• Using Australian made products

• Repeating wall and ceiling panelling details with standard colours

• Maximising energy efficiency and minimising the use of air conditioning

• Using mid-range fittings and fixtures from a single supplier (Reece)

Menzis Office Building

2008-12-02T03:50:00.000-08:00

The new construction for the Menzis health insurance company is situated on the edge of the Europapark urban expansion of the city of Groningen. At city scale level, the construction expresses its iconographic character toward the urban circular and the A7 motorway, the Europaweg. At ground floor level, the street alignment is determinated by the Europapark, where the building, as it rises, gradually leans over into the street space.

The 12-storey building is divided into three identical prismatic segments, rotatred 90º in relation to each other. With dimensions of 43 x 43 m, the segment is characterized by functional yet aesthetic compactness. Each segment contains four storeys, intersected vertically by an atrium. As a consequence, a spiral of atria is generated, forming an internal response to the dynamic exterior.

The foot accommodates the public functions, which are orientated toward the atrium and include service desks, an insurance shop and a healthcare service center. A doctor’s room and several consulting rooms are situated in themore private area. A practical system of partitioning divides the third and fourth floors into meeting rooms, a library, training areas, an auditorium, and a restaurant. The restaurant area can also be deployed flexibly as extra meeting space if required. The spacious staircase, which allow easy public flow though the atrium to the restaurant and meeting centre above, offer an unimpeded view of both the inner area and the water of the Winschoterdiep (canal).

The middle and upper segments are generic. The specific presence of the atrium, which allows the incidence of daylight into the building, contrasts with the neutral character of each storey. The atrium divides each storey into a series of working areas with distinct qualities: peripheral or secluded, light or well-shaded, open or closed. The variation in spatial conditions enables the application of diverse office concepts, geared to the different work processes within Menzis, such as the call center, administrative functions, and stuff functions. The atrium stairs facilitate informal contact between the floors. In combination with the use of natural materials, the magnolia garden around the building with its diverse terraces, water features and illuminations, contributes to creating a pleasant and relaxed ambience.

The Floating Aerohotel

2008-12-02T03:34:00.000-08:00

The Floating Aerohotel: A Modern Aquatecture Marvel
As fears of global warming induced population displacement are steadily realized, the allure of waterborne aquatecture becomes more and more enticing. Designed by Alexander Asadov, this incredible floating Aerohotel features a lighter-than- air aesthetic that sits serenely atop an elegant system of supports. Conceived as an elevated aquatic structure replete with hanging gardens, the space-age floating island preserves the entire extent of the ecosystem beneath it, contrasting with man-made islands that disrupt their immediate environment with tons of gravel fill.

Asadov’s Aerohotel consists of a 200 meter wide circular hub lofted by an interlacing network of supports anchored by three arms that stretch to the bottom of its site. The structure’s body will contain cafés, restaurants, and winter gardens in addition to a hotel. The Aerohotel can be installed in any body of water, and the plans include docking arrangements for boats as well as a landing strip for a zeppelin - how slick is that?

Asadov Architectural Studio states that one of the benefits of the floating island is that it has “significantly less costs for construction against the gravel works. At this almost all the basin area under the construction is still untouched, thus improving the project’s ecological value.” If the current tides of global warming aren’t stemmed, we’ll certainly be looking towards more floating architectural solutions such as this.

+ A.Asadov Architectural Studio

Via World Architecture News

Solar Building

2008-12-02T03:21:00.000-08:00

The Devonshire Building is a very green building, that automatically opens and closes banks of shades on it's south facing façade. The "intelligent" system tracks the amount of sunlight entering the windows, and takes into account the time of day and season. The key architectural aim was to design a building that would incorporate as much natural daylight as physically possible. The blinds help manage overheating, and they are backed up by a geothermal cooling system.. To top it all off, the building has solar modules on it's roof that generate 25 kW of power.
The building's large roof area also allowed the construction of a rainwater harvest system. The rain is collected via a symphonic rainwater system and then fed into a 20,000 liter underground tank. If the rainwater tank overfills, it overflows to a 40,000 liter geothermal tank to replenish the water for a heat sink that acts as a cooling source for the building and services' systems.
The Devonshire Building was designed by the Dewjoc architecture firm. It is home to the Institute for Research and Sustainability at the University of Newcastle.

