about world architecture

Machu Picchu

2012-10-22T23:49:00.001-07:00

No list of lost cities is complete without Machu Picchu. This old Inca city sits on a peak in the Andes. It was only inhabited for a short period of time, likely 1450-1572 AD, before being abandoned as a result of the Spanish conquest of South America. Since Spaniards never found the city, and locals did not reveal its location, Machu Picchu only came to the attention of the West in the early 20th century. Debate still exists as to whether Machu Picchu was a regular settlement, a Royal retreat, or a religious sanctuary. To reach the site itself is now incredibly easy, with regular buses and trains. This has led to worries about the sustainability of large numbers of visitors there. However, given the wonderful views and the ruins themselves it is easy to see why people flock to Machu Picchu.

Timgad - the archetypal lost city

2012-10-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

Timgad, or Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi to Latinists, is the archetypal lost city from adventure stories. Once a vibrant city founded in the desert on the orders of the emperor Trajan it survived the upheavals of the empire and grew to a large trading city. After being sacked in the 5th century it was reborn as a center of Christian life. A second major sacking in the 7th century by Vandals led to the complete
abandonment of the city. That is when the sands of the Sahara covered the site and preserved the city until its rediscovery, in 1881. Now the ruins of the city give a brilliant insight into Roman cities of the African provinces. The streets follow a perfect grid, as you would expect from a city built to order. Today at the site you can see the arch of Trajan, the baths and the temple of Jupiter. The temple is as large as that of the pantheon in Rome, showing the importance of the city. A graffito in the forum reads “To hunt, bathe, play games and laugh. This is life!”

Tikal - the capital city of a Mayan kingdom

2012-10-22T23:44:00.001-07:00

The Mayan city of Tikal was once the capital city of a Mayan kingdom and a major city of the New World. The site was occupied from ~200-900 AD. Thanks to the almost perfect preservation of the city much is known about the grandeur of Tikal at its height, as well as the powerful kings who ruled there. While the site is sometimes – like other New World ruins – listed as ‘mysteriously’ abandoned, research is showing that the land could not support the large number of people congregating in the city. Abandonment occurred over a number of years and the city was left for the jungles to grow over. It seems, however, that some locals knew of its existence during those years, for rumors of a lost city in the area persisted. The first organized expedition found the city in 1848. What they found was one of the largest surviving New World archaeological sites. There are pyramids up to 70m high, royal palaces, monumental stele and a playing arena for the Mayan ball game.

The discovery of Akrotiri

2012-10-22T23:42:00.002-07:00

The Minoan civilization of Crete is named for the mythical King Minos, builder of the labyrinth. There is scant written material left from the Minoans, so we do not know what they called themselves. The entire civilization was largely forgotten until the turn of the 20th century. With the discovery of the great palace at Knossos the glories of the Minoans were rediscovered. Instead of the well known Knossos, I have included a Minoan outpost, Akrotiri on the island of Santorini. Santorini, or Thera, is the home of the Thera volcano. It is now thought that the explosion of Thera around 1600 BC, one of the largest eruptions in recorded history, brought about the collapse of the Minoan empire. The discovery of Akrotiri, in 1967, brought to light exceptionally well preserved frescos, homes up to three stories high, and a complex planned settlement. The water supply system suggests the people of Akrotiri had access to running hot and cold water, with the hot water provided by the very volcano which would destroy them.

Cliff palace

2012-10-22T23:41:00.001-07:00

The Pueblo people, the Native Americans of the US southwest, are named for the villages (Pueblos) they construct. While there are still vibrant pueblo communities today, the Anasazi, an ancient pueblo society, flourished between 900 and 1200 AD. ‘Cliff Palace’ was constructed in this Golden age of the Anasazi; dendrochronology dates most of the buildings at the site to ~1200 AD. Occupation of the site was short lived and it was abandoned by 1300 AD. It remained undiscovered in the desert, until 1888. While out
looking for stray cattle Richard Wetherill, Charles Mason and an Ute tribesman called Acowitz found the site nestled under a cliff wall. Their accidental discovery turned out to be the largest cliff dwelling in North America. ‘Cliff Palace’ is actually a misnomer as the site is more like a village than what we would understand as a palace. While the reason for the site’s abandonment is not certain, the widely accepted theory is that the first of the great droughts, that has been linked to the collapse of the Anasazi golden age, disrupted farming throughout the region.

Parasitic Insertions

2012-10-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles basin is a place that has seen the third highest number of oil drilling points in the era when industrialization had flourished in the Unites States. This tale was during the late 1800s and 1950s when the LA basin flourished with a huge number of oil drilling units, also known as oil derricks. Today, when oil drilling has found a resurrected life with all kinds of technological boons electrifying and energizing its existence, these oil derricks seem to have faded off in their hugeness of prominence. However, this may not be very true. Here is a reason to remain on the positive side of the debate.

Many of these oil derricks are in their dormant stage. They still can spit out crude oil when endeavored to do so. The catch is that, this crude oil can be subjected to bio-refinement. The result of the process would be a bio lattice or a net shaped rigid structure that can be home to many biotic activities. The green part is that this plastic structure is biodegradable in nature and hence, when not needed, can just be subjected to degradation without a second thought.

Home to whom? It could be home to a large number of plants and honey bees. You see fulfillment of a commercial cause in addition to a biological cause. Well, this is just a project in thoughts and is not in practice as of now. The main advantage of this pious human thought, if at all it could be shaken to life, would be that for the first time, crude oil would be used for a cause other than causing widespread pollution problem in the environment.

