Worlds largest single-domed tropical greenhouse unveiled for France

A lush paradise of waterfalls and tropical plants has been unveiled in Coldefy & Associates’ designs for Tropicalia, the world’s largest tropical greenhouse under one roof. Proposed for Pas-de-Calais, France, the 215,000-square-foot greenhouse will be sheathed beneath a double-insulated dome and designed for energy efficiency and include heat recycling. The $62 million project will feature a variety of tropical landscapes filled with flora and fauna and linked by a one-kilometer walking path.

Created in collaboration with energy company Dalkia, the greenhouse project aims to impress with its size and energy efficiency. “Tropicalia was imagined by Coldefy as a ‘bubble of harmony’ perfectly integrated with the local environment, endowed with a new innovation: the project is autonomous – energy producer by the use of a double dome creating a air chamber heated by a greenhouse effect,” wrote the architects.

In addition to the double-insulated glass dome that will be constructed of structural steel and ETFE plastic, the greenhouse will be partly embedded into the earth to take advantage of natural insulation and ensure a stable 79-degree indoor environment year-round. Excess heat could be recycled for use in neighboring buildings.

Related: Amazon’s incredible plant-filled biospheres open in Seattle

In addition to the tropical flora and fauna that include an 82-foot-tall waterfall and Olympic-sized pool with Amazonian fish, Tropicalia also houses an auditorium, restaurant, bed and breakfast, and research area with a conference room, laboratory, and clinic. The project is expected to break ground in 2019 and open in 2021.

+ Coldefy & Associates

Via ArchDaily

Images via Coldefy & Associates

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Temporary lantern-like housing for refugees could slot beneath bridges

Design studio 1week1project has proposed a creative way to tackle the ongoing refugee crisis in Paris, where thousands of refugees are still estimated to be sleeping rough. In a proposal called “Illuminate Paris!”, the designers envision a series of modular lantern-like shelters that could provide temporary housing beneath the capital’s bridges. Built of recycled materials, the cylindrical structures could also be used for other purposes, from retail to performance space, and would cast an attractive glow at night.

Still in its conceptual phase, “Illuminate Paris!” targets the reclamation of the city’s underused areas into functional, artistic, and adaptable spaces. “[It] supports the City’s approach and the Associations who give assistance to the refugees (France Terre d’Asile, Emmaus) into the migrant crisis by creating a field of experiences and learning, unifying and fun, open to all in order to change our vision and practices in the urban world,” wrote 1week1project. “The project proposes a simple solution: to reclaim public spaces under the aerial subway line in a civic, collective and concrete way to gather Parisians and refugees thanks to a modular, multifunctional and reversible installation.”

Related: Casa Futebol: Architects Want to Turn Brazil’s Stadiums into Affordable Housing

The mobile lantern-like structure would be built of recycled transparent polypropylene canvas wrapped around a coil spring bamboo tube measuring 13 feet in width and 23 feet in height. A rope tied to the middle of the modular frame can be tied to anchor the structure to floor. The designers believe the project could be used for multipurpose programming including temporary housing, performances, and pop-up retail.

+ 1week1project

Via ArchDaily

Images via 1week1project

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Five Gadgets to Help Green Your Holidays

With the weather getting colder and winter on its way, we’re looking forward to the warmth and cheer of the holiday season and the festivities to come. However glimmering lights and gift giving can quickly snowball into a hefty environmental footprint, so as you get set to deck the halls this year why not consider updating your holiday decor with some eco-friendly alternatives? From glitzy low-energy LED lights to high-tech recycled glam, read on for our top 5 gadgets to help green your holidays!

Everbright Solar Holiday Lights

These brilliant Everbright lights combine two of our favorite green technologies — solar power and LEDs — into a glimmering bundle of holiday cheer. Simply string up the tree or decorate your outdoor patio with these weatherproof lights and then place the photovoltaic panel out in the sun – a full charge will keep them twinkling for 20-40 hours, and a light sensor turns them off automatically to conserve energy.

$33 – $110 from Eco Source Shop

LED Motherboard Menorah

Celebrate the festival of lights this year with a high-tech modern menorah made from a recycled motherboard outfitted with nine glimmering light-emitting diodes. Designed by Roni Kabessa, this digital candelabrum is powered by a 9-volt battery and is outfitted with a discreet panel on the back that controls each of the energy-efficient LED lights.