Budapest City Hall

2008-12-02T02:39:00.000-08:00

Erick van Egeraat mixed use programme selected

Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat has won the international competition to design the City Hall in the centre of Budapest. From a field of 18 participants, an international professional jury selected his proposal, which combines restoration of the existing large 18th century baroque building and new, futuristic wings to create a contemporary Main Square.

In accordance with the objectives of the competition, this new City Hall, with its open courtyards and flexibility of use, will reflect transparency and democracy, will act as a Forum for the people of Budapest and will attract tourists. It will at once re-introduce pedestrian flow from the boulevard to the river Danube and offer a spectacular view of the city from the platform on top of the entrance gate.

The entire façade reflects the transition between old and new, between closed and open by forming a visual wall along the boulevard. The existing building with its closed, baroque façade is continued in a semi-open structure of organic columns, which in turn open up into a gate-like structure defining the entrance to the new complex.

The Cultural Forum is the most public space within the program and is strategically located in the centre of the complex. It incorporates a multifunctional theatre, which can be used for conference and exhibition purposes. Erick van Egeraat explains :“The Forum acts as the connector between the past and the future, between the historical chapel space and the new building, and between the historic and the contemporary baroque to complement and emphasize each other. At the same time it interlinks all forms of culture, education, entertainment and politics.”

The new City Hall will comprise 118.000 square metres of gross floor area, 40.000 square meters of which will be newly built. The project is set to enter the design phase in January 2009 and start construction in September 2011 to last for 24 months.

The LM Project

2008-12-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

Copenhagen, Denmark: Friday 31st October, 2008 It was announced today at a press conference in Copenhagen, Denmark that Steven Holl Architects has won the international design competition “The LM Project”. With a program that connects office towers and civic spaces with a public walkway 65 meters above the harbor, the new design is intended to form an iconic landmark for Copenhagen’s waterfront. The competition was organized by CPH City and Port Development and ATP Ejendomme; the CEO’s for both companies were among the jury members selecting the winner. The Chairman of the Jury is administrative director of the development company City / Harbor and Copenhagen’s former mayor Jens Karmer Mikkelsen.

Mr. Mikkelsen said “The project combines the esthetical, the functional and the business minded. This winning proposal is architecture in high, high class.” The current mayor of Copenhagen, Ritt Bjerregaard, praised the design, saying “With the winning project, we get a great high-rise building, which will bind the city better together and function as a landmark in the harbor.”

Steven Holl Architects’ design for the dramatic new harbor entrance to the great city of Copenhagen is based on a concept of two towers carrying two bridges at two orientations all connecting back to the unique aspects of the site’s history. The Langenlinie site, a berth for ocean ships for decades, is expressed in the Langenlinie tower with geometry taken from the site’s shape. A prow-like public deck thrusts out to the sea horizon. This deck is the level of public entry to the bridge elevators and has public amenities such as cafes and galleries. It can be reached by a wide public stair as well as escalators. The Marmormolen tower connects back to the City with a main terrace that thrusts out towards the city horizon shaped by a public auditorium below. It can also be reached by escalators and is adjacent to the public bridge elevator lobby..

Each tower carries its own cable-stay bridge that is a public passageway between the two piers. Due to the site geometry, these bridges meet at an angle, joining like a handshake over the harbor. The soffits below the bridges and under the cantilevers pick up the bright colors of the harbor; container orange on the undersides of the Langenlinie, bright yellow on the undersides of the Marmormolen. At night the uplights washing the colored aluminum reflect like paintings in the water.

Regarding the winning design proposal, the competition Jury cited the following: ‘The jury has unanimously decided to nominate Steven Holl Architects entry as the winner of the competition. The reason being the special importance placed on creating two buildings each adapted to the site, and the overall idea of how to connect these buildings and ensure that they form a whole across the harbor basin. The project involves a sense of place which is essential for a project on this prominent site.”