Let’s see how much an Eco-friendly thought of utilizing crude oil for a green purpose can be put in practicality in the grand city of Los Angeles, United States, one of the largest consumers of oil in the world.

Croatian Firm to Design Istanbul’s First Disaster Prevention and Education Center

2012-10-19T09:32:00.004-07:00

Natural disasters, time and again serve as reminders of the fact that despite the advancements that humans have made in terms of technology, the nature's fury retains the power to reduce man made creations to rubble. The effect is even more pronounced in a state of unpreparedness which is very often due to a callous attitude towards the might of nature. Preventing these disasters is not quite in human hands but if considerable effort is put in, to train people in facing such situations and to put the technology available to use, the damage can certainly be minimized. Turkey's first Disaster Prevention and Education Center in Istanbul is a step in the same direction, given the kind of damage to life and property the recent earthquakes in Turkey brought about.

A natural feel to the design

The design for the center was chosen from among the various proposals received from across the world as part of a competition that was organized for the purpose. The winning design, by Radionika Arhitekture, a Croatian firm, seeks to create an identity of its own for the structure. The design is in clear contrast with the high rises surrounding the area.

The selected design envisages a park, or a courtyard with trees, in the middle. The facilities for the center will take shape on the periphery of this park. The park, in keeping with the extremely nature oriented feel of the place, carries a lake with a high water fountain. The fountain will serve as the identifying for the center in the midst of the buildings in the vicinity.

Emphasis on renewable sources for power

A perfect harmony of tradition, modernity and science is on display in the proposed structure. The roofs will be dome shaped, thus the architecture depicts tradition but the domes will carry solar panels to generate power. Furthermore, systems employing geothermal energy constitute the heating and cooling facilities for the center. The design supports minimal use of power during the day by allowing for natural light to reach the interiors of the structure. Roofs and facades with glass brise-soleil do the trick here. Natural light supplants other sources because natural light can enter the structure so built. The intensity is enough to keep the center well lit but barriers have been put in place in a manner that the sunlight does not increase the temperature of the structure. This gives the center the further advantage of being energy efficient.

A technological assertion

As the very premise of the structure is to enhance the degree of preparedness against natural disasters, with the use of technology, the facilities on offer will be in keeping with the same. The simulation systems for different natural disasters will allow the people to get an experience that is akin to being trapped in places struck by earthquakes, tsunami, hurricane, etc. People can thus learn to cope with such situations by following the right course of action. It is apt that the center is being built in an age when nature's fury is taking increasingly deadlier forms.

How to efficiently use human waste

2012-10-14T23:08:00.001-07:00

If you see how nature works, then you will notices that nothing is wasted in nature, apart from what is man made. Whatever is naturally produced, becomes one with the Earth after its life cycle is over. Similarly, after humans consume food the excrement should also ideally become a part of nature. However, this is not so in today's modern way of living as human excrement finds its way into water and pollutes our valuable water resources.

This project is aimed at resolving two main principles - firstly, that human excrement should no longer be merged with our potable water and secondly, whatever human eat should be returned back to the soil from where food was gotten in the first place.

The Trilet is a design of a public restroom by Caine which is not connected to the sewerage or municipal water systems as it does not make use of water at all! The human excrement is automatically covered after each use with hay, sawdust and other organic covers in order to reduce bad odor that arises from the composting process. The Trilet has a removable insert that can also be reused. This insert is sent to the adjoining municipal composting facility from time to time. In a year's time, this fertilizer which is 100 percent organic is then supplied to retail stores for agricultural applications at a much lesser cost.

In this way, the Trilet contributes to the reduction of fertilizer usage in modern agriculture and also leads to a reduction in the chlorine content of the water treatment plants.

The Trilet is a great endeavor to make human waste a part of the agricultural process which can be made much healthier when crops are grown by using 100 percent organic fertilizer. In this way, the food that we eat would be much safer and we would not risk our health with the current chemicals that are being consumed along with the fruits and vegetables that we eat. Furthermore, the Trilet also helps is separating human waste from water. Since our washrooms are connected with water outlets, we eventually end up mixing sewage with our water sources that lead to contamination of water. Therefore, in order to treat the contamination, we end up over-chlorinating the water which is also very harmful. The Trilet is a great effort to separate human waste from water and to direct it back to the soil in a natural way!

Agricultural singularity

2012-10-11T02:53:00.002-07:00

The LOFT Vertical Farming competition of 2011 had some very interesting entries. One of them was what was termed as Vertical Symbiosis and it lay stress on a harmonic co-existence between humanity and its sustenance. It is a proposal for vertical farming. The concept has gained lot of ground because of the rapidly diminishing real estate available for agriculture.

While the growth of cities and urbanization is on a all-time high, there has been a sort of neglect in the agricultural sector. With increased emphasis and importance being placed on nature, a design has been made to bridge this disconnect that has appeared between nature and humanity.

The idea of a low-rise structure that could also support agriculture is not entirely new. Building it in a manner that encourages direct relationships between people and the food that they eat is the challenge. This requires people to get involved in the 'green' activity. The people sustain the plants and the plants in turn sustain the people. This is what interdependence or symbiosis is all about.

This project also involves efforts to constantly increase the productivity of plants and the fields. But by attempting to blur the lines between nature living and living in concrete homes, the concept strives to make 'green' living a part of the being. And to achieve this, a lot of bio mimicry is going to happen.

