The J1 Residential Tower by O1a Architecture has been designed as a sustainable high-rise on the Cornice in Abu Dhabi. The biodynamic project is a mixed-use development that consists of retail spaces in the base, office space and a hotel with amenities located centrally and residential areas that make the upper section of the tower. The building aims to create innovative space for living, recreation and working, which will help enrich the quality of life of the end user. The building, which generates energy through is envelope and geometry strives to create architecture that is respectful to the inheritance of future generations. Environmentally sustainable principles were also applied to the design wherever possible.
Designed by Greek firm Deca Architecture, the “Aloni” is a house designed as a dual response to the particular topography of the site and to the rural domestication techniques that in the past shaped the raw Cycladic Island landscape. Situated on the exotic Antiparos Island of Greek, this stunning home appears like it’s naturally camouflaged in its environment. The most prominent man-made interventions in the landscape, the dry-rubble stone walls are being replaced with by holiday homes. Four courtyards carved into the flowing landscape divide the living spaces into five interior areas. The east-west axis the slope drops offers a mesmerizing view of the sea. Via: Designboom
This elegantly sloping green-roofed center was recently proposed as an extension to the recreational grounds at Kyoai Gukuen University in Japan. Rather than replace the open space with a standard building, Japanese firm Bakoko worked with architect Hikaru Hattori to design an elevated green roof that keeps the open space while providing spectator seating for a nearby playing field. Daylighting, natural ventilation, and the insulating benefits of the green roof make the project a beautiful example of energy-efficient architecture.
Bakoko’s design for Kyoai Gukuen University aims to eliminate the loss of important recreational space on the university campus by lifting the green space up and creating a building below to support it. Adjacent to the site is a sports field, which has no spectator seating, so the green roof is slanted towards the playing field to provide a viewing area. This double-duty proposal adds extra value to the building, provides spectator seating, and retains the site’s open green space. The university building is consists of a series of vaulted concrete arches, some of which feature openings that capture sunlight and wind using a specialized cap. These “wind catcher” caps filter sunlight down into the space below and draw in fresh cool air. The columns of the arches seem thick, but in fact they are hollow at the top in order to minimize material use and provide a deeper well for the green roof. These water-tight depressions have enough soil to support larger species of trees and vegetation than are typically possible on green roofs. Via eVolo
Νew York-based WORK Architecture Company has unveiled a design for Landsbanki Bank Headquarters that consists of a series of green-roofed steps rising up from a ground-level city park. The striking proposal is designed to visually connect the historic old town of Reykjavik with the newer, more modern scale of the buildings on the edge of town. Courtyards and a narrow floor layout provide occupants with plenty of daylighting and access to the outdoors in Iceland's capital city.
WORKac was one of five teams invited to propose a new Headquarters for Landsbanki Bank in Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik’s historic old town is skirted by a number of more contemporary buildings, which creates a dramatic dichotomy between the old fabric of the city center and the new developments at the city’s edge. WORKac’s facade for the Landsbanki Bank, which serves as both structure and fenestration, was inspired by the interwoven patterns of Icelandic art. The proposal calls for a series of programmatic strips that are stacked to create strategic voids and shared elevated gardens. The strips feature narrow floorplans that allow for maximum flexibility in office layout and permit daylight to suffuse the interior spaces. The shared gardens are protected from the cold northern winds by the exterior of the building, and the green roof acts as an extension of the courtyards and the nearby park. + WORKac
After the amazing success of the Water Cube in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics, the aquatic center has spent the last year undergoing renovations in order to become an incredible (and massive) indoor water park. Rather than just let the record-smashing facility sit there unused, the owners have transformed the space into the fantastical Happy Magic Water Park, complete with slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, floating jellyfish and more. Now Beijing's second most visited tourist spot (after the Great Wall) is a hot spot for family activity and the largest water park in Asia.
 A team of students at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco have built a modern home office that utilizes sustainable prefabricated design techniques. Upon completion of factory-built elements, the structure was simply planted in the owner’s yard. The sustainable structure uses recycled denim insulation, reclaimed redwood siding, aluminum frame window units and copper roof panels. The design team also minimized construction waste with approximately one inch of waste for every 12 feet of materials used. via: Jetson Green
Designed by Najjar-Najjar Architects, Villa A is a beautifully designed house above a slope of the Poestling Berg that comes jam-packed with over-the-top amenities. It is mostly covered with large glass panels, so that visitors get to enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of the city from almost every room. The large scale glazing and the sliding elements blurs the indoor area and outdoor space. Planned to fulfill all requirements for a green building as set in the European building standards, the Villa A provide efficient sun protection in summer and low sun warms up the interior space during winter. The house is divided into several rooms, like living room with open floor plan, bedrooms in the upper level that is linked by stairs, basement floor that is used for a private gym, wellness facilities, office and playroom for the kids. Taking the topography of the site into consideration, the house is partly caved in the ground. The steel beam grid structured roof with aluminum panel cladding enhances the aesthetics. The passive energy concept is supported by a recuperator in the ground and sun collectors on the roof. Lounging on the sofa or chaise lounge overlooking the swimming pool and enjoying the spectacular view over the city could be more than refreshing. Via: ArchDaily www.ecofriend.org
The “Home for Life” is not just any single-family home, but is the first prototype of a Danish concept known as an “Active House.” Designed with an aim to bring carbon-neutral houses to the masses, this stylish little house is the first of eight experiments that VKR Holding is financing in five European countries. The self-sufficient house using eco-friendly materials, a rooftop of solar panels and energy-scrimping designs produces enough energy to meet terms with its daily energy requirements, while sending the surplus to the grid. In July 2009, the Simonsen family moved into the model home to test how close it is to being a net zero-energy home. Located on a residential street outside Arhus, Denmark, the one-and-a-half-story house features broad windows and long sloping roof of a typical Scandinavian home. The slanted skylight that lights up the first floor with sunshine can be opened to bring in more fresh air. It also sports features like specialized windows, tight insulation, a climate-control system and solar thermal collectors. The house generated 800 kilowatt-hours of electricity last August. Its overall surface area of the house was kept to a minimum to avoid heat loss. The $700 000 Home for Life has proved to be net-zero energy home and is sure to satisfy the inhabitants. The Simonsens will be moving out of the house in one month, and this environmentally friendly, carbon-neutral home will go on the market.
|
</a></h2> <p class='blog-date'><span class='date-text'>08/24/2010</span></p><!-- 439529072317050424 -->
<p class='blog-comments'><a href='/9/post/2010/08/students-build-sustainable-prefab-home-office-from-reclaimed-materials-en.html#comments' class='blog-link'>0 Comments</a></p></div><div class='blog-separator'> </div><div class='blog-content'><div ><div id=){kind=link}