The project utilizes a variety of progressive sustainable solutions to ensure this important international landmark is rooted in Denmark’s identity as one of the world leaders in alternative energy. Both towers have high performance glass curtain walls with a veil of solar screen made of photovoltaic; collecting the sun’s energy while shading. They are connected to a seawater heating/cooling system with radiant heating in the floor slabs and radiant cooling in the ceiling. Natural ventilation is provided on every floor with windows opening at the floor level and ceiling level for maximum air circulation. Optimum natural light is provided to all offices due to the reflective light performance of the screens. Wind turbines line the top of the pedestrian bridge roof; providing all electricity for lighting the public spaces. Due to wind power, this inviting harbor front gateway is always glowing.

Ziggurat

2008-12-01T18:45:00.000-08:00

Dubai's latest offering is a carbon-neutral 'pyramid' city

“Ziggurat” is the name of the temple towers of the ancient Mesopotamian valley with the characteristic form of a terraced pyramid with successively receding stories. Now the name is about to enter a new phase. Timelinks, a Dubai-based pioneering environmental design company, has chosen it to describe a sustainable city of the future.

The city, in the shape of a futuristic pyramid, will be exhibited at Cityscape Dubai and according to Timelinks, could support an entire community of up to one million people by harnessing the power of nature.

Ridas Matonis, Managing Director of Timelinks, said: “Ziggurat communities can be almost totally self-sufficient energy-wise. Apart from using steam power in the building we will also employ wind turbine technology to harness natural energy resources.”

Timelinks stress that the project is not just about reducing the carbon footprint. The 2.3 sq km pyramid has many other benefits. They propose that whole cities can be accommodated in complexes which take up less than 10% of the original land surface. Public and private landscaping will be used for leisure pursuits or irrigated as agricultural land.

The concept will also aim at a better quality of life for the inhabitants. Transport throughout the complex would be connected by an integrated 360 degree network (horizontally and vertically) so cars would be redundant. Biometrics would provide security with facial recognition technology.

Martijn Kramer, managing director of The International Institute for the Urban Environment told WAN: “As a general reaction the Ziggurat Project is viable from a technical point of view. However reflecting from a more sustainable holistic approach we do wonder if the food supply and waste system are taken care for, as the concept seems rather based upon carbon neutrality and energy saving.” Kramer’s initial reaction to “Ziggurat” also raises a very important issue: are people willing to live in a mega building of 2.3 sq km? Will the thought of living in a machine comfort people?

Timelinks has already patented the design and technology incorporated into the project and has applied to the European Union for a grant for technical projects. The intriguing mixed use concept will be unveiled at Cityscape Dubai which takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 6-9 October 2008.

Source:

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=10224

Inside Out Outside In

2008-12-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

Boston- and Hong Kong-based Rocker-Lange Architects have designed a villa called Inside Out - Outside In for the Ordos 100 project in Inner Mongolia, China.

The house is one of 100 private residences, all designed by different architects selected by architects Herzog & de Meuron for the Ordos 100 project, which is master planned by artist Ai Wei Wei.
“Especially in the widely varying Mongolian climate, seasonal usages of living areas may change dramatically between the cold winters and warm summers,” say Rocker-Lange

“By creating an architecture which is interwoven with its surroundings, we allow the climate to work with the inhabitants, rather than against them.”

Rocker-lange architects are releasing their design of a 1000 square meter Villa in Ordos Inner Mongolia, P.R. China.

The project called “Inside Out|Outside In” is part of the Ordos 100 project and discusses the relationship and fusion of interior and exterior space. Rocker – Lange calls for an architecture of milieu – that an architecture of the circumstances and conditions by which it is surrounded.

An “Architecture of Milieu” no longer strictly distinguishes between its inside and outside – it rather considers itself as always at once on multiple scales inside and outside, as architecture and environment.

Consequently architecture and its environment are thought of not only as “inside” and “outside” of one another, but as zones of possible relationships, in which “inside” and “outside” vary and shift to accommodate changing seasons and usage patterns.

