Skyscrapers as living organisms

This fresh, new, and fascinating approach to sustainability and human population growth is truly awe inspiring.

Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has redefined the conventional skyscraper. His 132 story complex for the south edge of Roosevelt Island addresses the pressing need for environmental and ecological sustainability. This conceptual design focuses on creating a completely self-sustaining organism that not only utilizes solar, wind, and water energies, but also addresses the pending food shortage problem.

More here on archdaily.

how can I make prefabricated building sections sound interesting?

eh….i probably can’t.

here’s a try.

a new client, kama-EEBS, develops Energy Efficient Building Systems out of light guage steel and EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE. guess which component is the exciting one. yes, the expanded poly….and this is why.

1- SUPER light. a couple of construction workers can put up an average size house in a few HOURS.

2- GREEN! so green that its been accepted as a cradle-to-cradle tech nutrient by mcdonough and braungart

3- it can be fabricated to ANY shape…ARCHES, CURVED WALLS!

4- doesn’t support a flame, is 100% recyclable, does not rust or warp, resistant to mold….

I could go on and on. It’s a VERY big deal in the green building world and we’re so excited to help them get the word out about their product.

Offices of Selgas Cano Architects

more

West Coast Green, San Jose

West Coast Green concluded yesterday at the San Jose Convention Center. It’s the largest conference and expo on green innovation in green build.

Al Gore’s keynote speech yesterday focused on the lack of attention that the climate crisis is getting in comparison to the financial meltdown. He said that Americans are avoiding and/or ignoring the problems and the rest of the world is watching. They all point to the United States and say, “If the united states isn’t doing it, why should we?”

He proposed that in 10 years the US should get 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

The crowed was moved by the speech, at times giving him a standing ovation.

In the exhibit itself there was a SG Blocks shipping container home which was made out of 5 containers. Apparently, the world has an abundance of these containers and using them can prove sound [they will stand thru hurricanes and earthquakes], inexpensive [$500-$200 per container], and green since they are being reused [as they like to call it Value-Cycling]. The home itself was beautiful. The 1700 sq ft home did not look like shipping containers but more like a modern pre-fab house. The interior and exterior were designed by several partners who took advantage of forward-thinking sustainable ideas and products like Ecofabulous and Modwalls.

Here’s more shots of the show on my Flickr site.

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California Academy of Science

The California Academy of Science opened today in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. We did a website for them awhile ago and it got me on their VIP list. I was invited to take a pre-opening tour last week under the condition that I could not post any photos until opening day, which was today.

“The rebuilding project provided an opportunity to rethink the entire museum-going experience. Rather than recreate the 12 separate structures that previously existed, the Academy chose to build a single entity that is physically and thematically intertwined.

The animals of the Steinhart Aquarium, for example, once confined to their own hall, are now found throughout the building. And the building, itself, now functions as an exhibit – inviting discussion about sustainable architecture and green practices.”

It’s an amazing building.

Here’s some photos and a link to my Flickr page with more.

And here’s a link to some outstanding photos from The New York Times.

California Adopts Green Building Code for All New Construction

“By adopting this first-in-the-nation statewide green building code, California is again leading the way to fight climate change and protect the environment,” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement released Thursday.

More information here.

Flare Façade ~ A Building’s Skin

If you’ve ever wondered what a kinetic ambient reflection membrane is and what it does, we’re about to show you. And if you already know, then you’re way ahead of the game. Check out this video and you’ll see the Flare façade acts as a building’s skin, and computer generation controls movement of a number of metal flake components.

The system is modular and each flake can be programmed to tilt toward or away from the sun – reflecting light off it’s surface and creating movement in infinite patterns across the surface of a building thereby allowing the façade to interact with its surroundings. We wonder if this could be the beginning of a new direction for photovoltaic panels? By Andrew J Wiener

Dallas Animal Shelter

Caught this on The Green on the Sundance Channel.

Paul Curington, the operations manager of the Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center, talks about how green shelters are vastly better for the health of the animals and make a big difference in energy and water conservation.

This shelter would be a great place to adopt an animal.

Here is a little piece on the opening ceremony for the building.

more about “Dallas Animal Shelter“, posted with vodpod

The Pharos Project

The Mission of the Pharos Project is to establish Pharos as the leading materials evaluation tool used by green building and procurement professionals.

Through informed specification and selection of building materials, they want to measurably enhance the environmental, human health, and social benefits associated with the contemporary building industry, and contribute to a socially just society, free of toxic byproducts, in balance with the natural world.

Green Exchange Building ~ Chicago

Chicago is near and dear to my heart for several reasons, but lately it’s been because of its commitment to sustainable initiatives. These initiatives are transforming it into one of the greenest cities in the world.

Unsurprisingly, the first large-scale shopping center in the United States devoted entirely to socially responsible products and services is being built 10 minutes north of the Loop.

Not only are the developers employing reuse [they are repurposing a 250,000 sq ft factory] and sustainable practices [LEED certification, solar panels, a green roof, priority parking for electric vehicles, HVAC system] they are also securing the site as a landmark.

The building is due to open this fall. Lots more information can be found here.