House of Vestas Will Be Europe’s First LEED Platinum Certified Building

Vestas Wind Power Systems has recently moved into their new headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark, which will also soon have the honor of being Europe's first LEED Platinum certified building. Designed by Arkitema Architects, the 'House of Vestas' will join an elite list of approximately 150 commercial buildings in the world which have also accomplished this feat. The building features Denmark’s largest geothermal installation and uses only 50% as much energy as a similarly sized facility. Not only is the company devoted to making advanced wind energy systems, but also to building energy efficient buildings. In fact, their US-based headquarters in Portland is aiming for LEED Platinum certification too.

The 22,500 sq meter complex is the new headquarters for the global wind turbine company and is an explicit example of the company’s commitment to sustainability. Long, low and stealthy, the dark exterior features bright blue accent lighting and gives you the impression that some super serious, high tech research and development is going on inside. The interior is vibrant, relaxed and filled with natural daylight. An atrium cuts down the middle of the building serving as an interior street with criss-crossing bridges overhead to connect the building together. This large open area also serves as flexible meeting or event space. Rich and contrasting natural materials create a textured, warm and inviting environment.

The building is largely heated and cooled by a geothermal heat pump and energy efficient design means that the building has achieved the designation of low-energy class 1 building. Arkitema included a variety of flexible office spaces that allow employees to transform their working environment into spaces that work for them. Movable walls modify internal volumes without changing the technical installations. Design of the project began in 2008 and construction was recently completed in 2011. Arkitema and Vestas expect to receive their LEED Platinum designation shortly.

Germantown Sustainable Urban Science Center is a Green Roofed Living Laboratory in Philadelphia

Stewardship of the environment is an important part of the Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia and their new Urban Science Center was designed to be a living laboratory to teach the students there all about that. Embracing sustainability, the new science lab demonstrates a myriad of green building strategies including green roofs, solar power, daylighting, rainwater harvesting, efficient mechanical systems and geothermal exchange. Designed by Philadelphia-based SMP Architects, the new science building provides space for innovative teaching labs for biology, physics and chemistry and fosters independent thinking.

The site, a former brownfield, had to undergo extensive remediation in order to bring it up to acceptable standards. Even after the remediation there were areas that had to be capped to eliminate the chance of water infiltrating down through the ground. An impervious parking lot and the building were located in those areas, while the other areas that could accept infiltration were planted with lush rain gardens. Sited to maximize sunlight into the classrooms, the building forms a courtyard around the gardens and a bridge to the adjacent math department.

Natural daylighting and ventilation play an important role in the design of the building as a way to reduce the use of artificial light and mechanical ventilation wherever possible. Each subject – biology, physics, and chemistry has two labs dedicated to its study. Biology is located downstairs next to the gardens along with the offices and chemistry is located on the top floor in order to minimize duct runs yet ensure proper ventilation. Last but not least, the Physics labs cantilever out over the offices as a way of demonstrating the mechanics of structural design.

A geothermal exchange system buried below the building and driveway provides energy efficient heating and cooling for the labs, offices and classrooms. Green roofs manage stormwater and provide additional space to hold class or perform experiments. Whatever rainwater is not filtrated through the swales and rain gardens is collected in two cisterns in the courtyard for use in the toilets. A rooftop photovoltaic system generates electricity for the building, while a real time display in the lobby provides information on energy generation and use as well as other building statistics. The students not only learn about the world, the environment and science while in class, but they also have the chance to explore and see it in action through the living laboratory.

A Funky Garden Office and Shed Made from Recycled Car Tires

Maisongomme is a sustainable garden shed made from locally found scrap materials and completely covered with discarded rubber tires. The structure was created for Peter Merry and Marcella Siebert by Refunc as a functional space with room for an office and storage. Already getting a lot of use from the couple, this peculiar and quirky eco-dwelling is also full of playful details!

Maisongomme measures 10×26 ft and features long, vertical windows recovered from a shop that went bust. The windows infuse the space with plenty of light and they allow for fresh air to permeate the interior. The structure was creatively made from scrap wood, insulation glass, repurposed stainless steel trays and some leftovers from an old shed that used to stand on the same space.

But what really makes the structure stand out is it rubbery walls, which have  made from car tires found at a local garage. The tires together with some stone wool insulation make this fantastic garden shed both water and winter-proof. The interior walls were created with assorted pieces of found wood, and their setting form an eco-friendly patchwork motif.

Maisongomme is yet another fantastic example of how we can create our own piece of paradise using what’s already available.

ONIGIRI HOUSE made entirely from cedar

This beautiful Onigiri House was created by NKS Architects in Oita, Japan. Constructed entirely out of locally-sourced cedar, the wood-paneled wonder features a gorgeous light-laden interior that celebrates clean, simple lines and an elegant, uncluttered floor plan. Modeled after the triangular shape of one of japan’s favorite delicacies, the project is the latest in NKS’ line of architecture that take its cues from the purity and precision of traditional Japanese food.

