Namba Parks

It's funny those particular projects that fly under the radar, even when you are looking straight at them. Treehugger has a case in point, from a post on Green Roofs in Osaka, particularly with the Namba Parks project.


:: image via Treehugger

Built in 2003, "Jerde Partnership Architects "conceived Namba Parks as a large park, a natural intervention in Osaka's dense and harsh urban condition. Alongside a 30-story tower, the project features a lifestyle commercial center crowned with a rooftop park that crosses multiple blocks while gradually ascending eight levels. In addition to providing a highly visible green component in a city where nature is sparse, the sloping park connects to the street, welcoming passers-by to enjoy its groves of trees, clusters of rocks, cliffs, lawn, streams, waterfalls, ponds and outdoor terraces."


:: image via Treehugger

:: image via Metaefficient

There is a bunch more info on Jerde's website, including a plethora of images. See below for some additional eye candy on this one. FYI, the landscape architect on the project is EDAW.

:: The Canyon - image via Jerde






:: additional project images - via Jerde

BLDGBLOG's 4th of July Live Interview Marathon in London

I'm in London – in fact, I'm sitting at a table in the basement of the Building Centre – with some great things lined up for the week. One event, in particular, though, seems worthy of mention here.
This Friday, on the 4th of July, I will be moderating an all-day series of live interviews hosted at the Storefront for Art and Architecture's Pop Up London venue in the Exhibition Road, South Kensington, as part of the London Festival of Architecture.

[Image: The Storefront for Art and Architecture's Pop Up space in London].

Surrounded by architectural models installed by the Bjarke Ingels Group, I will be in back-to-back conversations with:

10am: Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at Cambridge University and author of The Parthenon and The Roman Triumph, among many others, and Simon Bradley, Editor of the Pevsner Architectural Guides and author of St. Pancras
11:30am: Architect Geoff Shearcroft of the Agents of Change
2pm: Novelist Tom McCarthy, author of Remainder and Men in Space
3pm: Landscape architects Mark Smout and Laura Allen of Smout Allen, authors of Augmented Landscapes
4pm: Architect and theorist Alex Haw of atmos
5pm: Architectural gentlemen Sam Jacob, Sean Griffiths, and Charles Holland of FAT

I'm unbelievably excited about this, in fact, not least because I will finally be meeting in person so many people with whom I've long been in email contact – but also because I can hardly think of a better list of people with whom I'd rather spend the day here in London.
The interviews are live, free, and open to the public – but bear in mind that the space is quite small, and BIG's models are, yes, quite big, and so there will be very little room for a comfortable audience. We're thus downplaying the live nature of these discussions, but we are videotaping all of them for later posting on the Storefront's website. I also hope that these will be transcribed for later publication. I really can't wait, actually.
So if you are in London, please feel free to stop by and introduce yourself, whether you're a reader of BLDGBLOG or not. You'll be able to ask your own questions of the interviewees – and, who knows, maybe even get them to autograph a book or two.
And I hope to be posting at an acceptable pace this week, as well.
Finally, here is a map.

A Panopoly of Green Roofs

I heard recently of a conversation where one person said that green roofs are dead. I'm guessing the person that said this either had tongue planted firmly in cheek, or was sadly misinformed. Our awe and excitement has transformed itself into innovation and adoption on a wide scale. While living walls are definitely the vegitectural hero du jour, the green roof in all of it's incarnations will be around a long while.

A number of posts that weren't necessarily all of the visual elements for Veg.itecture, but alas are good info to capture and read up on the latest info. Below are short tidbits and links - aka cleaning house...

Dwell started with mentioning the growth of the industry, and a number of the incentives and grant programs that municipalities are bringing to create more projects, faster. The earliest and most robust is Chicago, which started doling out grants in 2005, and the results have paid off - with by far the greatest percentage of planted rooftops in North America. I've mentioned our new plan in Portland, and it seems Washington DC and New York both have programs in the works. Still, we have a long way to catch up to Germany... or Japan even.


:: ACROS Fukoka Building Green Roof (no not in Chicago) - image via Dwell

Dwell mentions again the popularity of green roofs, with a GRHC study showing 2.4 million square feet planted between 2006-7. It was interesting in the article featuring The Wild Project and the install techiques of green roof specialist Marni Horwitz of Alive Structures, that the project used ELT, a tray system. I'm not sure if you all are aware of my disdain for prefab systems - and she also used Styrofoam additive which is definitely a light but questionable choice. Perhaps it's just that when you specialize, you become a specialist, not necessarily an expert? I definitely will poke around the site and see if anything turns up.