The “Architecture of Milieu” is an architecture of situation rather than site: an indefinitely expandable and differentiable ribbon serves as the continuous organizational strategy, inscribing zones of different degrees of interior and exterior space vanishing the separation between them.

rocker-lange architects where invited to take part in the Ordos 100 project, an urban development of 100 unique villas in the cultural district of the city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia, China. The project was initiated by the Client, Jiang Yuan Water Engineering Ltd, the curator FAKE Design, Ai Wei Wei studio, Beijing and architects Herzog & de Meuron, Basel.

While FAKE Design, Ai Wei Wei studio developed the masterplan for the 100 parcels of land, Herzog & de Meuron selected 100 young architects from 27 countries around the globe. The project started in early April of 2008 with an architects’ symposium in Ordos. First villas are expected to be finished in late 2009.

2008-11-27T18:57:00.000-08:00

Architect David Fisher has proposed a plan for rotating towers that produce all of their own energy through wind power. The Rotating Tower would be built by stacking platters on a central concrete core with wind turbines located between each of them. Each floor will rotate 360 degrees about once every 90 minutes; as the floors will rotate independently, they will create a constantly changing silhouette in the sky. Inside the concrete core will be elevators, emergency stairs and lobbies. The Rotating Tower will be built in Dubai in the next six months.

Teatro del Agua

2008-11-27T18:55:00.000-08:00

As water becomes an even hotter commodity in the future, engineers are looking for ways to ensure a continued supply of fresh water to meet the needs of the world’s growing population. Charles Patton is tackling this problem with his Seawater Greenhouse, a carbon-neutral desalination method which is being incorporated into the design of the Teatro del Agua. This Theater of Water will be a performing arts center in Spain’s Canary Islands. It works by coupling a series of evaporators and condensers such that the airborne moisture from the evaporators is then collected from the condensers, which are cooled by deep seawater.? The center will operate almost entirely on renewable energy.

Dice House

2008-11-27T18:54:00.000-08:00

The Dice House is a zero carbon home, which can either stand alone or function as attached multiple dwellings. Designed by Sybarite, a British architecture firm, the Dice House is a 9 x 9 meter cube that sits on an octagonal plinth. Three levels inside the cube have large, plentiful windows to maximize views. A large thermoplastic umbrella on the garden roof of the house shades and insulates the house and collects solar energy.

Soft House

2008-11-27T18:53:00.001-08:00

Passive House Museum

2008-11-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

The world’s first passive house museum is set to be built in Ulricehamn, Sweden, functioning as a visitor’s center. The building’s heat will be supplied entirely by the body heat of visitors and the equipment located inside. Solar cells on the roof will provide part of the energy used to run electrical equipment and heat water. The circular design of the structure will allow efficient circulation of air to enhance the passive heating and cooling of the building.

Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco

2008-11-27T18:49:00.001-08:00

Pelli Clark Pelli architects recently got approval for their design for a new green Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco. The transit center will consist of a glass tower and a five-and-a-half acre public park, and will be packed with sustainable features like green roofs, passive solar shading, wind turbines, a rain and graywater recycling system and geothermal heating and cooling. The aim of the building is to centralize the region’s transportation system while also providing a community space. The center will be completed by 2014.

Habitat 2020

2008-11-27T18:45:00.000-08:00

China’s population is exploding while its industrial ventures are producing more pollution than ever - a combination that makes it difficult to be eco-friendly. A new sustainable housing project called Habitat 2020 aims to be one of the leaders in bringing environmental initiatives to this growing country. The Habitat 2020 building will feature an active skin: a membrane between the exterior and interior walls that will absorb air, water and light from outside and dispatch it inside as clean filtered water, natural air conditioning and electricity. The same funnels on the membrane that pull these resources in will also emit clean, CO2-free air from inside the building. This urban megalopolis is set to be complete in 2020.

California Academy of Sciences Museum

2008-11-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

Another project that aims to act as a ‘living’ structure is the California Academy of Sciences museum set to open in San Francisco this fall. The museum will have a 2.5 acre, undulating green roof that will integrate it into the surrounding Golden Gate Park. The 400,000-square-foot, $484 million structure will likely be the first public building to achieve a platinum LEED rating. Designer Renzo Piano has incorporated a planetarium, a rainforest with free-flying birds, a coral reef home to 4,000 fish in a saltwater aquarium and a natural history museum into the building.

