Zarkon Group, Author at Zarkon Group Real Estate Builders & Developers

Global innovation spotlight: Mexico

Global Innovation Spotlight

Reflecting our global Springwise readership, we explore the innovation landscape and freshest thinking from a new country each week. This week, we’ve headed to Central America…

Mexico Innovation Facts

Global Innovation Index ranking: 55th

Climate targets: by 2030, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22 percent and black carbon emissions by 51 percent over a business-as-usual scenario.

Sustainability challenges:

Air pollution – Air pollution kills almost 33,000 people per year in Mexico according to the World Bank. And poor air quality is exacerbated by the country’s high rate of urbanisation. Seventy-eight per cent of Mexico’s population live in the country’s highly motorised cities. Forecasts suggest there could be 6.5 million vehicles in Mexico City alone by 2030.

Water scarcity – Parts of Mexico are highly susceptible to water shortages and climate change is believed to be worsening the threat of drought. In 2021 a fifth of the country experienced extreme drought conditions compared to an average of just 5 per cent for each year between 2012 and 2020.

Avocado production – The world has seen a boom in demand for avocados in recent years. And five out of ten avocados produced globally come from Mexico’s Michoacán region. Avocado cultivation is extremely water-intensive and is responsible for 30-40 per cent of recent deforestation in Michoacán.

Sector specialisms:

Fintech
Logistics
Mobility

Source: Startup Universal

Three exciting innovations from Mexico

Photo source Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS MESSAGING AND CONNECTIVITY WITHOUT DATA OR WIFI

The internet has become so ingrained in our daily lives that most of us can’t envision life without it. However, there are still many parts of the world where internet access is unavailable or unreliable. Mexican startup Bridgefy is on a mission to connect users even without internet access. It does this by leveraging other nearby smartphones’ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas to create a mesh network that connects devices within a 330-foot range. Read more.

FOOD ADDITIVES MADE FROM AQUATIC PLANTS COULD REDUCE THE NEED FOR FERTILISER

According to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization, agriculture is the biggest source of water pollution. This is largely due to the excess nutrients from fertilisers that run off from fields into rivers, lakes, oceans, and groundwater sources. One solution is to use less fertiliser or to grow food that does not require fertiliser. The latter is the direction being taken by microTERRA, a startup that grows the aquatic plant lemna, or duckweed, for use as an ingredient in plant-based foods. Read more.

CIRCULAR PRODUCTION PROCESS USES INDUSTRIAL FRUIT WASTE FOR VEGAN LEATHER

The development of vegan leather that looks and feels like the most luxurious animal leather, is a major goal for designers. Startup Polybion specialises in organic, vegan leather made in a closed-loop production process. The company uses local sources of industrial fruit waste as the basis for its material and has already identified additional waste streams should demand grow. Read more.

Words: Matthew Hempstead

To keep up with the latest innovations, sign up to our free newsletters or email info@springwise.com to get in touch.

10th June 2022

Reference

Architecture

Atomic Architecture: Nanotechnology and Building Sciences

By Zarkon Group,11/06/2022

Send us a photo. Tell us a story. Win $2,500! Architizer’s 3rd Annual One Photo Challenge is underway with a Main Entry Deadline on June 24, 2022! Start your entry for architecture’s biggest photography competition here.

Architecture is designed across scales and mirrors developments in science and research. Investigating matter on atomic, molecular and supramolecular scales, the field of nanotechnology has now started informing architectural design. In turn, structures for building sciences and research have rapidly expanded. As architects and designers are taking on this typology in public and private sectors alike, the study and evolution of nanotechnology mirror broader developments in how sciences are flourishing.

Combining science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, the field focuses on a scale of 1 to 100 nanometers. At such a small scale, nanomaterials, begin to exhibit unique properties that affect physical, chemical and biological behavior. By manipulating matter, nanotechnology can create new structures, materials, and devices. Taking a closer survey into the design of structures and buildings for nanotechnology and research, the following collection of projects explores what atomic architecture looks like today.

Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology by WEISS/MANFREDI, Philadelphia, PA, United States

As the university’s first cross disciplinary building, this nanotech research facility was designed to encourage the collaboration, exchange and integration of knowledge that is the core of this emerging field. The facilities will combine the resources of both the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the School of Arts and Sciences.