$25 from Moma Store

USBCell Rechargeable Batteries

Each year the holiday season brings an influx of glossy new gadgets, however the energy that powers them often comes from toxic landfill-bound batteries. Keep a stack of these rechargeable USBCell batteries on hand and you’ll never be without a source of clean green power. Each ingenious AA battery features a flip-cap port that can be easily plugged into your PC or Mac to recharge.

$18 from USBCell

Christmas Ornaments Made From Recycled Circuit Boards and CDs

These geek-chic holiday ornaments made from recycled e-waste are perfect for decking the halls with sustainable style. Each one is carefully cut from a reclaimed circuit board or CD, resulting in a glimmering ornament sure to delight.

$5 -$7 each from Nigel’s Eco Store

Naturemill Automatic Compost Bin

From Thanksgiving all the way through New Year’s Day, we know what the winter holidays are really about – cooking up staggering amounts of delectable food, sharing it with friends and loved ones, and then passing out for a post-bacchanalian nap on the couch. This year cut down on household kitchen waste by transforming leftover scraps from holiday feasts into compost with the Naturemill. This automatic compost bin takes care of all the dirty work — simply drop in compostable matter and it will heat, aerate, and mix it with odorless natural composting cultures, yielding a load of nutrient-rich compost every two weeks.

$200 – $400 from Naturemill

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Top 5 Green Gadgets from CES 2011

Each year the Consumer Electronics Show lights up Las Vegas with an exhilarating showcase of cutting-edge technology. Although the Nevada desert may not be the first place you’d look for energy-efficient tech, this year we spotted an array of green gems that exhibit trends towards more efficient, versatile, and sustainable gadgets. From universal eco chargers to multi-tasking sunglass cameras and kinetic-energy harvesting gizmos, read on for our top 5 green gadgets from CES 2011!

Lady Gaga’s Polaroid Camera Sunglasses

Lady Gaga teamed up with Polaroid to create this pair of high-tech stunner shades that conceal a secret surprise – a 12 megapixel camera that captures the world as you see it. The multi-tasking GL20 Camera Glasses also boast twin 1.5 inch OLED screens that can play back photos and videos for whoever you’re looking at.

nPower PEG Kinetic Energy Charger

Add a spring to your step and some watts to you walk with the nPower PEG – the world’s first handheld gadget charger that captures and stores your kinetic energy. Simply toss this pint-sized power charger into your backpack or briefcase and it will capture kinetic energy from your daily activities and transform it into electricity to juice your gadgets on the go.

eCoupled Wireless Tesla Charger

Wireless charging is a hot topic for tech enthusiasts, so we were thrilled to see eCoupled roll out a new system capable of charging a Tesla at this year’s CES! Simply park your EV over the PowerSpot‘s halo of blue light and it will transmit electricity via an induction pad at distances up to 4″. The technology isn’t quite ready to hit shelves and no charging times were available, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye out for.

IDAPT Universal Gadget Charger

With today’s prevalence of handheld gadgets it seems everyone has a shoebox filled with bulky wall wart chargers collecting dust. The IDAPT i1 Eco is a universal charger that can power nearly any gadget, and it’s made from recycled materials to boot.

Ford Focus Electric

Perhaps the biggest news from this year’s CES came from Ford as they unveiled their first all-electric car. The Ford Focus EV is an electrified version of their popular small car that will get a better mile-per-gallon equivalent than the Chevy Volt and will recharge in half the time it takes to juice up a Nissan Leaf.

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Schmidt Hammer Lassen designs BREEAM-seeking brewery renovation in Riga

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects has beaten the likes of Henning Larsen and Zaha Hadid Architects in a competition to design Kimmel Quarter, a major urban revitalization project in Riga, Latvia. Located in the capital’s Central District, the project will be centered on the redevelopment of Brewery Kimmel, a 19th century beer brewery rich in history. The adaptive reuse scheme will preserve the site’s historical roots while adding new mixed-use programming that follow sustainable design principles.