Nature builds best. It is from nature that a community in the heart of London has derived the inspiration to go ahead with this ambitious concept. Achieving a spatial singularity by blending elements of nature with elements of the concrete jungle will indeed be a blessing the world would happily receive!

Skyscrapers for the urban people

2012-10-11T02:50:00.001-07:00

Sky is the limit and nobody ever touched the sky. It seems that architects and urban landscape designers are taking the idea seriously. At least, vertical green spaces on the high-rise towers are saying so.

If you are living in any growing metropolis for couple of decades you must have noticed the ever-receding greenery in the urban vicinity. We need offices, schools, health centers, conference blocks, housing and so many facilities. So, we keep on cropping the parks and gardens. This is sad but unavoidable.

However, architects and designers are coming up with solutions. Grow vertically if you can’t grow in width. If buildings are taking up green spaces, then put green within the building. Idea is simply appealing but not so easy to come up with an executable design. We have one such effective design, which can make urban highrises environment friendly.

Top floors in highrise towers make way to expensive and spacious condos for rich people. This might look profitable from construction guys’ perspective but in environmental sense this is nothing but wastage of living space. And the wastage is more costly if those building are eating up public green spaces, like parks and gardens.

Designers proposed to turn those spaces into vertical gardens for public use and growing greenery. With greenery in the surroundings, life in those highrises would be more livable.

In his design, an architect has tried to compensate loss of public green spaces with vertical greeneries. And he gives 4 ways for it:

1. Green wall

2. Green walkways

3. Vertical farming

4. Sustainable initiatives

Let’s have a look in detail.

1. Green wall

This is an old concept that designers used to cover the tower blocks from sides. Considering the height of the towers, green walls would give back a large area of green space. Besides, these walls would also help in keeping the building cool. Result would be cut down in cost of artificial air conditioning.

2. Green walkways

Central block of the tower would be surrounded by pedestrian walkways. And designer proposes circular green pods, mainly grass, on the walkways. These pods will revive the feeling of walking through the park. Walking through the lush green grasses has very calming effect.

3. Vertical farming

The design also thinks about the food, required to feed urban population. And vertical green towers can accommodate vertical farms too. Open floor areas would be used for growing foods like potato, lettuce, tomatoes, berries etc. These towers can even have their own poultries to support the requirement of animal protein.

4. Sustainable initiatives

Growing green doesn’t make any change if we are wasting too much energy and non-renewable resources. So, the designer proposed to implement green technologies like, rain water harvesting, use of more natural daylight and cross ventilation with natural air. They would make green walls and vertical farming for self-sustainability. Besides, buildings would have less carbon footprint.

The Breathing Building: Garden as Building

2012-10-07T23:21:00.002-07:00

A reflection and response to the green revolution, The Breathing Building is a conceptual design that enjoys and celebrates life. Meghan Dufresne has crafted this design very thoughtfully and has finally made it a top submission for the Parkitecture Competition organized by the Dwell Magazine. Reflecting a garden as building, this design runs on the concept of creating such a structure that acts as a nurturer to the environment, as well as acts as a functional support for an automobile. The Breathing Building is a small container for the nature, which is able to self-power by generating energy from renewable sources like water and sunlight.

The building utilizes all recycled and natural materials to get constructed. Merged with the surrounding landscape's beauty, the design is a big contrast to a traditional garage and is created in a manner to reflect an open and inviting place for modern-day, low-emission automobiles. The building's design includes a garage with half of its roof acting as a cistern for water collection. This water may be usable for car cleaning or plant nourishment. Additionally, the design aims at forming green walls on two sides of this building, along with a plants side-cover on the roof. As wall and roofing materials are green, instead of being dead and toxic, the surrounding temper is controllable through passive summer cooling and natural winter insulation.

The Breathing Building's use of water and greenery helps keeping the air ionized and clean. It also absorbs storm water and prevents corrosion. Additionally, the envelope of the building remains protected, and the heating effects due to carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from automobiles get reduced as the green plants absorb CO2 for food production. Thus this structure is designed to have a symbiotic sustenance of both cars and plants. Water from the roof pool may also flow down to nourish the plants once hoses are attached to the pool. In addition, the top green roof garden of this building is usable as free space where people can arrange gatherings, rest and relax, or just cool off by dipping their feet in water. With constantly upgrading technology, there are many possibilities of this structure turning into an algae farm, bio fuel generator, or something similar.

The water roof is also capable of creating a bright and cheerful environment inside the outside the building as it acts like a large aquarium and skylight. As weather conditions vary, the garage would reflect the changing shades of nature. For better indoor air quality, the design includes a steel grid placed in line with automobile engines. This removable grid has PVC trays underneath that help collecting automotive oil or antifreeze fluids so those may be recycled or disposed off. On the left side of the car space, there are storage shelves to accommodate tools and spare parts.

On the South of driveway, metal grid- or weatherproof acrylic-covered solar panels are designed to be installed so sunlight can be captured to generate power that may energize vehicles. The cars parked inside the garage can be recharged by plugging them in electrical outlets from solar panels. Another special feature of this building's design is a clear gaze supported and enhanced by the strong green walls. The complete green structure is crafted out of natural and renewable materials such as acrylic, structural steel, bamboo, plants, etc. The Breathing Building not only helps you breathe better but also lets the environment remain clean and shining.

Regeneration of Life through this TREE OF LIFE KLCC

2012-10-07T23:19:00.001-07:00

The talented designer Koh Hau Yeow has come up with an exclusively green design for the proposed development at Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC) park in Malaysia. This is the design for an architectural wonder named TREE OF LIFE @ KLCC. The rich landscape at this location allows for an interactive space between an urban and a natural formation where an innovative design could easily fit in. This creative life tree design is proposed to utilize the flowing area from the park into the construct, thus developing an ecological habitat for the residents while also well-accommodating retail areas, parking facilities and workplaces.

