Jetson Green

Anti-Smog Design with Solar Drop + Wind Tower [S2]

Anti-Smog is a prototype project envisioned for a post-industrial area of Paris that aims to invent a new architecture -- auto-sufficient, depolluting architecture, reactive to its environment.  The Vincent Callebaut Architectures prototype relies heavily on building-integrated, green innovation such as vertical axis wind turbines, rooftop solar panels, and living walls and greenery.  The result is a design that not only borders on positive energy as a self-sufficient structure, but one that moves into a refreshing realm of natural architecture that can clean and replenish the surrounding air.

Huangbaiyu, Tough Combo of Sustainability + Urbanism

In January of this year, Frontline/World reporter Timothy Lesle published a three-part, video documentary on Huangbaiyu called "China: Green Dreams - A NOT SO model village."  Here's a teaser intro to the report: "The village of Huangbaiyu in rural northeast China was supposed to be a model for energy-conscious design.  The initial project was to build 400 sustainable homes, a collaboration between U.S. architect William McDonough and the Chinese.  But something went awry.  [Timothy Lesle] traveled to the region to investigate."  I'm not going to tell the whole story -- the series is quite compelling, and Mr. Lesle presents an honest perspective of Chinese urbanization. 

A Prefab M-Hotel on the Cusp

I love the possibilities and ideas presented by the m-hotel from Tim Pyne.  That said, I can't say there's anything green about the concept (that is soon to be a reality) other than two things, possibly: (1) it's a non-permanent structure (7-10 years) where the parts can be reused differently in the future and dismantled to make way for a different use on the site, and/or (2) it's a prefab structure and prefab has the potential for green benefits such as material savings, lower construction waste, and minimized site disturbance, etc.  But still, it's cool and innovative.  The m-hotel is designed as a series of steel-framed slot boxes that slide into the frame (which makes for easy dismantling in the future). 

The striped m-hotel as you see above is being considered for Sclater Street in London.  If approved, the hotel will have 32 units each measuring 16 x 36 feet (576 sf).  Work may begin as soon as this summer and should be complete by end of the year.  I can't wait to see the finished product. 

The First Positive Energy Mixed-Use Building in the World

Just last week, Chicago architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill was chosen to design the world's first positive energy, mixed-use building for the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city called Masdar.  As a "positive energy" building, the design aims to generate more energy each day than it consumes.  The 1.4 million sf headquarters shown above will serve as the centerpiece of Masdar City, which will end up being about a $22 billion development in Abu Dhabi.

[Video] William McDonough on Natural World Design

This is a brand spanking new video of the inspiring William McDonough speaking at the World Future Energy Summit in January 2008.  He wrote the book on this topic -- and it's made of plastic for a reason.  In the video, McDonough talks about taking action:  Less bad is not good.  Efficiency per se won't cut it.  This is high quality, unmissable video.  You may find the following links helpful as you listen:

++Masdar - Zero Carbon, Zero Waste City in Abu Dhabi
++Office Building of the Future - Just Like a Tree!

Via scribe media.

Lighthouse, UK's First Zero-Emission, Carbon Neutral Home

In England, a handful of efficient demonstration homes have been built on the grounds of the Building Research Establishment Ltd, including "The Lighthouse," which is the first net zero carbon house in the UK.  The house is also the first to attain level six in the Code for Sustainable Homes, which indicates that it is carbon neutral. The two-bedroom house is only 93.3 square meters (barely over 1000 sq. ft.) in a 2-1/2 story building.  The building has solar panels and evacuated solar tubes on its roof, as well as making use of passive measures with ventilation chimneys.  It also incorporates rainwater catchment as part of the building design.

The materials used include highly insulated, airtight building fabric which has been designed to provide generous daylight levels and includes effective solar control, together with integrated building services based around a platform of renewable and sustainable technologies. These include water efficiency techniques, renewable energy technologies, passive cooling and ventilation, as well as mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).

Russia Tower, Largest Building in World with Natural Ventilation System [S2]

Foster + Partners has quite the pipeline of projects and this supertall skyscraper, Russia Tower, is one of them.  Russia Tower is expected to be the tallest building in Europe, and one of the tallest in the world, coming in at a whopping 2,009 ft tall, just behind Taipei 101 and Burj Dubai.  Even further, it'll be the largest building in the world with a natural ventilation system.  Foster + Partners designed the building with an "energy cycle" system, which is a hot water circuit that runs through the building distributing the energy to regulate temperature and heat water.  The energy cycle system is intended to chart new territory in sustainable architecture. 

Zorlu Ecocity, a Striking Green City within a City

Zorlu Ecocity is a Llewelyn Davies Yeang project located in Istanbul, Turkey.  It's a mixed-use development located at the southern extremity of Buyukdere Street in Istanbul.  The plan is conceptualized as a "city within a city" and conforms to the city's planning strategy to multiply the number of urban centers throughout the Marma region to relieve pressure on Istanbul's historic core. 

Zorlu Ecocity will have 588,850 sm (6,338,329 sf) of accommodation, which includes office towers, residential towers, two hotels, apartments, and resort-style elderly units above a three story retail complex.  In total, we're talking about 14 towers ranging from 8 to 26 stories. 

e3 House - Green Infill, Second Empire Style

Steve Duncan and Leslie Avery, designers and owners of 3rdEmpire Design, are proud to have registered the first LEED project in Newfoundland & Labrador-Canada.  With the e3 Home, they're aiming for Gold Certification and plan on completion in September 2008.  Duncan and Avery say the home presents a unique challenge due to having to conform to local Heritage Area guidelines (because of its location in downtown St. Johns).

From the renderings, you'll notice the second empire style architecture, which 3rdEmpire Design went with to complement the neighborhood.  The inside of the 3000 sf home will incorporate modern and innovative materials/technology, wherever possible, and will feature a more open design.  Proposed features include pervious hardscaping and landscaping, recycled construction waste, bamboo and cork flooring, thermostatically controlled radiant flooring, low E glass, low VOC paint, upgraded insulation, CFL and LED lighting, dual flush toilets and low flow faucets, FSC timber, use of natural ventilation and lighting.

Seagull Streetlamp, Micro Green Tech That Inspires

This is just another example of micro-green technology in an entirely necessary and functional setting.  The video shows a streetlight running on both wind and solar in front of Panasonic Center in Tokyo.  In addition to the helix turbine and butterfly solar panels, there's a high-efficiency light bulb and battery for capturing energy during the day (to be used at night).  Someone tell me why we don't see more any of this in the U.S.?  Via EcoGeek.