Page 54 - Shashwat Let Nature Be - Approach to Integrated Sustainability
P. 54
FEATURE Ludwig’s “Baubotanik” construction
technique integrates building with
trees, and uses the natural sequestering
of carbon by trees for structural
strengthening. David Benjamin’s
“Hy-Fi” biodegradable tower employed
“Ecovative” mushroom bricks to build
the 12m tall tower using zero carbon
building blocks. Tel Aviv’s Porter
School of Environmental Studies is
a carbon-neutral building, aimed
towards carbon positivity. It generates
its own electricity by using building
components like the “EcoWall”
that keeps the building thermally
comfortable throughout the year. The
city of Barcelona has embraced the
superblock model and walkability
concept; and, Europe has a vision
towards achieving net zero status for
the continent by 2050.
Innovations inspired by nature
self-sufficient zero waste houses are allowing odd and even numbered and technology are being developed
being built across the globe. vehicles to operate on alternate days; to reduce the carbon footprint of
Waste segregation through China has built a 328ft tall anti- materials and buildings, and thereby,
composting organic wet waste, smog tower that claims to produce control the levels of air, water, and
recycling paper, plastic, and glass, 10 million m of fresh air every day, material waste pollution.
3
leaves very little waste for landfills or and is considered the world’s largest- Conclusion
incinerators, thereby reducing the level constructed air purifier; and, the
of air pollution. city of Tel Aviv facilitates pedestrian The dilemma surrounding our planet’s
Berlin architects Allison Dring movement and encourages its citizens fragile balance, global warming, and
and Daniel Schwaag have devised an to ride bicycles as their daily mode air pollution concerns is manifold.
external smog-eating façade system of transport. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to
that reduces pollution, in response to Materials make 50 per cent the gamut of problems that arise from
the ever-rising number of polluting of a building’s carbon, while any single system. It is an interwoven
vehicles. The façade affixed to Hospital cement produces more pollution predicament. For instance, vehicles
Gonzales in Mexico City, and designed than all the trucks in the world. release toxic gases that cause air
in a Swiss-cheese pattern to increase The manufacturing of cement is pollution, respiratory illnesses, add
the surface area, is made of titanium responsible for 7 per cent of global SO x and NO x gases generating bad
dioxide pigment, which, in the CO 2 emissions. There is a pressing ozone, release carbon monoxides and
presence of ample sunlight, neutralizes need for decarbonization within carbon dioxide, which have a high
the emissions of 1,000 vehicles per day. the environment in general, and the global warming potential, contribute
As per reports, each square metre of construction industry in particular. to the urban heat island effect, initiate
the façade module removes 0.26 g of To achieve the carbon-neutral laying of asphalt roads, deforestation,
NO x per day. 6 goal, there are many initiatives being and much more. While all these issues
Where Delhi dealt with the rising taken by individuals, organizations, cannot be resolved with a magic
pollution levels in the past few years, and countries. While architect wand, innovators and environmental
by bringing into action the policy of Michael Green feels that planks visionaries have now begun the clean-
from responsibly harvested forests up act. There is a long way to go, but
6 Herwig, O. 2015. ‘Smog-eating façades’. and wooden skyscrapers provide an this could be a good start. p
Available online at http://offline.smart-
magazine.com/en/smog-eating-facades/; last effective answer to the natural carbon
accessed on October 14, 2019. sequestering of trees; Ferdinand
| 52 |
technique integrates building with
trees, and uses the natural sequestering
of carbon by trees for structural
strengthening. David Benjamin’s
“Hy-Fi” biodegradable tower employed
“Ecovative” mushroom bricks to build
the 12m tall tower using zero carbon
building blocks. Tel Aviv’s Porter
School of Environmental Studies is
a carbon-neutral building, aimed
towards carbon positivity. It generates
its own electricity by using building
components like the “EcoWall”
that keeps the building thermally
comfortable throughout the year. The
city of Barcelona has embraced the
superblock model and walkability
concept; and, Europe has a vision
towards achieving net zero status for
the continent by 2050.
Innovations inspired by nature
self-sufficient zero waste houses are allowing odd and even numbered and technology are being developed
being built across the globe. vehicles to operate on alternate days; to reduce the carbon footprint of
Waste segregation through China has built a 328ft tall anti- materials and buildings, and thereby,
composting organic wet waste, smog tower that claims to produce control the levels of air, water, and
recycling paper, plastic, and glass, 10 million m of fresh air every day, material waste pollution.
3
leaves very little waste for landfills or and is considered the world’s largest- Conclusion
incinerators, thereby reducing the level constructed air purifier; and, the
of air pollution. city of Tel Aviv facilitates pedestrian The dilemma surrounding our planet’s
Berlin architects Allison Dring movement and encourages its citizens fragile balance, global warming, and
and Daniel Schwaag have devised an to ride bicycles as their daily mode air pollution concerns is manifold.
external smog-eating façade system of transport. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to
that reduces pollution, in response to Materials make 50 per cent the gamut of problems that arise from
the ever-rising number of polluting of a building’s carbon, while any single system. It is an interwoven
vehicles. The façade affixed to Hospital cement produces more pollution predicament. For instance, vehicles
Gonzales in Mexico City, and designed than all the trucks in the world. release toxic gases that cause air
in a Swiss-cheese pattern to increase The manufacturing of cement is pollution, respiratory illnesses, add
the surface area, is made of titanium responsible for 7 per cent of global SO x and NO x gases generating bad
dioxide pigment, which, in the CO 2 emissions. There is a pressing ozone, release carbon monoxides and
presence of ample sunlight, neutralizes need for decarbonization within carbon dioxide, which have a high
the emissions of 1,000 vehicles per day. the environment in general, and the global warming potential, contribute
As per reports, each square metre of construction industry in particular. to the urban heat island effect, initiate
the façade module removes 0.26 g of To achieve the carbon-neutral laying of asphalt roads, deforestation,
NO x per day. 6 goal, there are many initiatives being and much more. While all these issues
Where Delhi dealt with the rising taken by individuals, organizations, cannot be resolved with a magic
pollution levels in the past few years, and countries. While architect wand, innovators and environmental
by bringing into action the policy of Michael Green feels that planks visionaries have now begun the clean-
from responsibly harvested forests up act. There is a long way to go, but
6 Herwig, O. 2015. ‘Smog-eating façades’. and wooden skyscrapers provide an this could be a good start. p
Available online at http://offline.smart-
magazine.com/en/smog-eating-facades/; last effective answer to the natural carbon
accessed on October 14, 2019. sequestering of trees; Ferdinand
| 52 |