Landscape House

2008-11-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

Maul Dwellings designed the Landscape House, which won the AIA’s 2006 Committee on Design competition to design “a house for an ecologist”. The house not only features a double roof for enhanced air circulation, louvered shutters to harvest energy, a Water Pod to house efficient plumbing systems and a solar dehumidifier unit to capture moisture from the air for drinking water, it also is designed for deconstruction and reuse. Though this innovative structure wasn’t originally intended for widespread residential use, its intelligent eco-friendly features make it a great source of inspiration for future green homes.

Singapore City

2008-11-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

London-based Foster + Partners, who are also working on the aforementioned Frasers Broadway complex, have another green complex in store. This one will be located in Singapore City, measuring 150,000 square meters and set for multi-use functioning. The complex’s exterior will be covered with solar cells, and direct sunlight will also be harvested by tall ribbon-like canopies rising into the skyline. The slanted design of the facades will allow wind to flow into the building for a natural cooling effect, and vertical green spaces will provide ambient temperature moderation. The building will also be equipped with a rainwater harvesting system, geothermal heating, chilled beams and an ice storage system for cooling.

Nano Vent Skin

2008-11-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

Some designers have come up with alternatives that are meant to work at varying scales and within more limited budgets. Agustin Otegui’s Nano Vent-Skin is a perfect example.

What is it? In short it is a structure that acts like a skin. It is composed of mini wind turbines made out of micro organisms which generate energy from wind and sunlight. NVS was born as a small scale alternative after seeing all the gigantic projects (like those mentioned above) being built around the world. Where it seems that in order to be green you have to think big and build something impressively huge. This concept tries to make Architects and Designers think on a smaller scale and apply it to existing buildings, houses and structures or even tunnels and barriers to generate energy.

Lighthouse Skyscraper

2008-11-27T18:30:00.000-08:00

The so-called Lighthouse skyscraper is a 1000-foot-tall office skyscraper that is designed to use about half the water and energy of a typical high-rise building. The tower design employs solar energy collection and wind farming techniques coupled with strategies to reduce the use of and improve recovery of energy and water within the building. If/when built, this building will be a kind of working prototype for future green design in massive urban construction.

Dongtan EcoCity

2008-11-27T18:28:00.000-08:00

The Dongtan Eco-City is designed to be the world’s first not only an environmentally but also a “socially, economically and culturally” sustainable city. The site is over 50 square miles in size and will be split between agricultural and urban areas. The city relies on its own wind and solar energy as well as organic farming strategies. Public transportation will be entirely emissions free. In many ways this is a prototype for large-scale city planning within a fully eco-friendly mindset.

Bahrain World Trade Center

2008-11-27T18:20:00.000-08:00

A slightly more conventional wind-powered approach is being taken with another building in Dubai though the design is no less visually stunning. The Bahrain World Trade Center features three massive wind turbines straddling giant bridges between the two tapering towers. Each of these nearly one-hundred-foot-in-diameter. Even the shapes of the towers themselves are designed to funnel winds at high speeds in between the towers to generate the maximum amount of power possible.

The most impressive feature of the new Bahrain World Trade Center is, no doubt, the three massive wind turbines situated between the two towers comprising the main building. Each of these 80-foot turbines projects from a bridge between towers. The shape of the towers themselves channels and accelerates air moving between them which will help the building generate even more power. It is by far the largest wind-powered design incorporated into a massive building project to date.

