Barn in the Alps project by EXIT Architetti Associati is about converting a barn which is built mostly of wood and stone located Selva di Cadore, Belluno, Italy. The project was started by removing the wood elements and structural joints. After the building had been dismantled, many beams and boards were cleaned and restored, while [...]
The Mill Valley Hillside project was completed in 2009 by McGlashan Architecture collaborated with Landscape Architect Calandra Design. This Sustainable Hillside House was designed for three generations, in two separate dwellings, under one green roof. The residences was designed into amazing arrangements, carves out spaces tailored to each generation and brings the grandparents closer to their children and grandchildren. The architects was creates an attached 3-level structure, every levels was arranged within different nuances, upstairs is formal, quiet and dramatic; Downstairs is warm and casual; and the middle level can be shared variously between the two dwellings. For the inside, the interiors are furnished within plentiful light, natural finishes, salvaged wood, and built-in elements hand-carved by the architect tie the living spaces together into an organic whole. This eco-friendly house is all covered by a green roof, as if the living surface of the hillside was peeled up to create naturally conditioned living space below. With a minimum of disturbance and energy, a steep hillside is sculpted into a thriving family compound. This home is a perfect ecological exemplar because it is Super-insulated, passively conditioned, with many energy- and water-efficiency features.
Conceptualized by San Francisco-based designer Joanna Borek-Clement, the Sky-Terra skyscrapers is a neuron-like network of interconnected towers, designed to address the ever growing need for green urban space. This structure floats over the congested city and includes public parks, amphitheaters, fields, and public pools and bathhouses. The ‘Sky-Terra skyscrapers’ was among many of the implausible entries in the 2009 eVolo Skyscraper competition. This superstructure has been designed with Tokyo in mind as the city is already congested. The towers can be as high as 1,600 ft and then, they expand out to reach the flat top plaza layer. Sky-Terra forms a new layer for the city high above city jams and pollution. It aims to offer green space for citizens to spend time outdoors and relax. The towers’ structures will be made from modular parts. Another sustainable element is the transportation system of interconnected foot paths and 4-foot wide streets meant for bikes or small electric cars. If it’s not a pathway, then it’s an open green space.
The inner core of each structure features an elevator system that transports people from the street level to the top. The Sky-Terra towers are indeed a nice concept for urban areas, but don’t you think it will make life really boring for those on the ground level?