Inspired by ancient mythological concepts, this design is created to be a tree of life that offers nourishment and sustenance to the residents living around this structural monument. It is proposed to be an ecological landmark that towers above the land while blossoming out with its entrenchment into the park. The structure is designed in a way to facilitate movement anywhere across the site, as well as to create a seamless connection with the park using thoroughfares and plazas. For further development, a plaza bridge would be created to thrust into the greens and as an extension to the same, a staircase would be made to directly take up a person from pedestrian tracks to the 7th-floor signature restaurant and gym.

There would be nodal pads spread across the landscaped environmental decks designed for congregation and other activities, and the green links would be replicated here as sky gardens and terraces. The design focuses on harnessing natural daylight in a strategic manner, as well as infusing it perfectly into all voids within this voluminous structure. Full-height glazing cuts off direct glare and heat generation in the interiors of the facade. The building's sky terraces offer cross-ventilation of air, and its interstitial spaces act as breezeways. There are also proper rainwater harvesting and water recycling systems installed to make the structure greener.

Additionally, there are infused water elements and water-featured walls designed at various places throughout. People may enjoy a variety of fitness and recreational activities at the private sky garden on the 23rd floor that is home to various facilities. The greenery and landscape make the whole structure soothing and lively to the core. The site offers an all-round marvelous view of the KLCC park with wonderful Petronas Towers as backdrop. In itself, TREE OF LIFE @ KLCC aims at becoming an Eco-friendly icon of a communal gathering point, with relaxation and rejuvenation spaces complementing the park's ambiance.

LEED Platinum Eco Building by Geotectura

2012-10-07T23:15:00.001-07:00

Israel is all set to become an international example when it comes to housing environmentally friendly buildings. The country will house a LEED Platinum certified building in Tel Aviv University (TAU). Around three years back, Geotectura, an architectural firm focusing on sustainable architecture, won a competition of international repute together with Chen Architects and Axelrod-Grobman Architects for designing a green building for Porter School of Environment Studies (PSES) located in TAU. And now, the trio have started laying ground work for the building.

The building would take the advantage of Israel’s location. With sunlight pouring in bounty, the building will garner solar energy by using a 50KW photovoltaic solar arrangement. And you need not worry about the temperature inside, for a cooling technology, better known as the chilled beam technology will come to your rescue. This is not all, the eco friendly building will also have a green roof and vertical gardens so as to generate pure air. An addition to the green facts, rainwater harvesting system would also be installed on the roof in order to counter the scanty rainfall effect in Israel.

In order to discourage people from using personal vehicles and promote the usage of public transport, Geotectura plans to construct a minimal parking area so as to house fewer vehicles. It is an assumption that when the parking area is less, faculty and students would be encouraged to use public transport and bicycles instead.

Let’s see how much this project would succeed in its presumptions, assumptions and realizations. It is good that countries like Israel, where resources have not been very fair in their distribution, are thinking of such sane ideas to be realized. Green projects do cost more but in the long run are sure to benefit our home. Such steps are the commencements to lower our mammoth carbon footprints.

Sustainable masterplans for green cities of the future

2012-10-06T02:43:00.002-07:00

Nowadays, everything is about renewable energy sources and greener lifestyles. People are looking out for homes in eco friendly neighborhoods that have facilities which contribute towards greener lifestyles. There are some housing community projects that are yet to be implemented, but are designed for the purpose of greener communities. These designs have been made for the comfort of all the economic and social levels within the society and have also incorporated community centers like hospitals, schools, libraries, office buildings and so on. Here is a list of five such designs which have been planned.

1. Tian Yi Town Master Plan

Tian Yi Town Master Plan

It is very difficult to plan a housing community in the wetlands. But, the town of Tian Yi makes it look like living in wetlands is very comfortable. It has been designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. The housing community plan integrates a self-sustenance hub that includes natural vegetation, a wetland design and a canal system. The plan includes three zones, which gives the design sustenance and the required shape. The three zones consist of outer ring, which has dense vegetation and wetlands, inner ring, which consists of place for social activities and community services and the central zone, has a great garden for all relaxation activities. The buildings within the community are designed in a zigzag manner in order to make the best use of natural ventilation and heat. On these wet lands, the design also includes schools, hospitals, library and any other facility that is required for people to live in the community. Since this is going to be constructed on wetlands, there will be provisions for rainwater harvesting. As per the plan, people from all the levels of income will be able to enjoy residing at the Tian Ti Town.

2. Kubota & Bachmann Architects unveil sustainable masterplan for Niderfeld, Switzerland

Kubota & Bachmann's masterplan

This is a state owned under-developed area that is about to under go the process of urban and social development. Kubota and Bachman Architects have designed a plan called Europan-10 that helps in exploring the greener possibilities of the area and also to harness the resources available. The entire design that includes the volume of the area, the pattern, housing, public utility space and landscaping has been planned in order to advocate greener lifestyle. The main idea here is to have people from all diverse backgrounds, cultures, economic and socioeconomic backgrounds unified. The common areas will include park and a playground, a lawn and a fountain suitable for all the levels of the society. In order to make every home unique, the buildings are going to be designed by other architects based on the owner’s choice.The proposal is to make all the buildings of the urban composition in wood. The roof will be designed to have solar panels and also organic garden which supports green eco-system. In order to keep the crowd away from the residential areas, the proposed idea is to make organic gardens of around 25-30 m size and also to demarcate them from the roads.