All in One Eco Towers

2008-11-27T18:14:00.000-08:00

One of the first designs of its kind, the compelling vertical farm project above was undertaken by Chris Jacobs in cooperation with the grandfather of skyscraper farm concepts: Dr. Dickson Despommier of Columbia University. His ideal: all-in-one eco-towers would be actually produce more energy, water (via condensation/purification) and food than their occupants would consume. His mission: to gather architects, engineers, economists and urban planners to develop a sustainable and high-tech wonder of ecological engineering

Vertical Farming Skyscraper

2008-11-27T18:12:00.001-08:00

Architect Pierre Sartoux of Atelier SOA has gone a step further and put some serious design talent behind his proposal for a vertical farming skyscraper. A light-shading skin wraps around the structure and opens to admit sunlight at particular locations for various functional (and aesthetic) purposes. The building’s air, heating and cooling systems are wind-driven and circulate oxygen and carbon dioxide between growing and living spaces. The simple but reinforced structure is designed to handle additional dead loads from the weight of growing floors and also serve to make the entire building more durable (and thus sustainable).

Sky Farm in Toronto

2008-11-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

Architect Gordon Graff may succeed in the more green and progressive city of Toronto with his plans for a sky farm with 48 floors and millions of square feet of floor space (and even more growing space). This building, if constructed, will be able to feed tens of thousands of people per year. Best of all, particularly in Canada, the success of the building’s crops isn’t contingent upon climactic conditions. As an architectural and urban design gesture this structure both fits into the city skyline and differentiates itself with simple layers of green.

Vertical Farm in Seattle

2008-11-27T17:58:00.001-08:00

The Pacific Northwest regional architecture firm Mithun developed a compelling vertical farm building design to incorporate various green building strategies in a mixed-use residential and commercial complexdesigned for downtown Seattle. The concept? Simply put, the structure is designed as a kind of built organism - completely self-sufficient and adaptive to its surroundings. The design includes water and energy self-sufficiency from rainwater and gray water collection and reuse, solar cells, vegetable and grain growing spaces and even a chicken farm - all built on a small-footprint downtown urban lot.

Symbiotic Interlock

2008-11-27T17:51:00.000-08:00

Given that most urban cores are already densely built, one designer has proposed an auxiliary series of structures to be attached to existing structures in downtown areas. These modular constructions would provide garden and recreation spaces for residents as well as light and air filters for the adjacent buildings. In some cases, these retrofits could even provide structural stability to aged buildings and prevent the need to tear them down. Architecturally, these modular units stand out and add another layer to the visual hierarchy of the cities around them.

Stanford University Medical Center

2008-11-26T19:03:00.000-08:00

Stanford University Medical Center unveils plans for renewal and modernization

Stanford Hospital & Clinics' renewal process was brought about to address state-mandated seismic safety laws, a critical shortage of beds, increasing patient needs, undersized facilities, and the space requirements of new medical technologies and advances in medical care.

Rafael Viñoly Architects are the architects appointed to design the new hospital: a healing environment that will care for the whole person, addressing emotional, social and physical needs following Stanford’s clinical excellence. President and CEO of Stanford Hospital & Clinics Martha Marsh remarked: “Rafael Viñoly has brought creativity and innovation to translating our vision, as well as future flexibility to assure that these exciting facilities will keep pace with rapid advances in medicine and technology.”

The new plans propose a net increase of approximately 441,500 sq ft on the current site. The new facilities will add 104 beds for a total of 361 patient beds on site; new diagnostic and treatment rooms; nursing and support services; clinics and administrative offices.

The new building will benefit from light-filled corridors with views to the foothills and beyond. The design includes a central courtyard and roof gardens that will re-establish the tradition of the Stanford campus by integrating the landscape within the new building, aiming to create an uplifting atmosphere. A sloped courtyard with a prominent water feature organizes public circulation on the lower levels and brings natural light into the centre of each floor. Accessible roof gardens surround a unique public floor that contains family and staff amenities.

During the unveiling ceremony architect Rafael Viñoly said: “We are challenging outdated conventions in hospital design to establish a new architectural identity for Stanford Hospital that will allow it to continue to provide outstanding care for its community as well as innovate and develop treatments that will benefit communities the world over.”

Stanford University Medical Center has submitted a formal application to the City of Palo Alto for the Renewal Project. The City of Palo Alto is conducting the required Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process, which includes multiple opportunities for public comment. Phased construction is scheduled to begin in 2010. The existing hospital will remain operational through construction and the original 1959 and 1973 portions will be demolished after the opening of the new facilities.