The 11,500-square-meter Kimmel Quarter will become Riga’s new destination for working, shopping, and recreation. The abandoned industrial buildings that occupy nearly an entire city block will be restored and transformed into a 30,000-square-meter office building, a hotel, a public gym, a child care center, a cafe, a spa, a food court, and a convenience store. Inviting courtyards and plazas will tie the various spaces together.

“We wanted to create a new composition of building volumes as pragmatic and straight forward as the old industrial complex with a dynamic façade that pushes back and forth and up and down,” said Rasmus Kierkegaard, Associate Partner at Schmidt Hammer Lassen. “The resulting architecture is distinctly modern, but in a rewarding dialogue with the old restored buildings. We have designed a new Kimmel Quarter in which history and the future are bound by timeless architecture.”

Related: Lookout Loop bird observatory in Latvia doubles as a temporary shelter

Sensitive adaptive reuse, passive solar orientation, and use of recycled materials and rainwater are part of the design’s focus on sustainability. Kimmel Quarter will follow BREEAM standards and is expected to serve as one of Riga’s model project for meeting the European Union’s 2020 climate and energy package goals.

+ Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

Images via Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

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Media lab built from recycled shipping containers pops up in half a day

Four recycled shipping containers have found a new lease on life as Bard College’s new media lab in upstate New York. Quick, affordable, and modern, MB Architecture’s speedy lab solution for the Bard College Department of Experimental Humanities has the added benefit of a folding glass door that blurs the boundary between indoors and out. Prefabricated offsite, the Bard College Media Lab was installed in just half a day and fully operational within a few weeks.

Located in the middle of campus near a Frank Gehry concert hall, the 960-square-foot media lab cost slightly over $200,000 for prefabrication, delivery, and installation. The four shipping containers were stacked into a single blocky monolith with the exterior painted matte black. While the corrugated sides were retained—perhaps as a reminder of the building’s industrial past—large glazed panels punctuate the building to bring in views of the outdoors and create the illusion of spaciousness inside.

Related: The Coolest Bar in Texas is Built With Seven Stacked Shipping Containers

Flexibility was built into the design of the lab, which will be shared by different college departments. The first floor comprises multiple entrances, a bathroom, and a double-height meeting room that opens up to the quad through a large pivoting garage door. By opening up the interior to the outdoors, the room can be used as a stage for performances, concerts, and theatrical events. An office is located on the second floor.

+ MB Architecture

Via ArchDaily

Images © Matthew Carbone

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This passively cooled house in Australia features a green roof, recycled brick, and ocean views

The residents of Greenacres, Austin Maynard Architects‘ first completed project in New South Wales, originally asked for a light-filled home and a room with a view. The architects decided to take it a step further, building a house that not only affords ocean views from almost every interior space, but also incorporates the existing landscape and uses sustainable design to maximize energy efficiency.

Perched on a steep block in Newcastle, the house utilizes the existing topography to create different spaces across three levels and provide expansive views of its surroundings. The garage lies hidden at the base of the property, with the entry path and garden weaving along the structure and through the green roof. A landscaped driveway reduces the visual impact of the hard surfaces in front of the house. Propped on three steel “legs” above this section, the building’s main level houses the kitchen, living and dining areas. And finally, two bedrooms and a bathroom are tucked in beneath this rectangular space.

Related: Eco-Friendly Tinbeerwah House Rises on Steel Stilts in the Australian Bush

Austin Maynard Architects also made sure Greenacres didn’t get in the way of its own view. Whether in the living space, the rear of the building, or any space in between, you have a clear view of the ocean, the Merewether Ocean Baths, and the city.

 

Related: Australia’s first carbon-positive prefab house produces more energy than it consumes

In addition to these main design considerations, the architects included sustainable features to help save energy. They used locally sourced recycled brick throughout the house. The orientation, window shading, attention to cross ventilation, and central fish pond aid passive cooling and reduce reliance on mechanical ventilation. All windows are double glazed and protected from the northern and western sun. Water tanks, buried in the garden, provide ample water for the gardens and the toilets. The result is the best of both worlds: a house with stunning ocean views that also manages to be energy-efficient.

+ Austin Maynard Architects

Via World Architecture News

Photos by Tess Kelly

 

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