Posts Tagged ‘energy’
A Green Infrastructure Unlocks Several Successful Environmental Initiatives
Guest Post From Dan Grife
Carbon Footprint Issue
The world is in a constant state of flux and the environment is no different. Lately, it seems as though flash flooding, earthquakes, and hurricanes are occurring all too often.
The severity of them is seemingly unprecedented. Additionally, cities like Washington, D.C. – normally accustomed to mild winters – are experiencing record snow fall while those that expect heavy precipitation, like Syracuse, NY, are setting records for not having any of it. While this may or may not have anything to do with global warming, it certainly is a reminder that the environment is capable of a lot of unexpected changes and we should be doing what we can to balance our use of natural resources and minimize our carbon footprint. Otherwise, the odd, eyebrow-raising nature of weather patterns we’re currently experiencing may end up being catastrophic events down the road.
Studio Daniel Libeskind unveils highly anticipated “Libeskind Villa”

World renowned architect Daniel Libeskind has announced that on September 29, he will unveil the prototype for his highly anticipated Libeskind Villa. The Libeskind Villa is a German-made, sculptural living space which marries the highest standards in design, craftsmanship and sustainability. The project has been realized in partnership with Berlin based proportion GmbH and the prototype has been built on the premises of Rheinzink GmbH & Co., the developer of the Villa’s zinc façade. More info and images after the break.

The Design
The Libeskind Villa, Daniel Libeskind’s first signature series home, creates a new dialogue between contemporary living and a completely new experience of space. It is unique at every turn, offering maximum insulation and durability, cutting-edge technologies and compliance with some of the toughest energy-saving standards across the world. The Libeskind Villa awakens the senses: light floods through glass expanses, clean lines invite calm, elegant halls and staircases offer seamless transitions. Symbolically and physically, the Villa’s connection with nature is uninterrupted, offering ample natural light and open spaces.
BIG – Shenzhen International Energy Mansion
Partner in charge: Bjarke Ingels
Project Leader: Andreas Klok Pedersen
Team: Cat Huang, Alex Cozma, Fan Zhang, Kuba Snopek, Flavien Menu, Stanley Lung
Collaborators: ARUP, Transsolar
Invited Competition, 1st prize.
Size: 96,000sqm
Client: Shenzhen Energy Company
Exterior render
The skylines of the world´s most important cities (except for Dubai I guess) are shaped by the typical office tower. The reason is simple: it provides a flexible floor plan, with an economical structural system. “Bang for the buck” if you want to call it. To address lighting and cooling issues that these tower traditionally have, electric lighting and air conditioning were the solution.
But in times when energy is a big issue, we can no longer design buildings that depend on high consumption to provide a comfortable working environment, specially in tropical weathers. And this is what BIG had as a design principle for the Shenzhen International Energy Mansion competition they just won, proposing a tower based on an efficient and well-proven floor plan, enclosed in a skin specifically modified and optimized for the local climate.