:: The Wild Project Green Roof - image via Dwell

An upcoming book release (September 2008) everyone should be excited about 'Green Roofs in Sustainable Landscape Design' by Steven L. Cantor. I remember showing Steven a couple of Portland rooftops in 2004 during the Green Roof Conference in Portland, and he mentioned this book. With the dearth of green roof literature out there (but growing slowly) this will be a welcome addition to any library. As always, I will try to get an advanced copy and give everyone a sneak peek.


:: image via Amazon

Treehugger is always good for some snippets about green roofs, and their article about the new green roof accessory, bees, was no exception. The post mentions the Fairmount York Hotel in Toronto, "...where Chef David Garcelon grows herbs and vegetables. Now he has added bees."


:: Fairmount York Hotel, Toronto - image via Treehugger

Via the Globe and Mail: "The only other place that's brought bees to such heights is the Paris opera house," Royal York spokeswoman Melanie Coates told Anthony Reinhart of the Globe and Mail. He writes that Chef Garcelon came up with the idea last summer, when he noticed a multitude of bees buzzing around the herbs, vegetables and edible flowers in the raised wooden beds of the hotel's 10-year-old rooftop garden. He evidently has "visions of fresh honey dripping into his salad dressings, soups, pastries and countless other creations."

They may want some fact checking at the G&M, as the Chicago City Hall Rooftop Garden has had bees, hives and the works (from the best of my knowledge) since 2003... and the harvested honey is used to fund after-school programs... soooo... anyone confirm this fact? I'd hate to be wrong, but really, this is a blog - and I will readily print a correction/retraction :)


:: Chicago City Hall Rooftop Garden - image via Planetizen

A couple from the huh? department. First, I just love the title of this article from World Architecture News (WAN) - 'The American Society of Landscape Architects builds a green roof for others to emulate'. OK, I've said it before, and I'll say it again (and I know it's heretical). It's a beautiful and successful project. It's a boon to the profession of landscape architecture and ASLA. But it is NOT, I repeat, NOT something for others to emulate. If we're using this as the pinnacle/exemplar for green roof adoption (not just as a great one off project) with it's enormous price tag - we're all doomed. Marketing it that was is just plain wrong.


:: ASLA Green Roof in Bloom - image via WAN

And while a good post - the opening page of the Treehugger story about Green Roofs at Doors Open Toronto has this shot... sorry, PVs area green technology on a roof - not a green roof... :) Plus, don't they know that the efficieny of PVs are increased with green roof additions...

:: image via Treehugger

There were some follow-up images of some great projects, including one of my favorites, the Mountain Equipment Co-op store with it's wildflowery roof.

:: image via Treehugger

Finally, I've been remiss in reviewing the innagural copy of the Living Architecture Monitor from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. Caroline from GRHC was kind enough to send me a copy, and coming soon will be my take on the content of this almost singular resource for building greening. Yikes there's a new issue out - and now I'm really behind... Caroline!!!

Monday, Monday

My weekly page update:

Bikuben Student Residence in Copenhagen, Denmark by aart a/s.

Pro Domo by Yona Friedman.

Some unrelated links for your enjoyment:

One-Way Street
A blog "concerned with the political content of the aesthetic and representations of the political in the media." (added to sidebar under blogs::urban)

Design Spot
"A place dedicated to design, news in technology, technics and materials, which lead architecture and design to a better future." (added to sidebar under blogs::design+technology)

The Center: AIANY Blog
New blog of the New York Chapter of AIA. (added to sidebar under blogs::architecture)

kontakt magazine
"Modern living, forward thinking." (added to sidebar under architectural links::publications)

Half Dose #48: Small Projects

The web page and office of Malaysian architect Kevin Mark Low goes by the name Small Projects, both an accurate description of his work and a sort of design philosophy where nothing is too small to be designed. Browsing the numerous small projects on Low's site -- projects that range from a mailbox to an office building -- one is impressed by the consistency of the quality and the aesthetic, a Modern one that is minimal and finely crafted. Below are five projects that illustrate these and other qualities.