3. Masterplan for Nanjing, China by CK Designworks

Masterplan for Nanjing

Although it is an ambitious proposal, CK Designworks have designed a grand plan of a 20 sqkm city in the Pukou district in Nanjing. It plans to house a population of two million and also include industrial and commercial areas. The design will include the Chinese cultural elements and plans to showcase a Chinese way of life. The design has ten very important structures which includes a 5-star hotel that will achieve the highest certifications of LEED.

4. Masterplan for Penglai

Masterplan for penglai

This is one of the hottest destination for domestic tourism in China. So, in order to cash on the new interest, Penglai is being planned to allocate the reserve lands and also develop it for holiday homes. The firm that has designed this idea is the Arcas Europe. They have planned to have a golf course, a tennis complex and also adopt the ECC approach. By designing the city through ECC model, the firm is making an attempt to balance the economic and social sustainability of Penglai. The green architectural design for the city is to keep the Marina town as the center and have many small neighborhoods all around it. This will have around 60,000 housing units that includes cottages, flats, courtyard homes and terrace homes.

5. Dongxin St. Conceptual Master Plan

Dongxin St. Conceptual Master Plan

The master design is for the re-development of the Central Business District of Kunshun by Dongxin St. The site will mainly be responsible for protecting and promoting the key canal systems and also enhancing it. It will also make use of renewable energy sources. This site will mainly be dedicated to activities relating to leisure. In order to make this site a redeveloped and sustainable one and also a river front site, Boyd designed a plan where, one-third of the river front will be used for recreational purposes and the remaining for economic and financial purposes like office and commercial buildings. The entire site will sustain on renewable energy resources.

Active tissue building to celebrate ingenuity

2012-10-06T02:42:00.000-07:00

Remarkable architecture is testament to the ingenuity and imagination of today’s designers. A beautiful edifice stands proud against the skyline as one of the landmarks of the technology age. Re:con:active Tissue is an pioneering endeavor in building design. This pavilion utilizes the most important properties of vinyl, durability and longevity, to create a strong concept, wherein the structure is reactive. It is based on the ideas of local Toronto architect and thinker Philip Beesley, who demonstrated in experimental exhibits how modern technology can infuse contemporary architecture with the ability to be responsive to its surrounding and an internal stimulus.

The pavilion structure is a skeleton-like system of reinforced steel tubes and the space in between the structural limbs is held together by context-responsive vinyl fabric cladding which has the ability to adapt and respond to various environmental conditions. During a rainstorm, the vinyl fabric fibers supported by the system of steel cables tilt on their axis to close the structure like a touch-me-not plant closes within itself. The rain slides down the walls of the pavilion and is collected in a series of drains at the bottom.

In the spring and summer season, the structure is more focused on offering good ventilation, but tilts at the best angle to prevent excessive entry of sunlight. In harsh winters, the vinyl fabric fibers that are part of the main canopy system can close to prevent the escape of heat while a double-layered vinyl curtain can be lowered over the openings.

To brighten the nights at the Pan Am Games and increase the intensity of the fun, LEDS are embedded in the double-layered panel of vinyl canopy over the stage. Moreover, motion and audio sensors are also included to understand the activity on the stage and activate the customized light show accordingly. The stage at the Pan Am Games will feature an impressive light show that is synchronized to the event in action.

The pavilion has the alternate function of increasing awareness of multiple forms of low-emission transportation means such as biking, walking, and mass transit. Additionally, the pavilion is also solidly integrated into the Pan Am village through the incorporation of flexible retail spaces, an elevated sculpture garden featuring local artists and a commuter rail station.

The innovation of the design is amplified by the presence of vinyl products in the shape of translucent sound barriers placed in prominent locations. Some of these panels built underneath the elevated sculpture reflect light from the nearby cars and trains, producing a likable light show that is visible throughout the site.

The entire structure will involve sustainable practices: the use of recycled wood, reuse of excavated soil, permeable pavers, fly ash concrete and vinyl bought locally.

The pavilion is a showcase of vinyl’s durability and longevity as well as an expression of creative genius. The project was awarded 2nd place in the international 2011 AIAS Vinyl competition, and was highlighted in the Fall 2011 issue of Crit Magazine.

Apple’s new Cupertino campus

2012-10-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

The mega structure

As new details emerge about Apple's proposed campus in Cupertino, it becomes increasingly evident that the structure will be nothing short of awe-inspiring. The spaceship campus, a name it gets for its shape, is mammoth in terms all the parameters one can think of. The structure is in some way intended to lend the perfection as is evident in Apple products to the workplace where these products are designed and worked upon. It is in sync with the kind of precision Steve Jobs sought in Apple products. The sheer scale of the numbers marks the rising of a new megastructure on the horizon.

New Apple Campus

What makes it mega?

A closer look gives a deeper insight into the aspects that affirm the status of Apple's proposed campus in Cupertino as a megastructure. The campus will be spread out over an area of a whopping 2.65 million square feet. The solar roof of the proposed campus is estimated to generate 5 MW of power. The intricately designed, circular structure is meant to make space for nearly 13,000 employees. Perhaps a bit idiosyncratic, but the circular structure ensures that the glass used around the entire structure is curved. This is a peculiar feature. More than six thousand trees will be at the core of the circular structure that will take half a billion dollars for completion.

