A sustainability ethos

The Artdog Images of Interest
I have a thing for "green" architecture. I'm fascinated by how it works, and the potential to build things that actually improve the environment, rather than contribute to blighting or destroying it. All over the world, I'm seeing a sustainability ethos--a sense that we have a moral obligation to do better--begin to rise up.

All over the world, but not so much in the USA. I think most of my readers can figure out why, but it's a shame. That's not to say we have nothing of the sort here. Several local projects in the Kansas City metro have included a sustainability ethos in their planning. But the cutting edge projects too often are being built elsewhere.

I recently became aware of three different sustainable projects that could be part of a solution to our climate crisis. I've shared information about them on social media, but I also want to collect some thoughts about them here. Each demonstrates an admirable sustainability ethos.

Humanscapes of Auroville, India
This sustainable housing complex (in Auroville, which has a rather extraordinary visionary origin altogether)  has already been built (from locally-sourced materials). It is a net-positive energy project, which generates more energy than it uses.

It's also part of a long-term study of how built spaces can foster community among those who live or work there. Designed for young adults, students and faculty, it features common areas that are beautiful and flexible, among its array of innovations.

The complex was designed by the local-to-that-area firm of Auroville Design Consultants. Read more about it on Inhabitat and Arch Daily.

Humanscapes of Auroville, India, is part of an experiment in sustainable living and community-building. (Akshay Arora/Auroville Design Consultants)

The sustainability element in the economic and social picture is far too often overlooked by planners and designers I've encountered or read about. But when you fail to evaluate the complete "footprint" of a project, you can get into trouble fast.

Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre of Melbourne, Australia
Trumpeted as the "World's most sustainable Shopping Centre," according to The Sydney Herald the Burwood Brickworks shopping center won't quite be a net-positive energy project like the Humanscapes. but it will "produce a large chunk of its energy needs."

However, according to Broadsheet Media of Melbourne, it will achieve the Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification standards. "LBC-certified buildings have zero carbon footprint; zero waste; produce more electricity and water than they use; grow agriculture on 20 per cent of the site; and are built using non-toxic and recycled materials," they said.

That sounds net-positive to me, but I'll let them sort it out. Considerably more eco-friendly than conventional shopping centers is a good bet, either way. And definitely informed by a sustainability ethos.

The Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Australia is designed and built with a "rooftop farm" that calls to my mind the ubiquitous rooftop farming I extrapolate for the habitat wheels of my fictional Rana Station.

Smart Forest City of Cancun, Mexico
The architectural firm behind the Smart Forest City is familiar to anyone who follows the most interesting developments in the ongoing struggle to innovate sustainable structures. Stefano Boeri Architetti is based in Milan, Italy, where one of its earlier projects, the groundbreaking Bosco Verticale, looks a whole lot like the "White Space Tree" I blogged about last May (note that Bosco Verticale was built first).

Canals will run through much of Smart Forest City, primarily to provide water for the agriculture that is designed to make it food-self-sufficient. This visualization reminds me of a Solarpunk city design like those of Tyler Edlin or MissOliviaLouise.

Stefano Boeri's latest project, the still-in-the-process Smart Forest City, is intended to be "a model for resilient and sustainable urban planning." To that end, it will be "completely food and energy self-sufficient." In other words, not only net-positive (or at least net-neutral) energy but able to produce its own food.

I'm flashing on my fictional Rana Station again. Because Rana is an island in space that is 23 hours away from the nearest planet, its very survival depends on its self-sufficiency. Every available space is used for agriculture.

That creates parallels with Smart Forest City. Between green roofs, vertical gardens, and an agricultural belt that surrounds its perimeter, the plan is to make the Mexican project capable of feeding all 130,000 projected residents from its own agriculture. Talk about building with a sustainability ethos!

IMAGE CREDITS: Many thanks to TES and Sualci Quotes for the "Light of Mine" illustrated quote, to Inhabitat for the photos of Humanscapes in Auroville, India, and Smart Forest City in Cancun, Mexico, to QuoteFancy for the illustrated quotes from Phil Harding and William McDonough, and to Broadsheet Melbourne for the photo of the Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre renovation project.

A different take on an "urban forest"

The Artdog Image of Interest

I'm focusing on "green" architecture this month. Not only green as environmentally sustainable, but green as in there are lots of plants incorporated into the design.  In this case, it's an urban apartment building that is designed to incorporate a small "forest" of about 50 trees.

This video shares photos and several people's thoughts about a project called 25 Verde in Turin, Italy. It's an apartment building designed by architect Luciano Pia.



As a gardener, I definitely understand the concern by the gentleman from the German Green Building Council over the high-maintenance aspects, but it sure is a cool-looking place to live!

VIDEO: Many thanks to international broadcaster Deutche Welle for this YouTube video. 

Three places to live and/or work that may change your mind about sustainable architecture

Although not everyone in the US Congress seems to have gotten the memo, in this age of impending global climate change people all over the world are seeking out new and better ways to live sustainably--and it's a very hot trend in contemporary architecture. Here are three visually striking examples you may find game-changing.

8 House in Copenhagen
Built in the shape of a figure 8 (if viewed from above), Bjarke Ingels' 8 House is a mixed-use development in a southern suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark. 

The biggest innovation is the designer's idea to create an intimate kind of urban environment by "stacking the various ingredients of an urban neighborhood into layers," (Wikipedia) so the development's walkability and convenience is greatly enhanced. Other sustainable features include the strategic use of the "heat island" effect, and green roofs.

8 House, when under construction: the reason for the name becomes clear.

Everyone has an interesting view in 8 House.

Evening waterside view of 8 House.

O14 Tower in Dubai
Dubai is a product of its rulers' particular vision: wealthy from oil, but focused on making itself "cutting edge" in many ways, while the oil wealth lasts and can be used to build something more sustainable. Interestingly for a place literally built with oil money, there seems to be considerable support for sustainability in recent projects (could these guys please have a heart-to-heart with the Koch Brothers?). 

The 22-story O14 Tower's structure is specifically designed for the desert climate of Dubai, with a 16"-thick outer facade covered with circular perforations. The holes provide light and air, but the rest of the "exoskeleton" acts as protection for the windows, and a solar shield. A one-meter gap between the facade and the building inside also provides passive cooling because creates a chimney effect in which the hot air rises.

RUR Architecture's innovative design for the O14 Tower creates a visually striking building with many practical features.

The holes provide access for more than light and air, when needed.

This view of O14 Tower under construction gives an idea of its scale.

FTP University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Another example of innovative design that is much more literally "green" than our first two designs is the FTP University, now under construction in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (all the images are renderings, because the project isn't finished yet). 

Designed as something of a sustainable answer to the flat landscape and vertical buildings that dominate the city, the FTP University buildings are supposed to appear as "an undulating forested mountain growing out of the city of concrete and brick" (Vo Trong Nghia Architects). It actually will create more greenery than it is displacing as it is being built. 

An "undulating forested mountain" is coming to Ho Chi Minh City. 

It almost looks as if the forest has taken over--but looks can be deceiving Down below the "canopy," the humans will still hold forth.

Down under the trees it will be cooler and quieter. What a great place to study for one's final!

IMAGES: Many thanks to World Landscape Architect for the 8 House-under-construction image, and to E-Architect UK for the images of the courtyard and waterside view. All three photos of the O14 Tower are courtesy of Inhabitat. The renderings of buildings for FTP University are courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects, designers for the project.