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Visiting a House Embedded in the Mountain in New Zealand
How Green Is It?
Filipe Boni
September 30, 2024
Sustainable Constructions
Visiting a House Embedded in the Mountain in New Zealand - How Green Is It?
Hello!
We bring another critical analysis of a project that challenges the boundaries of sustainable architecture.
This video explores the Seascape Villa, located in New Zealand's stunning landscape. This project, captured by The Local Project channel, raises an essential question: is it truly sustainable?
Let's dive into the details and reach our verdict.
Sustainable Architecture
Francis Kéré: Architecture that Transforms Stories and Communities
Understanding Francis Kéré's architectural genius is essential to understanding his journey. Born in Gando, a small village in Burkina Faso, Kéré faced challenges early on.
At age 7, he left his home to attend a school that lacked basics: classrooms without natural light or proper ventilation. Despite these hardships, his community supported him, believing he would one day bring positive change to everyone.
Francis Kéré’s Schorge Secondary School
With perseverance, Kéré won a scholarship to study in Germany, where he began his career in carpentry before diving into architecture. But his connection with Gando was never lost. Even before finishing his studies, he boldly decided to build a school in his hometown.
Kéré combined traditional African materials, such as clay, with modern techniques to create something unique and functional. He designed metal roofs with overhangs to protect walls from rain, adding a space between the clay roof and the metal covering to improve airflow. Strategically positioned windows on both sides of the classrooms provide cross ventilation, keeping the indoor environment cool and comfortable, even under intense heat. Kéré's work goes beyond aesthetics. He has always sought to create welcoming spaces with limited resources, challenging people's thinking about construction and inspiring them to dream and take risks. His works are not just buildings but tools of social transformation, showing that something grand can be built even with little. Kéré teaches us that authentic architecture is born from empathy and a desire to impact lives, creating structures and a legacy of hope and innovation. |
Innovations
Discover "Amazonian Styrofoam" — The Sustainable Revolution from the Amazon!
Forget everything you know about traditional Styrofoam. Today, we introduce "Amazonian Styrofoam," a revolutionary innovation developed by Brazilian researchers from the miriti, a native palm tree from the northern region of Brazil. And the best part? Unlike traditional expanded polystyrene, which decomposes for centuries, this new material is 100% natural and biodegradable. It's a true game-changer for sustainability!
Sustainable Production from Start to Finish
The production of this Styrofoam starts with using the miriti stem, which is carefully processed to minimize waste and maximize material strength. Every step of the production chain, from extraction to disposal, is designed to be sustainable. The methods used help preserve the forest while providing direct benefits to local communities, creating a circular economy in harmony with the environment.
Applications Beyond ConstructionThe possibilities for "Amazonian Styrofoam" go far beyond the construction industry. It benefits emergency structures, such as those needed after natural disasters. Imagine quickly deploying a sustainable, lightweight, and durable material to protect lives in critical moments! Which Industries Could Benefit the Most?This innovation opens doors for various industries. Construction is an obvious beneficiary, but sectors like logistics (with eco-friendly packaging), product design, and even healthcare could take advantage of this environmentally conscious solution. Think of green alternatives for processes traditionally relying on highly polluting materials. And you? Which industry do you see benefiting the most from this innovation? |
Next UGREEN Events
Sustainable Business Mentoring
Only available for UGREEN Pass members
Present your career challenges and connect with participants worldwide during our monthly meetings, elevating your career to higher levels of effectiveness and influence.
Sustainable Interior Design Week
Free to participate
The UGREEN live event merges innovation, technology, and sustainability within interior design. Led by Filipe Boni and Sami Meira, this event aims to inspire architects and interior designers globally to create spaces that are not only sustainable but also aesthetically pleasing and functional.
What do you think of this edition? |
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