Architecture in China can so often be polarising. In fact, the entire industry seems to have that affect on the world. There are those who applaud the Chinese for their extensive and rapid construction work, which includes the world's fastest apartment construction, the creation of entire cities in just five years and of course the developments in Shenzhen, one of the world's fastest growing cities. And then there are others who critique the country for having a 'fake' and 'blood soaked' GDP due to high levels of what some have labeled 'dangerous and unnecessary' industry work.
Well, the design debate has been sparked yet again with the unveiling of China's latest industry venture.
A line between art and architecture has truly never been formed. Throughout history the two different disciplines have interlinked, with the latter, for the most part, strongly reflecting, and often relying upon the former.
However, functionality, building codes, economic shortages and a number of different factors can often get in the way of artistic freedom in the modern industry. In fact, many critics have argued about the displeasing aesthetics that the rise in green building is having on this industry.
While that may be debatable, the relevance of art to architecture has not been forgotten. In fact, one new project has used the strategic inclusion of artistic modes throughout in order to reflect the zeitgeist of an era.
We in the construction and design industry are currently going through a greenwash, a saturation of sustainability. In fact, we may be creating it.
This public sense of exhaustion and lack of understanding in response to environmentally conscious mentalities and building processes, anything labeled 'green' to be precise, is causing an increased apathy in the entire sector and is impacting the communication of projects and concepts.
Yet we are only adding fuel to the fire.
We in this industry, and even those who are not, are confusing two key terms; that of Green Building and Sustainability, in turn creating confusion through misrepresented and easily misunderstood jargon.
The thing is, it's universal. And ever so easy to accidently do.
The city of Melbourne has just unveiled their latest industry show-stopper with the government announcing its Melbourne CBD expansion plan. The major redevelopment, announced by Planning Minister Matthew Guy, will see the city centre grow from 180 hectares to 900 hectares in an unprecedented growth spurt.
Aesthetically, Melbourne will change.
In the same vein as Sydney's Barangaroo, this latest southern development is going to change the face of a city that is growing in both size and popularity; with current population growth at an enormous 85,000 people per year. Named as the world's most liveable city in 2011, both the Melbourne industry, especially those in the architecture and construction facets, and government are standing behind this expansive redevelopment.
Can Circular Economy be implemented easily in the construction industry that uses the traditional linear model of 'take, make and waste'? @arup-associates present a prototype with 'reuse' at its core. Read here and leave us your thoughts.
As B2B platforms across industries increase, with a focus on interactive knowledge-sharing sessions, in what way does the business of design stand to prosper and propagate? Read about the upcoming India Interiors Summit that proposes to bring various dignitaries from the building industry on a common platform … and leave us your views on such activities…
With the release of the federal government's newest Urban Policy Forum the green building community will feel a new found sense of confidence in the future plans for urban development in Australia. Planning for a sustainable urban community has come as a priority in the new policy, which has been influenced by a wide range of experts across different industry sectors including Chief Executive of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Romily Madew.
Upon his latest announcement, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese has assured the future planning processes will come as a culminated effort between the green building sector, government and the community in what has been labeled as an 'ideas generator'.
Australian architecture has had an impressive start to 2012, already boasting a globally recognised industry award.
The architectural firm in question is Australia's own HASSELL who have been ranked as the number one practice in all of Australasia at this year's BD World Architecture survey. Managing Director of the firm Robert Blackhouse indicated that the achievement is a testament to the works, both nationally and internationally, that HASSELL has been producing.
A Melbourne school is creating great industry waves for its mix of stunning architecture and environmentally responsible principles. Acting as an incredible promotion of green thinking to both the young students attending and the wider community, is the junior building at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS).
While the striking building, transformed by architectural firm McBride Charles Ryan is completely passive in its design, an absolute feat in its own right, it is its aesthetic that truly stands out.
Oftentimes in green building projects a building's visual appeal is ignored in order to focus on the sustainable building aspects. While environmental responsibility may be more important than design greatness, it is incredibly positive to see such a prime example of a culmination of these ideas executed so elegantly.
In the construction and design industry, architecture is one of the most complex and multi-faceted sectors. As we have stated previously, it encompasses a whole range of broad and varying components, from mathematics to the currently trending biology.
