Eco-infrastructure

Eco-infrastructure is the continuous green substructure that runs throughout a building integrating its inorganic mass with the organic content of the green eco-infrastructure, imitating the balance of biotic with the abiotic constituents present in an ecosystem. The approach is mimetic of a natural ecosystem. The eco-infrastructure may consist of several of the following ecological components and devices: ecosells, vegetated ramps, vertical green walls, green sky-courts, roof gardens and terraces. Its purpose is a continuous nexus of biotic components that blend with the inorganic elements of the built forms, and with the surrounding landscape and its hinterland (Van Schaik 2009: 144).

Dr. Ken Yeang states that an analogy might be drawn between ecodesign and prosthetics in surgery. Ecodesign is essentially design that integrates our artificial systems, both mechanically and organically, with their host systems’ ecosystems. Similarly, a medical prosthetic device has to integrate with its organic host being the human body. Failure to integrate well will result in dislocation in both. By analogy, this is what ecodesign in our built environment and in our businesses should achieve a total physical, systematic and temporal integration of our human-made built environment with our organic host in a benign and positive way (Van Schaik 2009: 142).

The City of The Hague is filled with Public art throughout the Central area and along the public walkways. These art works prompt reaction from citizens and visitors alike, and often serve as more prominent beacons for location than street names.

 Sustainable street furniture in The Hague outside a popular restaurant. They have used the shiping containers for wine to create a couch outside the restaurant on which patrons can wait to be seated at a table inside. In the bottom figure the label of one of the crate supports are visible. It is of the South African wine manufacturer Culemborg.  

Urban Greening on Milano Malapenza Airport. The image was taken through the window of one of the international lounges.

What an incredibly creative space in which to inspire young minds

Ecological Children Activity and Education Center Design by 24H > architecture

Location: Koh Kood Island, Thailand

Client: Six Senses Bangkok

Architects in Charge: Boris Zeisser, Maartje Lammers

Program: Auditorium/Cinema, Libary, Art room, Music room, Fashion room, Chill balcony and slide

Local Architect: Habita architects

Constructed area: 165 sqm

Photographs: Kiattipong Panchee & Boris Zeisser

24H > architecture designed this education center for for films, lectures and plays, a library with books on permaculture and local traditions, an Art room, a Music room and Fashion room, thus giving children both creative and ecological education while playing.

With its Manta-ray inspired bamboo dome, the den is located at a rocky slope close to the sea, perched in an elevated position so as to offer magnificent views, it seems to launch itself into the bay.

The structure and roof are made from local Thai bamboo, thus contributing further to the ecological approach of the resort. The interior is made from local plantation River Red Gum wood and rattan structural elements for the inner domes. Via ArchDaily

US architects Bercy Chen Studio LP have based their contemporary home on one of the oldest housing typologies in North America, the Native American Pit House. The site is rehabilitated and the house stands out for its energy efficiency and aesthetic.

 

The project by Bercy Chen Studio LP combines an archaic housing model, the Pit House – excavated in the earth and with a green roof – adopted by some of the Native North American tribes, with modern shapes and materials like glass and steel, to create a light-filled, highly energy efficient home.

Despite the fact that most of the perimeter is sunken, the spaces are well lit thanks to an inner courtyard positioned between the two separate pavilions for the living and sleeping quarters. They open up onto the inner void, which physically separates them, requiring you to go outside to pass from one to the other. This blade of light flows into the pool that completes the composition.

Check out these and other awesome local products, @ Cape Towns official Product Design Resource

http://dbriefed.co.za/2011/10/the-jute-range/

A Graphic Interior design progect in Tallin, Estonia. The project is a Vocational Training Centre.http://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/design/vocational-training-parnu-vocational-training-centre-design-16594655/

A sustainable centre for cinnamon growers and workers in Sumatra. An earthquake-proof training facility built from local materials, which for the most part looks towards the social impact of the architectural complex.

The key idea used for this building was the classic light wooden construction on a solid brick and concrete foundation. The solid bricks are locally made and cinnamon tree trunks were used for the wood – 85% of the world’s cinnamon is produced in Sumatra. The locals consider this wood to be substandard, but it played a fundamental part in the project, enriching the workers’ culture who as a result reassessed its value.

One of the major challenges was to make the building as safe as possible, given the high seismic activity in the area, so the architects opted to build five separate brick buildings, with different oscillating frequency.

The buildings house the various facilities offered by the cooperative and are all united under a single, 600-square metre detached roof.
The natural ventilation below this large roof comes from bamboo matting, inserted under the sheet metal to create a natural cooling effect.

Project:TYIN tegnestue architects, http://www.tyinarchitects.com

Location: Sungai Penuh, Kerinchi, Sumatra, Indonesia

Client: Cassia Co-op - Training facility for cinnamon production

Inspiration for Design:http://www.archello.com/en/project/new-deichman-library#

WEACT Environmental Justice Center is located at 459 West 140th Street, between Amsterdam and Convent Avenue, in New York City, adjacent to City College and within the Hamilton Heights historic landmark district.

The Environmental Justice Center will serve as the new office for the client organization whose primary mission is to focus on environmental justice and sustainability, but also as an interactive community facility devoted to educational and social programs.

The design parti works across the longitudinal section of the building, dividing it into three distinctive vertical bars. The first bar located along the front façade, emphasizes historical preservation of the front façade, reestablishment of the original townhouse floor to ceiling heights and reuse of salvaged interior wood ornamentation.

The second bar introduces a vertical light shaft, which serves as a ventilation system, educational display for rainwater runoff and collection, as well as providing a space for interior landscaping. This mid-building component links the front and rear sections of the building.

The rear (third) bar is completely new, and while mirroring floor to ceiling heights of the front bar up through the fourth floor, adds three additional stories to the rear of the building. The additional stories will have minimal code compliant floor to ceiling heights, which camouflages the new addition from being visible from the street. The cellar floor will be excavated +/- one and half feet to allow for maximum usable square footage.