Factbox

a. Design

The behemoth to be constructed in Cupertino, California, has been designed by the firm Foster and Partners. The architectural firm, based in London, is widely acclaimed. The Hong Kong International airport and the British Museum bear a testimony to the excellent quality of their work.ARUP and Kier & Wright are also a part of the team handling the design process.

b. Estimated cost

Conservative estimates peg the number to be $500 million. There is every likelihood of it being more.

c. Purpose

The commercial building will be the second campus for Apple in Cupertino. 13,000 employees will report to this campus once the structure completes. The master plan for the building envisages that only twenty percent of the facility would be the built up area, the rest eighty percent will be covered by greenery. The roof of the entire structure will carry solar panels. The built up area will accommodate a R&D park, a fitness facility and an auditorium to seat a thousand people. The multilevel parking system with solar panels on the roof helps increase the area under the solar panel coverage while reducing the asphalt usage at the same time. The plant will generate its own power, through renewable and non-renewable means, with the grid acting as a secondary option in case of a hitch.

d. Surface area

The whole campus will cover an area of approximately 2.65 million square feet.

e. Construction time

The construction process for the structure will start rolling in 2012. It will be open to welcome the new occupants by 2012.

Eco-credentials

The project is impressive with its credentials on the ecological front. There are multiple reasons for the same.

1. Pollution free generation of power

The roof of the entire structure, around 50,000 square feet in area, would carry solar panels for producing energy. This, in combination with the energy produced from natural gas will supply the entire office space with the power needed. The power from the grid would act as an alternative in case the in-house supply fails. Solar energy producing capacity of the structure would be nearly 5 MW. This would undoubtedly put it in the same league as the most effective solar power producing corporate structures. It would be comparable to the best facilities for the purpose not just in USA but the world. The energy generation process for the megastructure will not pollute the environment.

2. Provision for greenery

The space being designated for tree plantation is four times the area the built up structure would occupy. This would mark an increase of 60 percent above the existing number. The campus seeks to provide for green spaces for its employees to relax post a grilling session at work.

3. Attempt to minimize environmental impact

It is also believed that the asphalt for the plot will see a reduction of about ninety percent from the current levels. Apple is trying to allay apprehensions concerning the impact of the new campus on the traffic and the air the city. Furthermore, people are seeking clear answers on the kind of effect the construction process for the green megastructure will have on the city. The city council is carrying out an impact analysis. The provision for solar power generation and the space reserved for greenery is likely to ensure that none of the issues prove to be a spanner in the works.

Underwater architecture

2012-10-01T01:17:00.004-07:00

A human underwater habitat is now a reality. Here humans can live for a longer period of time and also carry out most of their daily functions just as easily as on land. This underwater structure is designed in a way that people living in it can work, eat, rest, sleep and maintain personal hygiene as they would do on land. The term 'habitat' is normally used to understand the interior of the structure of its immediate exterior and fixtures, but does not mean the structure's surrounding water and marine environment.

1. The good

Underwater architects can produce self sufficient food

Underwater architects can produce self-sufficient food

Many of the initial underwater habitats that were build with the same intention of providing a safe and a complete environment to people lacked regenerative systems that included water, air, electricity food and other essential resources. The recent and improved underwater habitats have great features and architectural innovations that allow these resources through pipes. These resources can even be generated within the structure of the habitat.

The future holds great opportunities for people who aspire to live in a self sufficient environment like floating island cities. This aspiration is mainly due to the adverse effects caused by global warming that effect the sea levels, land and the eco system on the coast lines of major cities.

The main aim of underwater structures is to generate and provide clean energy and sustainable production of food. This is an extremely fascinating concept of eco-architecture. A sustainable green technology is the key factor of this wonder habitat design. This will provide the future generation with a sustainable refuge but also encourage generations to utilize clean electricity, wave energy and solar power. This city will also be able to produce kinetic energy by an upright system of ballasts.

The city will be designed in such a manner that it will be able to produce self sufficient food by methods of farming, hydroponics and aquaculture. The structure’s top will be house to a vibrant forest fed by the sun and the lower levels will consist of living and working areas for people.

Can this be better?

Man throughout history has shaped buildings that only consume essential resources. Today’s skyscrapers are an example of this gluttonous consumption. It is an extremely dense space where various activities live play, work, rest have become difficult to perform each passing day. These dilemmas have encouraged humans to create other alternatives like subscrapers, depth scraper and even groundscrapers. But even today humans have struggles to achieve a structure that requires zero input or zero output when it comes to resource production.

The hO2+ scraper promises to function as a self sufficient ambassador under water. It will be an autonomous floating structure that is livable and functional with self sustaining space. It will be able to generate its own power through wind, current, wave and solar, bio etc. It will also produce its own food through aquaculture, farming, hydroponics etc. This self sustained structure will aim to create and provide people an underwater oasis with ‘Zero’ negative impacts to its environment and will also help improve it.

2. The bad

Sea storms problems with underwater architecture

Sea Storms problems with Underwater Architecture

Sea Storms: Naturally this can be the severest hurdle in the face of this design.

Transportation: A whole new transit system would be required, keeping in mind the total economic situation prevailing then. Furthermore, underwater transportation is not that feasible when compared to land transportation.

Can this be avoided?

This structure will be architecturally sufficient and will be able to kept itself upright by using a ballast and balancing tanks system. Its tentacles will offer balace and act as balancing elements while generating power as they constantly move with the tide of the sea water. A proper counter force will be produced by the buoyancy and ballast controls and will help in keeping the building upright.