Created for an old couple, the Onigiri House was designed to maximize volume and limit cost while seamlessly integrating into its environs. It’s name stems from its structural reference to Onigiri, a Japanese snack made by forming rice into a triangular or oval shape and then wrapping it in nori.

The triangular tube is constructed entirely of cedar that was sustainably harvested from local sources. NKS Architects chose a type of cider wood that made the region famous for its application in shipbuilding, cutting down on the home’s carbon footprint by negating material transportation costs. The interior spaces are suffused with light and well ventilated thanks to large windows located at each end, and an elevated platform protects the home from the region’s occasional flooding.

Amazing Pupa Pavilion Made From Recycled Shipping Pallets and Cardboard

Waste becomes an opportunity in this pavilion commissioned for the London offices of Bloomberg Philanthropy. The undulating structure made entirely of recovered cardboard and shipping pallets was pieced together by Liam Hopkins of Lazarium. Dubbed Pupa, the project is part of a larger art commission, “Waste Not Want It”, which called for the reuse of refuse to create inspired pieces. Pupa not only repurposed tons of cardboard and wood, but it created a valuable meeting space that takes advantage of the acoustic properties of cardboard.

The cardboard came in damp bales so it had to be pulped and re-fabricated locally. Nearly four thousand triangular components were assembled by folding strips to make triangular frames and inserting with fill pieces. The cells were glued together using a parametric computational map. The result is a cavern like space, intimate and sparse except the long cardboard table running the length of the installation. Chairs made from 180 wooden pallets and 252 leather cut offs complete the space. The acoustic properties of the cardboard skin add function to the meeting space as well, although the glare of lights seems to be a bit off mark.

The materiality of the cardboard and softness of the overall shape is an inviting non-pretentious alcove. The form and mass of the newly created space plays off well in the dull white interior. The project was developed to inspire employees to rethink what they take for granted – a common theme it seems this past year. It is also interesting how the cardboard, known for its strength and ubiquity, can also be used for space making and sound control, upping the stakes of the capacity of the brown stuff.

Naturally Daylit Guangzhou South Railway Station is a Critical Stop in China’s High Speed Network

China is diligently working on the development of its high speed rail network, and one of the four most important stations is the Guangzhou South Railway Station. This strategically located station provides connectivity for the whole of the Pearl River Delta, which has a population of 120 million people - trains link all other major cities in the area in less than 30 minutes. The TFP Farrells-designed station maximizes daylighting to reduce its energy needs, and it was built to accommodate an increased flow of passengers in the future.

Inspired by modern airport layouts, TFP Farrells adopted a vertical organization strategy in order to maximize space and provide a clearer passenger flow. The departures concourse is on the top level, while the platforms are below on the middle level. Below that, on the ground floor is the arrivals hall, which provides easy access to other forms of transport including the five metro lines housed in the basement levels. With an expected 300,000 passengers by 2030, the station has to quickly and easily be able to direct and move a lot of people through its halls. Clear signage, wide open spaces and lots of bright light will aid in that endeavor.

The design team also worked to reduce the station’s environmental impact and this is most apparent in their use of natural daylighting, which reduces the electric load and improves the interior environment for the passenger. A central skylight spine running parallel with the tracks floods the concourse area with natural light, while the roof is made with ETFE and can be adjusted according to weather conditions. Parallel with the tracks area, a series of barrel vaulted roofs reminiscent of banana leaves allow more natural daylighting in on the sides. Only the concourse area is enclosed, which minimizes the need for air conditioned spaces. The ends of the tracks are open allowing natural ventilation to freely flow through the space and a system of photovoltaics generates power for the station.

The train station’s layout was also decided upon based on the fact that it is actually located in a sensitive wetlands area. Apparently, they couldn’t place the station anywhere else, but they attempted to minimize their impact by building vertically to reduce the footprint. Additionally, the ground floor serves as a pedestrian transit corridor to cross the tracks and connect both halves of the city. TFP Farrells collaborated with the Fourth Railway Survey and Design Institute and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) and completed the station in 2010.The local government expects that the station will vastly increase the use of public transport to a point where 80% of the journeys in the area will be made via public means, while only 20% will be via private car. And that perhaps is the greatest environmental strategy of them all.

Extraordinary 28 Storey Kowloon Office Tower in China Has a Bushy Greenery-Lined Carpark!

Kowloon Bay businesses are trying to leave behind their sullied manufacturing past with projects like this extraordinary 28 storey office tower on 18 Kowloon East. Designed by Aedas Architecture, the mixed-use development complete with office, retail, and parking space looks like any other shining tower except that its zigzagged carpark at the base of the building is covered in bushes!

We’re not 100% what other green features have been incorporated into this design, but give credence to Aedas for attempting to influence a greening trend in the Kowloon Bay area with this incredible project. The bushy carpark is not only aesthetically pleasing, but controls the air quality and absorbs carbon emissions. Ahh, we are already breathing easier seeing so much green. How about you?