[dishrack | image source]
This stainless steel and wood dishrack is suspended over the kitchen sink, a common sense strategy that drips water directly into the sink, but one that is all too often eschewed in favor of inefficient countertop or in-sink types. The stainless steel is used to hang the rack, while wood is used for the rails, chosen so no damage is done to the plates and other tableware.


[pittsburgh desk | image source]
This multi-tasking worktop for an architecture office creates a sizable plenum between the low and high table tops for storage of drawings and other materials. The name refers to the steel produced in Pittsburgh last century, something Low seems to embrace in a lot of his small projects. Admirably,the corners exhibit the way the piece was made, rather than providing an even finish that would otherwise cover up the process.


[folded stair | image source]
Like many of the smallest of Low's small projects tend to be parts of larger commissions, typically houses; the folded stair is part of the aviary house, a rowhouse renovation. The perforated steel stair brings light to the space below the stair, all the while appearing to float between the brick walls. Steel pins anchored into the walls support the folded stair, an almost invisible detail that belies the structural integrity of the stair's construction.


[gardengate | image source]
Likewise, the gardengate is part of another larger project, the loftoffice. A black steel mesh cage, functioning like a trapdoor, is suspended above cantilevered concrete steps leading to the garden below. What at first glance appears to be a frivolous design element, the trapdoor works in tandem with a pivoted security door above, and, when open, the trapdoor acts as a guardrail of sorts for those ascending or descending the otherwise open steps.


[louvrebox house | image source]
Lastly is one of Low's houses, the appropriately named louvrebox. Sited on a small, narrow lot the house illustrates the architect's responses to site, something that extends to even the kitchen sink (above) but is most clear in the residential projects where the Malaysian climate must be contended with. This 3-story house includes two floors wrapped in aluminum louvers that "strike [a] balance between view out and privacy in and blocking the heat of the afternoon sun." In the humid climate of Malaysia, overhangs are rampant, and the porosity of inside and outside is controllable to take advantage of breezes.

Links:

:: Kevin Mark Low - Small Projects
:: Five Foot Way Magazine, Interview with Kevin Mark Low

Veg.itecture #31

As I mentioned, there's been a lot of activity - and now that the roots of Vegitecture have been illuminated... let's see how these buildings are dressing themselves... lots of great examples. An interesting article beyond this photo, from the NY Times article 'I’m the Designer. My Client’s the Autocrat.' which looks into the trend of starchitects working for countries with questionable human rights. Check it out, and check out the image Thom Mayne’s design for a corporate headquarters in Shanghai - build the building, save the world...


:: image via NY Times

Another from Syd Mead... a project for the Qatar Steel Corp. I had not made the connection, but via Gizmodo: "You may know "futurist" Syd Mead from his design work on geek friendly movies like Blade Runner, Tron and Aliens—but in his most recent work he envisions a future city by the name of Doha, Qatar. Naturally, his work speaks for itself, but I must admit that it stands in stark contrast to the bleak world of Blade Runner. Maybe he has become more optimistic as the years have passed."


:: image via The Design Blog

Another, via Inhabitat, is Grid House, a project in Philadelphia by Moto Designshop. A response to dense infill development, it contains a number of rooftop spaces to allow for open spaces on multiple levels.




:: images via Inhabitat

Via Bustler, Oslo Central Train Station by Norwegian architect firm, Space Group.


:: image via Bustler

A new town plan for Dubai (go figure) SMAQ (via Archinect) - a 60 hectare project named Paramount. A sustainable, mixed use village for 7000 in Dubailand (why does that sound so wrong?). Via SMAQ: "In the design, the built up area has been compressed to occupy only fifty percent of the site as a reaction to the sun condition, to achieve a compact and shaded fabric. Its structure is defined by alternating narrow pedestrian alleys and small squares, typical of Arabic towns. This urban tissue is divided in elongated islands that are orientated so to gain from the prevailing winds crossing the site. The cool breeze from the sea is channelled between the islands and through the longitudinal cuts in the urban fabric, while the hot wind from the desert is deviated above the development." More info via Cityscape Abu Dhabi.




:: images via SMAQ

Designboom featured a multi-family housing with terraced green roofs from taller13 architects.


:: image via Designboom

BDonline featured Mark Hines Architects eco-friendly community centre at Ashton-under-Lyne in Lancashire. The colorful green roof offers a sustainable top to this simple structure.