3. The ugly:

High humidity and cost with underwater architecture

High Humidity and cost with Underwater Architecture

High humidity: The humidity levels would be much higher under water. Moreover there is no definite solution for cramped spaces in case of population increase.

High cost: The same problem plaguing the 'over water' skyscrapers; the cost involved could be huge even if we possess the technology.

Why so critical?

In future land as an essential resource will be extremely scarce and it will be our natural instinct to create our own land. About 71% of our planet consists of water and as land continues to become scarce the human population will gradually move to the seas. HO2+ scrapers's vision is to create a new metropolis which creates natural environment under water.

The bottomline:

Well, it could take years to complete and demand a very high expenditure. The architects need to suggest solutions to psychological problems like living in confined spaces without natural lighting and structural problems like weathering of sea storms as well. Nevertheless, we cannot deny the novelty of this design which aims to make total usage of green, emission free technology, and at the same time provide us with a shelter from the repugnant effects of global warming.

THE HOUSE WITH SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

2012-10-01T01:15:00.002-07:00

The 99 K house seeks to make people aware about the green awareness strategies applicable to people who can afford such housing. The houses can both be made and sold for $99,000 or even less. There was a lottery for the housing. Entrants were selected from a group representing 29 U.S states and 16 countries. Five finalists were finally chosen from 182 entrants for the 99K sustainable, reasonably priced house that surely addresses the needs of an even low income family especially in the Gulf Coast region. The five finalists will be awarded a $5,000 award, next the competition will go on to stage II.

UNIQUE HOUSE

The program has been planned into public as well as private spaces. It has been designed with great articulation with an outdoor living which faces eastward and a rainwater harvester facing westward in order to provide water to the residence as well as the vegetable garden. The internal component shift and alter within the composite structure allowing respective owners to adjust their area according to family needs. The artistic form of the archetypal residence is not only simple, in moderation, but acknowledges time and place of its surroundings without giving in to wistful reference.

THE FLOOR PLAN OF 99K HOUSE

99K AT A GLANCE

As an optional water supply, accumulation of rainwater and harvesting has been activated upon the region’s modest annual input, brought together by the wide single sloping metal roof and channelized finally to the collection tank. It has placed the tank on the west altitude in every single case. This is to minimize the exposure to the intense Texas sun almost all around the year. The water in the tank is circulated by the motor as well as pump through a succession of PVC pipes connected to plumbing fixtures inside the house and to the self sustained food harvesting superb vegetable garden.

The type of construction is extremely simple and conventional compared to the standards of residential construction, keeping in mind the reasonably priced labor pool of the region. Building materials have been chosen in a cost effective manner. They are not only environment friendly but cost effective too. The energy efficient parameters are no doubt practical and shall assist in better living situations.

Residential Building Concept by RAWdesign

2012-09-27T00:52:00.001-07:00

A project by Toronto, Canada-based architectural studio RAWdesign, the Shift 20*20 Prefab Residential building concept is a unique new initiative that looks to transform the urban landscape using sustainable and economically beneficial building concepts. The proposed concept for a 6-storey urban residential building in College Street, Toronto explores the potential for a self-functioning prefabricated dwelling unit that can be built in challenging spaces like sites with imposing building code restrictions and sites that make traditional building construction costly because of arduous and complex city bylaws. Also targeting sites that render urban sites virtually undevelopable because of the imposing of existing building structures in its proximity, the SHIFT concept opens up the scope for usage, habitation and redevelopment of existing tight urban sites much easier.

Prefab 20*20 - Shift

With a single frontage, the 7m wide and 60m deep site of the proposed SHIFT concept sits at the heart of Kensington Market in Toronto and has been left untouched by developers because of the building challenges that it comes with. The SHIFT concept, however, looks to create a residential building on the same spot without sacrificing a common space necessary for a building of this type. The concept proposes the use of semi private and public spaces located throughout the building to serve as circulation with modular living spaces arranged in a shifted manner. Either side of a vertical framework would be utilized by each unit which would attach themselves to it to respond to the limited width of the site.

The plugged-in prefab module and the corridors would be used to feed the building with electrical and mechanical utilities and both structure and infrastructure would be provided by the central framework. To serve as the main utility provider, a special unit crafted using the same prefab techniques would be installed at the rear side of the main building. Residents would be offered the option of determining the configuration of each apartment and the use of reclaimed materials and rainwater harvesting would make the construction more sustainable.

The Transmutation Pavilion

2012-09-21T23:37:00.000-07:00

The evolution of eco architecture has always been defined by innovative considerations of spatial elements. While sustainability is the major theme of such buildings, it is the efficient usage and distribution of spaces that plays a part in the overall success of a structure. Moving along this structural progression, designer Michael Jantzen has once again come forth with one of his avant-garde spatial designs. Christened as the ‘Transmutation Pavilion’, this conception comprises of an originative public functional art building, with a plethora of sustainable features.

Coming to the structural attributes, the interesting form of the building consists of three interlocking cylindrical components, supported by four horizontal planes. The whole set up is furthermore braced by a system of eight vertical columns. According to the designer, this structural bearing epitomizes the way a built environment reacts to the user’s intrinsic needs. In relation to this, the complexity of the setting creates an assortment of varied spatial elements. For example, the cylindrical forms are nigh incorporated inside each other, but with different angular directions. In view of the dynamic essence of the building, each of these cylindrical components is fitted with two large, overlapping, sliding curved panels. These panels can be closed, opened and altered to different positions, thus accentuating upon the energetic volumetric nature of the structure (from the user’s perspective).

