In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the amount of available greenery has diminished. While the landscape was originally lush with tropical forests, it’s currently experiencing rapid urbanization, as are other cities in the country. There’s an overabundance of motorbikes that cause traffic congestion and serious air pollution problems. To help combat this issue is House for Trees designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Intended to return green space to the city, these building concepts feature big trees on their roofs. The structure is thought of as a “pot,” or a vessel for the vegetation to grow. Thick soil layers will function as storm-water basins for detention and retention. This means that they will help reduce the risk of flooding in the city, in addition to providing benefits like cleaner air. And, depending on how the trees are positioned, they can create a tranquil space for residents to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. (source).
Stefano Boeri Architects’ Bosco Verticale towers are now complete. The “world’s first vertical forest” comprises a pair of luxury high-rises that add nearly 2.5 acres of lush vegetation to the skyline of Milan, a city notorious for its air pollution. However, Bosco Verticale will be more than just a beautiful sight to behold–like a pair of green lungs, its forested facade of 21,000 plants will absorb CO2 and particulates, dampen noise pollution, lessen the urban heat island effect, and create oxygen and favorable microclimates. The superstructure was also recently shortlisted for the prestigious International Highrise Building Award 2014 as one of the five most beautiful and innovative high-rises in the world that were recently completed. (source).
“Stacked” is a photo series that features the compact urban architecture of Hong Kong. Standing from below, Australia-based photographer Peter Stewart points his camera upwards to capture the abstract shapes which form the densely populated public housing structures. The stacked, repetitive architecture dominates the sky in its vertical journey and, although the buildings have evidence of life within, the images lack any human presence as the photographer focuses mainly on the urban environment alone. Stewart says, “My passion stems from travel and the desire to visit and document all the amazing places the world has to offer. My goal is simply to create images that make you go ‘wow.'” (source).
The legendary city of Atlantis isn’t lost, it turns out—it just hasn’t been built yet. Japanese engineering firm Shimizu Corp recently announced their proposal for Ocean Spiral, an underwater city designed to house several thousand residents and sustain itself on eco-friendly energy from the seabed below. The plan is predicted to cost $26 billion and, once construction begins, take only five years to complete. Shimizu’s Ocean Spiral will be divided into three sections: the city itself, a sphere suspended 1,640 feet below the ocean’s surface that will feature both residential and business establishments, a 9-mile spiral path beneath the structure, and Ocean Spiral’s “earth factory,” according to the project’s press release. With the help of microorganisms, this “factory” will convert carbon dioxide to methane and generate energy from thermal differences in the surrounding sea. As fantastic as Ocean Spiral may sound, Shimizu spokesman told the Guardian that the submerged city isn’t just possible but—technology willing—extremely achievable. (source).
The Guggenheim Helsinki Design Competition is the first open, international architectural competition to be organized by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. This initiative reflects the Guggenheim’s long history of engagement with architecture and design and its belief that outstanding original design can speak across cultures, refreshing and enlivening the urban environment. The reserved site is located in the Eteläsatama, or South Harbor area, an urban space of great national and cultural significance, close to the historic city center and immediately visible to visitors arriving by sea. From the Stage One entries, the jury has selected six proposals to advance to Stage Two of the competition. They will be asked to expand on their Stage One design and produce a master plan model. (source).
In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the amount of available greenery has diminished. While the landscape was originally lush with tropical forests, it’s currently experiencing rapid urbanization, as are other cities in the country. There’s an overabundance of motorbikes that cause traffic congestion and serious air pollution problems. To help combat this issue is House for Trees designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Intended to return green space to the city, these building concepts feature big trees on their roofs. The structure is thought of as a “pot,” or a vessel for the vegetation to grow. Thick soil layers will function as storm-water basins for detention and retention. This means that they will help reduce the risk of flooding in the city, in addition to providing benefits like cleaner air. And, depending on how the trees are positioned, they can create a tranquil space for residents to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. (source).
Stefano Boeri Architects’ Bosco Verticale towers are now complete. The “world’s first vertical forest” comprises a pair of luxury high-rises that add nearly 2.5 acres of lush vegetation to the skyline of Milan, a city notorious for its air pollution. However, Bosco Verticale will be more than just a beautiful sight to behold–like a pair of green lungs, its forested facade of 21,000 plants will absorb CO2 and particulates, dampen noise pollution, lessen the urban heat island effect, and create oxygen and favorable microclimates. The superstructure was also recently shortlisted for the prestigious International Highrise Building Award 2014 as one of the five most beautiful and innovative high-rises in the world that were recently completed. (source).
“Stacked” is a photo series that features the compact urban architecture of Hong Kong. Standing from below, Australia-based photographer Peter Stewart points his camera upwards to capture the abstract shapes which form the densely populated public housing structures. The stacked, repetitive architecture dominates the sky in its vertical journey and, although the buildings have evidence of life within, the images lack any human presence as the photographer focuses mainly on the urban environment alone. Stewart says, “My passion stems from travel and the desire to visit and document all the amazing places the world has to offer. My goal is simply to create images that make you go ‘wow.'” (source).
The legendary city of Atlantis isn’t lost, it turns out—it just hasn’t been built yet. Japanese engineering firm Shimizu Corp recently announced their proposal for Ocean Spiral, an underwater city designed to house several thousand residents and sustain itself on eco-friendly energy from the seabed below. The plan is predicted to cost $26 billion and, once construction begins, take only five years to complete. Shimizu’s Ocean Spiral will be divided into three sections: the city itself, a sphere suspended 1,640 feet below the ocean’s surface that will feature both residential and business establishments, a 9-mile spiral path beneath the structure, and Ocean Spiral’s “earth factory,” according to the project’s press release. With the help of microorganisms, this “factory” will convert carbon dioxide to methane and generate energy from thermal differences in the surrounding sea. As fantastic as Ocean Spiral may sound, Shimizu spokesman told the Guardian that the submerged city isn’t just possible but—technology willing—extremely achievable. (source).
The Guggenheim Helsinki Design Competition is the first open, international architectural competition to be organized by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. This initiative reflects the Guggenheim’s long history of engagement with architecture and design and its belief that outstanding original design can speak across cultures, refreshing and enlivening the urban environment. The reserved site is located in the Eteläsatama, or South Harbor area, an urban space of great national and cultural significance, close to the historic city center and immediately visible to visitors arriving by sea. From the Stage One entries, the jury has selected six proposals to advance to Stage Two of the competition. They will be asked to expand on their Stage One design and produce a master plan model. (source).