Tower Hamlets in East London

2008-11-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

Yeang, Nakamura, Lim

2008-11-26T18:12:00.000-08:00

The reputation of Veg.itect extraordinaire Ken Yeang is undisputed, but it's always nice for a refresher on how far he has been pushing in designing (and getting built) these bioclimatic treasures. Inhabitat has recent coverage of an old favorite - the EDITT tower in Singapore, which is slated for construction. Can't wait to see this one.
:: image via Inhabitat

Via Inhabitat "The verdant skyscraper was designed to increase its location’s bio-diversity and rehabilitate the local ecosystem in Singapore’s ‘zeroculture’ metropolis.. . Approximately half of the surface area of the EDITT Tower will be wrapped in organic local vegetation, and passive architecture will allow for natural ventilation. Publicly accessible ramps will connect upper floors to the street level lined in shops, restaurants and plant life. The building has also been designed for future adaptability, with many walls and floors that can be moved or removed. In a city known for its downpours, the building will collect rainwater and integrate a grey-water system for both plant irrigation and toilet flushing with an estimated 55% self-sufficiency. "

A very different scale is found via What We Do Is Secret is an verdant apartment complex in downtown Tokyo - with trees and vegetation woven into the fabric of the building by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP... this is sweet - and I particularly this model.

:: images via What We Do Is Secret

The forms are interesting, specifically with the dusky late-night shots... but the last shot is perhaps my favorite - a simple switcheroo of tree trunk inside - giving a hint of the simplicity amidst the complexity.

Finally a recent announcement of a project from CJ Lim (via BDonline): "Lim’s firm Studio 8 Architects won the contest to design the Nan Yui shopping park scheme — his 12th contest in 18 months. The project takes the form of a feng shui-inspired “golden bowl”, and includes offices, retail, apartments, a public park and a five-star hotel."

:: images via BDonline

Check of the comment stream for such treasures as 'it already looks dated before it's even built' and '...'tacky cheesiness'. .. which indicates some of the thoughts on the reality and practicality of this proposal. Is it dated? I don't think so, as it's not really referencing something. Tacky, perhaps? But it's a vision - and even those specifically unpractical ideas have merit in pushing boundaries.

This is where Ken Yeang shines... not just treating these projects as 'pop art' or academic exercises - but as visionary and practical architecture that definitely pushes boundaries, but is also build able. Nakamura's project offers a different vision and sensitivity - similar to carving space for 'tree residents' like Hundertwasser... but also realistic. Is there a place for the vision of Lim? Of course - because they are expanding the potential of architecture and landscape in urban areas. Practical... maybe. Buildable... probably not - but evocative and worth talking about. Most definitely.

The images of Ken Yeang a few years back were considered outrageous - now they seem to be leading a new wave. Perhaps the sum of these three projects offers a glimpse into the current and future of Veg.itecture.

Mind the GAP

2008-11-26T16:59:00.000-08:00

The GAP in this case being the Grand Army Plaza, the forecourt space to the north of Brooklyn's Prospect Park, and one of those woefully inadequate urban spaces that perhaps was grandiose at one time - but due to current pressure has become inaccessible and dangerous.:: image via Grand Army Plaza Coalition

Or in the words of the Design Trust for Public Space: "Designed in 1867 by Olmsted and Vaux, this magnificent 11-acre plaza is home to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch, the elegant Bailey Fountain, the Greenmarket, and the entrance to Prospect Park. Despite its identity as the historic, cultural and geographic heart of Brooklyn, hazardous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists today impede access to neighborhoods, cultural institutions, and prevent use of the Plaza itself."

The results of the competition are in, and the winning entries are featured below, including the dueling French tied entries for first place... 'Please Wake Me Up' by Guillaume Derrien & Gauthier le Romancer from Paris, France and 'Canopy' by Anne-Sophie Coué, Christian Matteau, Stephane Mauget, and Chrystelle Sanaa from Nantes, France, which also picked up the People's Choice vote. The following materials are from the submissions.