The inherently dynamic attribute of this conception is embodied by the transformative play of such spatial elements like the panels. But the ingenious notion is not just limited to the scope of visual and overall form change. As a matter of fact, it is also related to the inside (and outside) view provided by the ‘transmuting’ art building. Like, as the panel facades change their angle or position, the user is induced to take a more unconventional path of circulation through the building (to watch out for a better or interesting view). But even when they are traversing across the interior, there will be specially built motion sensor components embedded in the glass floor that would monitor the user’s movement. And according to the data fed by this collective system of sensors, the intelligent building (by its cylindrical components) will automatically change its pattern. This will result in a more varied and exclusive viewing experience, on the part of the user.

Coming to the point of accessibility, the building is equipped with a collective system of staircases, connecting the various zones of the structure. Of course, other than providing accessibility, such stair components will also allow a myriad of vantage points (throughout the building) for the user.

And finally, coming to the important factor of sustainability, we should remember that the Transmutation Pavilion thrives to be a fine specimen of eco architecture. In relation to this, the building will be wholly powered by clean and ‘green’ solar energy. The motional pattern of the building is to be juiced up by a central solar array, which in turn is mounted on one of the large curved panels. And in a conscientious move, the designer has also thought of an adroit mechanism, which would allow the excess energy (produced by the building) to be supplied to the main electricity grid.

California Academy of Sciences gets a green makeover

2012-09-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

This newly created green building in California, the California Academy of Sciences, is a praiseworthy effort of the architect to give it eco conscious features. Hence, this LEED Platinum certified building is a self sustaining structure. It also comprises of a roof top vegetation of living plants that cover 2.5 acres of landmass, along with 60,000 photo voltaic cells, indoor rainforest with living animals and plants, NASA sponsored planetarium and living aquarium, all of which contribute to its eco credentials.

San Francisco Victorian house gets a 21st century green makeover

2012-09-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

Under the leadership of the eco conscious designer, Criag Steelt, the Victorian house of San Francisco will get a green makeover, complying with the needs of 21st century. Thus, it will be a gallant effort to restore the 19th century heritage building of the area in a much intelligent and eco conscious way. The basic material of this new structure is recycled wood and recycled wooden facades. Another noteworthy renovation is the glass penthouse with steel exoskeleton that supports the structure of the penthouse and creates less pressure on earth. Hence, the designer has attempted to restore the originality of the neon green structure of the original Victorian house but with an eco conscious twist.

Starbucks Reuses Shipping Containers

2012-09-16T23:00:00.000-07:00

Starbucks, the coffee outlet, has seen remarkable expansion in this year. It has not only increased its business outreach in China, but improved its popularity rating by offering free mobile apps to customers. Starbucks has shown foresight in the development of its business enterprise by investing in what is relevant in business. Starbucks has made promises in the past of going the sustainable route and the unveiling of its “recycled design experiment” on Tuesday, demonstrates how committed the company is to being more Eco-friendly.

The growing initiative is to use “up-cycled” building materials and Starbucks has joined the other large number of companies and organizations who are involved in the movement.

The company’s first location, Seattle is seeing a new side of the brand in the shape of container stores. The new drive-through and walk-up store is built from four used shipping containers, the defining result of Starbucks’ desire to create stores that are mobile and energy efficient. Its mobile aspect allows the store to be disassembled and moved to another location. The portable store will be very useful. For instance, the store can sit on a vacant lot for many years without rent payments until the spot is finally to be developed.

The company also wanted to put to good use the containers the tea and coffee was shipped in rather than let them be space occupiers.

The dimensions of the store are 448 square feet and it provides economical space, just enough for three baristas to work behind the counter. There is no space for customers inside the store.

Starbucks is keen to enforce the Green message even to its customers by covering the side of one of the support containers with Starbucks style font, reading 'Regenerate, Reuse, Recycle, Renew, Reclaim.'

Another reason for the company’s efforts is that Starbucks has recognized the appeal of shipping containers as building materials as the past schemes have met with success: from pop-up grocery stores (for instance, the Seattle-based Stockbox Grocers) to Eco-friendly houses. Shipping containers are this year’s most appealing commodity in the reusable category according to design and architecture professionals.

Taiwan's tallest skyscraper undergoes $1.9m green facelift

2012-09-15T22:37:00.002-07:00

This eco conscious building of Taiwan works towards reduction in the consumption of energy and water consumption by as much as 10 percent. This building is located in Taipei and the owner, Taipei Financial Center Corp.(TFCC), is currently renovating the building to incorporate new and green heating, ventilating and cooling systems, along with the setting up of a piping structure throughout the building that will collect and direct the rain water to flush the toilets. The conventional lighting system will also be replaced with energy efficient lighting and more stress will be given on the local preparation of food within the building. This will be done to substantially minimize the harmful emission from the vehicles during transportation of food to the building.

100 Park Avenue Gets a Facelift Courtesy of Aluminum

2012-09-12T02:54:00.000-07:00

The first retrofit building of New York has been built with aluminum composite materials. It has won the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification for its eco credentials. This amazing skyscraper has also used glass along with steel for its framework to give it a modern and futuristic perspective. The main challenge in its architecture was to reduce the load on the brick foundation. Thus, ACM panel was used to create a suspended system, which was only possible due to the panel’s light weight. The resultant building now features 36 story and occupies a surface area of 955,000 square foot with high rising lobbies and double the size of the original store fronts. There are 14 green roofs that will work towards recycling water by virtue of the low maintenance Xero Flor mat system.