:: image via BDonline

Finally, MoCoLoco linked to ArchDaily with a series of 8 sweet green roof houses, the Finca El Retorno Eco Shelters,by G Ateliers. "The design acknowledges the natural beauty of the site to create 8 ecological shelters that care to minimize the impact on the site and achieve a delicate fusion of architecture and place. These shelters emerge from the topography and enhance the surrounding nature without competing with it. Corridors at the perimeter, traditional elements from the Colombian dwelling architecture are introduced to achieve a clear relationship between interior and exterior."






:: images via ArchDaily

Book Review: Transmaterial 2

Transmaterial 2: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine our Physical Environment (2008) by Blaine Brownell
Princeton Architectural Press
Paperback, 512 pages



Two years ago we were introduced to a catalog of materials illustrating the innovations in materials research and design. This second installment of Blaine Brownell's Transmaterial continues where the first left off, documenting about 200 more innovative materials for various architectural and other design applications. This time the emphasis is on environmentalism over technology, something observed as a general trend by Brownell, not forced by the selection of the materials and products. If anything, this emphasis is apparent but not pervasive, as if those developing and creating materials can only respond to today's "green movement" via the use of recycled materials. Naturally, more must be considered (such as energy, transport and offput, not to mention the need for such-and-such material or product to begin with) for environmental concerns to really be at the center of attention. Future volumes will illustrate if that does occur.

Other than this apparent shift in focus from technology being able to create innovative materials to technology being able to create sustainable materials, the differences between the first and second volume of Transmaterials are slight: the layouts of each book are identical, with color (blue for 1, green for 2) making a distinction between the two; the ten categories for materials are the same, and the single pages devoted to each material have the same format and the same information. This consistency is understandable, making the book's definition as a catalog that much stronger, but also giving each material equal standing; Material A is not any better than Material B, but the fact each made it into the catalog does create a sense of hierarchy with those that didn't make it.

But this consistency also reinforces some of the weak points of the book series, most notably the lack of cross references for the various materials. A list of materials and the requisite description and information on material content, application, environmental benefits, contact information, and so forth is helpful, as are the multiple indexes, but these are not as helpful as being able to connect the various materials in some way, be it by the information included or other traits. Flipping through a book with only ten categories as the main means of discovery is a bit imperfect. Of course, if cross-referencing to aid architects and designers were instituted, it would only work for a single volume (lest each previous volume be republished every time the subsequent one hits the streets), which points to the main critique of the book (one I had with the first volume): Is the book format the best for the illustration of material innovation? While Princeton Architectural Press extends the scope of Transmaterial with its Materials Monthly series -- making the materials real, tactile -- the rapid advancements in materials research and design begs for something, well, digital. Brownell's blog and its tags do a bit of cross referencing, a good start, but not enough. If PAPress can supplement its two materials compilations with something that pulls everything together into the reference for architects on the subject remains to be seen, but for these pages are great inspiration, especially for those striving to balance innovation and sustainability.

or

SillyPads

Wow - this one has exploded in the past few weeks. I refer you to LilyPads by Vincent Callebaut Architectures. I was planning on including it in the last version of Veg.itecture #30 - but it seems as if this needs some of it's own space to breathe. This project has been everywhere, and has stirred up emotions and controversy. You can read about the project in more depth at a variety of sources, so I'm going to, per usual, go to the imagery.

:: images via Inhabitat

The project is envisioned for the year 2100, and is subtitled 'A Floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees', which is definitely a present and realistic danger.

And a brief synopsis (via Callebaut's site): "It is a true amphibian half aquatic and half terrestrial city, able to accommodate 50,000 inhabitants and inviting the biodiversity to develop its fauna and flora around a central lagoon of soft water collecting and purifying the rain waters. This artificial lagoon is entirely immersed ballasting thus the city. It enables to live in the heart of the subaquatic depths. The multifunctional programming is based on three marinas and three mountains dedicated respectively to the work, the shops and the entertainments. The whole set is covered by a stratum of planted housing in suspended gardens and crossed by a network of streets and alleyways with organic outline. The goal is to create a harmonious coexistence of the couple Human / Nature and to explore new modes of living the sea by building with fluidity collective spaces in proximity, overwhelming spaces of social inclusion suitable to the meeting of all the inhabitants – denizen or foreign-born, recent or old, young or aged people."