T1. Please Wake Me Up"Traffic is "squeezed" to the Plaza's spine, allowing the berm areas to reconnect with surrounding residential neighborhoods. A generous, open, urban square bridges the gap between Park and Plaza, and offers a sense of tranquility and expansiveness. A market hall becomes the greenmarket' s year-round home.":: images via Design Trust for Public Space

T1. Canopy
"Canopy" stands for a strategy of spanning different areas and uses with a connective or sheltering roof. Green 'canopies' or roof-decks bridge over Flatbush Avenue, which becomes the main north/south vehicle route, freeing the west side of the Plaza for other uses. Canopy-shaped forms become community gardens at the west berm, and a canopy-shaped pool surrounds Bailey Fountain.":: images via Design Trust for Public Space

2. Urban Stripes
Vincent Hertenberger, Andras Jambor (Paris) -- "Grand Army Plaza is divided into five east/west 'stripes,' connecting communities on either side of the Plaza. Each stripe has a distinct appearance, plant community, and use. The Plaza's center becomes a large, paved public space, with a pedestrian crosswalk, which repositions the Plaza as Prospect Park's formal entry."

:: images via Design Trust for Public Space

3. A Center for Brooklyn
James Garrison, Brandt Graves, Simon Kristak, Vanessa Moon, Tim Peterson, Sal Tranchina, Aaron Tweedi, Darshin Van Parijs, Elliott White from Garrison Architects; Michael King from Nelson/Nygaard (Brooklyn, New York, USA) -- "A wide center Plaza is created by pushing all traffic to a broad, tree-lined circular boulevard that replaces the berms. The expanded center becomes a platform for a range of community activities, much like Union Square or Bryant Park. An elevated pedestrian promenade circles the Plaza, provides views, and connects the Plaza's many elements."
:: images via Design Trust for Public Space

Also, as an extra bonus, check out the 30 finalist proposals for some additional info as well - on the people's choice voting site (although voting is closed). Contrary to the typical response of competitions, the broad distribution of a number of non-winning schemes allows for some interesting additional viewpoints, not just the winning proposals.

Park Houses

2008-11-26T07:37:00.000-08:00

A great example of vegetated form-making via WAN - these 'Park Houses' by Ushida Findlay Architects in the UK offers a number of interesting strategies: "Park Houses' design features an undulating green roof linking five individual homes and shared family leisure facilities, subtly integrating them with the surrounding landscape and ecology. ... Strips of indigenous plants, set within furrows in the roof, will flourish to merge the building with the landscape, and attract local flora and fauna to the site."

Terunobu Fujimori

2008-11-26T07:28:00.000-08:00

From Archidose on Japanese architect Terunobu Fujimori. While Archidose rightly points of the standardization of roof greening as 'product' something I've discussed at length - these Fujimori projects: "...whose surfaces hint at the uniqueness of his buildings, what Thomas Daniell describes as "shaggy and bristling, humorous and grotesque, uncanny and vaguely obscene, and at times surreally beautiful." This last can easily be attributed to his handling of vegetation on roof surfaces."

Research Facility courtyard

2008-11-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

From Arch Daily again... pretty non-descript on the outer shell for this Research Facility, but with some interesting rooftop and courtyard paver greening...

Small House in Wales

2008-11-26T07:16:00.000-08:00

A cool project/graphic from BDonline - for a project by Sarah Featherstone and Jeremy Young for a small house in Wales.

Champalimaud Foundation Centre in Lisbon

2008-11-26T06:43:00.000-08:00

From WAN, aproject by RMJM Architects for the Champalimaud Foundation Centre in Lisbon Portugal which has some blurred interior and exterior spaces: "Building A will house a rainforest garden which can be visited by patients and staff, in addition to diagnostic, treatment and wellness centers; Building B is to encompass an auditorium, exhivition center and restaurant; while Building C is expected to be an open-air amphitheater to hold community events and public performances.":: images via WAN

The Blade Factory

2008-11-26T06:08:00.000-08:00

"Greenland Street invited Office for Subversive Architecture to develop the first of their annual architecture commissions which will inhabit the roof of The Blade Factory." Here's the cool glowing translucent roof, which is pretty cool - especially alongside a simple vegetated patio terrace.
:: image via Arch Daily