The Genius of Paper Tube Architecture

(Images courtesy of Centre Pompidou)

To characterize some of Shigeru Ban’s recent architectural projects as paradigm-shifting would be an understatement. Born in Tokyo Japan in 1957, the world famous architect was influenced by both Japanese minimalism and many of the most renowned Western architects (Corbusier, van der Rohe, and others). In fact, one can see echoes of such simplicity in Ban’s use of cardboard shipping tubes in structures from temporary relief housing he designed for earthquake victims in Japan and Turkey, to a church in Kobe, Japan (reassembled in Taiwan in 2007), and even his small studio space on the roof of the Pompidou Center in Paris. Although there are certainly other materials present, such as recycled fiberboard, steel hardware and support cables, the cylindrical cardboard tubing often makes up the bulk of these simple structures.

When one considers Ban’s use of cardboard tubing as a structural (some might even remark on its minimalist aesthetic quality) material, it is easy to understand why many refer to him as a green architect, yet he eschews such labeling as contrived and perhaps short-lived, preferring to adhere to his own notion of designing and engineering structures holistically through a sort of practical minimalism. It is encouraging to see an architect as famous as him, utilizing such simple and straightforward waste as cardboard shipping tubes, within a project, rather than simply being comfortable with their being landfilled or incinerated. Perhaps his work will have a powerful influence not only on those humanitarian-minded architects and designers who are already inclined to offer solutions to overcrowding and low cost housing, but also on those who have yet seen the benefits of sustainable alternative materials.

Shiguru Ban’s Interview with designboom.com

Future Technology Inspired by Nature

As it often happen, the future technology actually comes from nature.

An incredible amount of energy is spent every year in air conditioning of building that if well designed
Could be self temperature controlled.

Researchers from EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) are studying the structure of termites mounds, by 3D scanning them.

“We’re certainly not suggesting that people should live in termite mounds!” Dr Soar tells us “we are studying the mounds to look for a method by which environmental conditions can be controlled and then seeing if we can harness this using innovative manufacturing processes.” If successful the work could lead to a revolution in construction: “Imagine, instead of today’s solid bricks and walls, smart bricks and smart walls incorporating capillary-like structures that can move and control moisture, gases and temperature.”

“The researchers hope to develop new construction methods based on rapid manufacturing processes that would enable buildings to be ‘printed’ out of extruded materials. Such ‘freeform construction’ processes would give architects the freedom to design complex organic forms with microstructures and properties unlike anything that can be manufactured conventionally. “This could make the dream of passive systems, which keep our homes comfortable using only renewable energy, a reality,” comments Dr Soar.”

LEED Rating System - A Quick Overview

(Don’t write differently something that’s well written ; )

From Wikipedia

“ The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

LEED was created to accomplish the following:

* Define “green building” by establishing a common standard of measurement

* Promote integrated, whole-building design practices

* Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry

* Stimulate green competition

* Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits

* Transform the building market

Green Building Council members, representing every sector of the building industry, developed and continue to refine LEED. The rating system addresses six major areas:

* Sustainable sites

* Water efficiency

* Energy and atmosphere

* Materials and resources

* Indoor environmental quality

* Innovation and design process

Certification

Different LEED versions have varied scoring systems based on a set of required “Prerequisites” and a variety of “Credits” in the six major categories listed above. Buildings can qualify for four levels of certification:

* Certified - 40-50% of non-innovation points

* Silver - 50-60%

* Gold - 60-80%

* Platinum - over 80% “

Learn more on the LEED certification program :

US green building council

wikipedia article

Syndecrete, a Sustainable Concrete for Interior Design

Syndecrete a company that we discovered last september at the west coast green conference in San Francisco produce a special concrete and a set of products, tiles, sinks slabs and tabletops and custom designs based on their concrete.

The syndecrete is a solid surfacing material replace standard concrete for interior design, on top of it it’s has better mecanical property and is certified by The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

I encourage you to visit their website, which is sleek and explain nicely the advantage of the product and the sustanaible issue associated with concrete in interior design.

 Syndecrete website

TX Active: Concrete Material With a Cause

In 2006 the Italian company Italicemente introduced a concrete that actually filters the air for CO2. The process is called photocatalysis: a titanium dioxide coating applied to the cement surface is triggered by UV rays to initiate a chemical reaction which absorbs air pollutants. An additional benefit, and the original reason it was developed, TX Active also prevents the build-up of organic and inorganic pollutants on surfaces, helping to improve a building’s appearance over time.

In a large city such as Milan, researchers have calculated – on the basis of test results – that covering 15% of visible urban surfaces with products containing TX Active® would enable a reduction in pollution of approximately 50%.

What we haven’t seen is any TX active in the United States. If anyone knows of its application outside of Europe, please add to the comments.

Cork Flooring Solutions, Surprising?

Imagine a natural wood material that is resistant, last more than a lifetime and do not require to cut the trees down… Well this material is Cork.

We are more used to see it used to close wine bottles, but Natural Cork from cork oak tree can be used in construction and has a lot of benefits. Apart from being sustainable, as the ressource keep growing on the trees, the benefit of this material compared to other type of wood subproduct is that the trees are actually not cut down, preserving the landscape around.

Solida is a flooring company, that produce a wide variety of floor solutions based on cork.

Check their website to see their product and learn a bit more about their production process.

SOLIDA CORK flooring begins life as bark on the cork oak tree (Quercus suber) which grows in the Mediterranean, primarily Portugal which is
the world’s largest exporter of cork. The cork oak tree forests are one of the most carefully regulated resources in the world. Managed by
the government, cork tree forests are looked upon as a national treasure.
Cork flooring is one of the most environmentally friendly flooring products available today surpassing even hardwood since the cork oak tree
is never cut down and all of the associated processes are done using systems and chemicals that are free from carcinogens and contain low
or none of the voc’s (volatile organic compounds) associated with conventional flooring products such as carpet and vinyl.

Compensado de Pupunha da Amazonia

“Compensado de Pupunha da Amazonia” (by its name in Portuguese) is a material developed by Claudio Ferreira y Thiago Machado Maia, from ESDI (Escola Superior de Desenho Industrial de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil). In 2005 it received the iF Hannover Material Award.

http://www.esdi.uerj.br/pupunha/

The material is made out of Pupunha fibers (a native Amazonian palm tree). Similar to bamboo, Pupunha grows rapidly, which gives it a sustainable advantage compared to other wood sources. It also has great visual properties and a warm look & feel.

West Coast Green September 20-22, San Francisco

One of the largest event on residential green building on the west coast will take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium of San Francisco.

The program and speakers promise this conference to be quiet exceptional :

“Central to the success of this conference are the exceptional speakers and presenters who will share their technical knowledge, on-the-ground expertise, and visionary wisdom on a wide range of topics from building science and public policy to technology and global ecology. This year our programming will expand to offer over 150 new presentations and pre-conference workshops and will reach over 14,000 people with incredible ability to affect change”

the program of the conference

the speakers

West coast green website