:: images via Inhabitat

A close up of the vegetated walls and wind generation turbines, or what I like to call 'The Seagull Blender' - I would steer cleer of the vents on those guys. :)

:: image via Inhabitat

It's definitely a large scale version of Biomimicry - as Mad Architect points out: "Inspired by the lilypad of Amazonia Victoria Regia, this floating ecopolis will be made of polyester fibres and covered by a layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2). The Lilypad City will made use of all renewable energies - solar, thermal and photovoltaic energies, wind energy, hydraulic, tidal power station, osmotic energies, phytopurification, biomass will produce much more energy than it consumes and also, the floating structure will “reach” zero carbon emissions as all the carbon-dioxide and the waste will be recycled."

:: image via Mad Architect

:: image via Archinect

:: Amazonia Victoria Regia (surface, bottom) - image via Archinect

While I jest with my title, it's definitely a laudable idea and something worthy of investigations (not to mention a cool vision with some great science and design to back it up). In essence, it's potentially necessary and completely plausible. A few questions, I'm sure others have kicking around (or have discussed). First, will our world possess enough foresight to build this very cool structures in time for the inevitable flooding caused by global warming? My big question is: Who get's on board? Is it the ones with the means to pay for the luxury, or is it real climate refugees in poor countries, with little fare to offer? And if there are enough of these for all - do they get segregated, or are they a real floating ecopolis utopia, where everyone lives in harmony because they are glad they survived...? While climate refugees could span economic classes - the amount of cash and amenity (as well as the 50,000 population limit) makes this an option I will guess will not be available to all.

:: image via The Design Blog

So I mentioned controversy, right? Archinect featured the project in it's showcase in mid-June - then promptly pulled the plug due to similarities to another project... in their words: "It had come to our attention that this featured project is surprisingly similar to an earlier scheme by PLOT/JDS architects title Mermaid... We're going to keep the feature offline while we explore this issue further, but feel free to review both projects, as they're both quite inspiring."

This thread was picked up by Architecture.MNP, which discussed the fact that 'Lily Pads Aren't Snowflakes...' by looking at some of the similarities between Lily Pads and the Dolphinarim and Wellness Center . PLOT - btw, was a collaboration between two firms subsequently, Julien de Smedt Architects (JDS) and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) - with this project continuing on in both names as I've seen posted. Plus, it's worth a look at the Mermaid-cliented project - where it's populated by beautiful and scantily clad - I assume, mermaids?

:: Dolphinarium and Wellness Center - PLOT - image via Architecture.MNP

While there are definite similarities, there is also a LOT of copycatting going on in design. The comment stream on Archinect showed a great example... again - between the top image - Glen Small designed Turf Town in Los Angeles (1983) and the bottom - BIG/PLOT designed Mountain Dwellings in Copenhagen (2006). This won't be the first nor last time this happens:

:: images via Orhan Ayyüce (Archinect comment)

Similarites in design... never :)

Go On Safari - Green Roof Style

This intriguing post came via Treehugger, about a new series of tours with the witty Green Roof Safari moniker. Ok, we're probably not going to encounter lions or other megafauna while atop green roofs in Germany and Switzerland, but the ability to interact with this habitat - sounds great. Tours are going in September on two separate dates, and will visit a range of projects, including:


:: Hundertwasser's Waldspirale, Darmstadt - image via Green Roof Safari


:: Green Roofs in Stuttgart - image via Green Roof Safari


:: Stuttgart, Germany 50,000 m2 Distribution Center - image via Green Roof Safari


:: Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart - image via Green Roof Safari


:: UBS Green Roof, Basel - image via Green Roof Safari


:: Peter Vetsch's "9 houses", Dietikon - image via Green Roof Safari


:: Sihlpost platforms (Biodiversity Roofs), Zurich Main Station- image via Green Roof Safari

Some details via Treehugger: "The tours are hosted by Christine Thuring of chlorophyllocity and Jörg Breuning. Christine is a Swiss-Canadian with an M.Sc. from the Centre for Green Roof Research at Pennsylvania State University. Jörg is German and works with Green Roof Service in the US."

It is interesting to see the concept of green roofs (or green buildings and other projects) being used as a method of inspiring eco-tourism. I'd guess Portland, Seattle, Vancouver BC, and other PNW green leaders would be able to leverage some good dollars by offering this service - particularly a combined trip. Green roofs are definitely interesting for this, as there's always issues with access and it's not as easy to have a self-guided process. A set date/time with a localized group may be the way. Maybe the money raised could go towards on-going maintenance, or R&D? Anyone want to offer this, you're tourguide awaits :)