Jetson Green

The Commons Strives to be Nation's First Living Building Challenge Residence

In Portland two brothers, Dustin and Garrett Moon, have been getting some serious attention for their project, The Commons -- it could just be the first residence in the nation to meet the standards of the Living Building Challenge.  The Living Building Challenge is about getting to something that's truly sustainable, which is what I think the Moons are going after here.  If you look at their plans, The Commons will use green tech that you might not see in other so-called green homes. 

Earth Day 2008, This is How We Do It

Photo by JPhilipson

I've got an inbox full of cool announcements ready for Earth Day 2008, but to be honest, I'm not going to talk about any of them ... not today, at least.  Over the next week or so, I'll take some time to sift through the news and leak out the good stuff.  Today, though, I'm thinking, why not focus on the earth?  The best way I know how to do that is by sharing some earthy images from various, cool flickr folks.  Wear blue and enjoy the day ...

Oulu Bar & EcoLounge, Brooklyn's First Living Wall

This is Oulu Bar & EcoLounge in Williamsburg, home to Brooklyn's first living wall installation.  The 2,500 sf building was designed by Evangeline Dennie and it's currently seeking LEED Gold certification.  You'll find a few different photos below, including a before shot, for your viewing pleasure.

What do you think?  The green wall makes quite the design statement, doesn't it?  It's tough to deny the modern appeal of vertical greenery, I say.   

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. 

Tuin Project, House + Yard Goes Vertical

Your version of the proverbial American Dream may not include a house, dog, and white picket fence, but I'm sure it's something like that.  But what happens to your American Dream when future development policies encourage greater density and vertical construction?  Don't get me wrong.  Greater density is a good thing and it alleviates the harmful effects of sprawl.  But, at the same time, our vision of the American Dream becomes more and more obsolete.  Unless ... you see greater density and vertical living as something similar to the above.  Designed by Reinier de Jong, MoCo Loco reports on the concept: "Tuin project is a proposal that places a typical two storey dwelling with a garden within a highrise framework in order to keep those who flee towards suburbia in search of space firmly in the city."  Why not, right?

Shigeru Ban Creates Urban Oasis with Greenery

Just a quick little post on the new headquarters for Swatch Group Japan in the heart of Tokyo's Ginza District.  The building was designed by Shigeru Ban and houses seven of Swatch's luxury brands on each of the first seven floors.  Floors eight through thirteen are used as office space and the top floor as an event area.  You'll notice the interior green wall, which, as Jean Snow describes it, has "so much greenery that you almost feel as if you've stepped into an urban oasis."  I think this represents another example of greenery permeating all aspects of design, both inside and out. 

Mashup of Modern Topiary + Living Walls

Gas Design Group designed this overlay facade, "Topiade", for an already existing Louis Vuitton store.  I think the name "Topiade" comes from a combo of the terms topiary and facade, which is pretty creative, if you ask me.  The idea of taking wild greenery and applying design and creativity through topiary is something I've seen personally in both Japan and Taiwan.  It appears to be popular in France, as well.  So when applied to the vertical context, the environmentalists get excited.  We like green roofs, living walls, and natural buildings. 

Is Las Vegas Planning a $200 M Vertical Farm?

Over the last couple weeks, news started floating around about a $200 M vertical farm planned for Las Vegas.  The vertical farm would house about 100 different crops and sell them to local casinos and hotels.  It would also have estimated annual revenues of $25 M from produce and $15 M from tourists.  At a whopping 30 stories tall, this vertical farm would be one of the first in the world. 

But I'm skeptical of this news because there is no reference to an architect, developer, or owner.  There is no info as to where the vertical farm will go.  And the original source used renderings of Chris Jacobs' vertical farm, pictured above.  We've written about skyscraper and agricultural farms previously and think they will be the real deal in the future, but I'm not sure about this one.  Anyone out there have more specifics?

Manifestation of Green in a Building

The look of this building is incredible.  I've seen living walls and how the growth can devour structures, but I like the look here.  Asia is so moist, what with the rainy season in the summer, etc., that I've seen walls growing a sort of perma-algae.  So, I think the design here in Seoul, Korea works and I like how the windows break through the calm chaos of green. 

The Mass Studies-designed building houses an Ann Demeulemeester store on the first level and restaurant above.  The design relies on a trifecta of colors:  deep green, coffee brown, and minimalist white -- all of which blend and dance nicely.  I'm not sure as to whether anything else is green (i.e., materials, systems, etc.), but nonetheless, I really like the manifestation of green. 

First LEED Platinum Healthcare Facility in World!

Green buildings, with their natural light and excellent indoor air quality, have the potential to make a big difference in the healthcare industry.  At some point, there's going to be the world's first LEED Platinum healthcare facility in the world and Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas just might be the location to do it.  The 32-acre, $200 M project is on schedule to take LEED Platinum, if everything goes as planned.  The pictures are magnificent and we here at Jetson Green think it would be great if no one ever had to go inside!  TBG Partners was kind enough to provide photos of the work they're doing on the project, which includes site planning, sustainable design, and landscape architectural services.