At its most basic root though, architecture deals with form. It is for this reason that architecturally designed buildings are able to become art forms as one of the industry's most artistically based facets.
It only makes sense then, due to the crossover and widely varied field, that some buildings would share these sculpturally formed aspects more than others. One such building that is due for completion this year and is an example of the aforementioned form is architectural firm Zaha Hadid's Performing Arts Centre in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
When moving towards a sustainability goal in the architecture and construction industry, eco-technologies are often the first choice that builders and designers make. While these additions are successful in decreasing, or even eliminating, excess carbon emissions expelled during the construction or running stages of a building's life, there are much simpler organic processes that can be used to simply decrease a reliance on brown energy use.
Orientation Planning is a prime example of a simple, zero technologically driven sustainable building concept. Through the careful positioning of a building, its reliance upon technologies, green or otherwise, to control the interior climate can be dramatically reduced, or even eliminated entirely.
In the architectural and building sectors, we have explored, promoted and dissected the fact that we are currently battling greenwash so much, that we may in fact be greenwashing the aforementioned greenwash.
Indeed the term is so readily bandied about, that it no longer makes sense and is therefore responded to as a null and void sentiment.
As confusing as that may seem, it holds the key to the reason that we are stuck in a vicious industry cycle that is unfortunately blocking the promotion of some incredible, and highly sustainable, built projects. Due to a confusion and misrepresentation of certain green and sustainable buildings and features, a number of these incredible designs, and their built forms, are being lost in the jungle of false green advertisement.
One incredible design that, more often than not, does not receive the deserved appreciation is that of the humble Earthship.
The architecture industry has been in recent times exploring the growing world of artificial organisms.
We have continuously covered this increasing trend, with examples of man-made organics in China and Singapore, varying from artificial islands, to trees and most recently coral reefs.
It is no surprise that through the heightened levels of toxins and rubbish now running into our oceans everyday that certain sections of incredibly valuable, and aesthetically stunning underwater environments are dying. This is caused by various reasons including: the everyday home owner chemical run offs, the larger oil spills and natural disasters, but the fact is, we are killing it faster than it is able to grow back.
The announcement that Melbourne is set to receive one of its largest redevelopments on record has set the tongues of both the nation, and the globe, wagging. Finding even further international acclaim last year when it was deemed the World's Most Liveable City, Melbourne has seen a massive population surge, topping 85,000 new residents a year, causing both industry and government leaders to put together in a scheme which aims to perform the dual function of expanding and refurbishing the central Melbourne area.
Much like Sydney's Barangaroo project, this latest CBD expansion is too large and high-impact to go unnoticed, for both positive and negative reasons.
The idea that the environment can aid healing is not a new one. In her book 'Healing Spaces", Dr. Esther M. Sternberg has explored the health benefits to patients on both a mental and physical level when exposed to plants and larger organic environments.
Australian industry giants Brookfield Multiplex and HASSELL are taking on these principles and shaping their design and construction processes with environmental healing as a key foundation of their latest Perth healthcare development.
One major green belt that has seen the devastating results of deforestation is the Amazon jungle. From 1991 until 2001 the total area cleared jumped from 415,000 km2 to 587,000 km2, proving that this massive, unsustainable deforestation effort has not been just a thing of the past. In fact, it was only last year that deforestation figures slowed to their lowest numbers yet.
For many in the green building industry, that is how they would like it to continue.
Offering to lead this conservation effort is London-based architectural firm Marks Barfield. Who have impressed architecture and environmental communities worldwide with their £6.4m proposal for a research centre in the Amazon, which will include a central, tree-shaped observation tower and 6 miles of tree top canopy walkways.
Due to the nature and function of this tower, in addition to the limitations that the rural, fragile Brazilian environment holds, a sustainable building ideology forms the foundation of the proposal.
Ar. Zaha Hadid works with layered interiors to foster the dynamism and collaborative principles of the IT industry in this building in Moscow. Check it out and leave us your views…
many industrial references .. and other good to be seen stuffs ... inspiration there too.
It's aklso about topologies.. well good for 3D urban...and other builders .
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