Defined by a new central campus green, the building ascends as a spiral of research, reaching its highest elevation at the forum, a meeting space that cantilevers over the quad and opens to views of both the city and campus. A new multi-level crossroads, the center is a significant step toward signaling the University’s leadership in the emerging field of nanotechnology.

National Nanotechnology Park by Arch International Pvt Ltd., Homagama, Sri Lanka

The Nanotechnology Center of Excellence forms the epicenter of a National Nanotechnology Park that is a result of SLINTEC’s aims to create an ideal space for ‘thinking’. The campus will be a key feature within the ‘knowledge hub’ development plan in Homagama, creating a unique opportunity to house research, incubation and technology commercialization in an area that aims to draw both the public and private sectors.

Elements of all scales and sizes within the architectural language have been used in order to depict the relationship with nanotechnology as well as geometries that are closely involved in the sciences.

Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre by KPMB Architects, Waterloo, Canada

The Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano is a showcase for Canadian innovation and industry in the fields of quantum computing and nanotechnology. The social components of the facility in the form of atria, mind spaces and collaborative areas manifest the original goals to attract and inspire the brightest minds in the world. At the official opening, Stephen Hawking, world-renowned physicist and partner with the University of Waterloo since 1999, described the design as a work of “architectural genius”.

New Center for Manufacturing Innovation by Brooks + Scarpa Architects, Monterrey, Mexico

Located in Mexico’s Research Park for Technical Innovation (PIIT), a science and technology park, which is a partnership between government, universities and the private sector to seek economic growth through technical innovation. The sprawling campus is host to more than 50 research centers devoted to R&D as well as the development of technology innovation in nanotechnology, biotechnology, mechatronics and advanced manufacturing, information technology, clean energy and advanced materials development. The iconic saw-toothed roof is inspired by the geometry of old factories and the surrounding Monterrey Mountains.

Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation by EDGE Studio, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

The University of Pittsburgh decided to expand and renovate Benedum Hall, the circa 1968 home for the Swanson School of Engineering on their main Oakland campus. The original limestone clad modernist tower and separate auditorium buildings, with their inflexible and non-daylit concrete block labs and offices and out of date classrooms, had become obsolete as the school’s focus shifted to the 21st century collaborative disciplines of nanotechnology, bioengineering and materials research. The University desired a more flexible facility that was conducive to inter-departmental collaboration, and that could help attract the best and brightest research faculty and students from around the world.

La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science by Lyons, Melbourne, Australia

This new research centre is a world-class facility for molecular science, biotechnology and nanotechnology research, teaching and learning. The 6 story facility provides approximately 11000m² of learning space – both wet and dry labs – on the lower 3 levels, and 18 research labs on the upper floors. It contains research groups in life sciences (biochemistry and genetics), physical sciences (chemistry and physics), and applied sciences (pharmacy) and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in these areas through the School of Molecular Sciences.

Reference

Sustainable News

Mu Spring Resort // IDMatrix

By Zarkon Group,10/06/2022

Text description provided by the architects.

Project name: Mu Spring ResortOwner: Chengdu Blue Town Urban and Rural Construction Development Co., Ltd.Address: Blue Town Group · Mu Spring Resort, Boer Village, Xingyi Town, Xinjin District, Chengdu city, Sichuan ProvinceInterior Finish: IDMatrix (http://www.matrixdesign.cn/)Furnishing: MIXPhotography: Shi Xiang Wan HeFurniture and decoration: M-CASA/MATRIX originalFloral design: M·FLORALMaterial R&D: decorative material studio / Fautaetic PleaeantFloor area: 1825 square metersMain materials: textured latex paint, rammed earth, granite, rustic brick, walnut wood veneer, hand-painted wallpaper, paper rattan, bamboo, oak wood flooringCompletion time: 2021See the mountains and water, and remember homesickness.

The hometown returns to people in a familiar but refreshingly warm way.The project is located in the core area of Agricultural Expo Park, Xinjin County, Chengdu City, far away from the downtown and thus providing a tranquil lifestyle. In this idyllic environment with beautiful natural scenery, it appears to have all the elements that an ideal life should have.

Based on the “geography”, “blood” and “emotion” of the place where the project is located, the project made the architecture, landscape and custom as a whole to connect the ecological landscape of country life with the modern concept of urban life, showing the infinite potential and possibilities of future country life.

It is committed to building an artistic resort of modern Oriental style with rich cultural memory.The bamboo and wood structure utensils used in ancient times to serve food have several layers. Whether it was a gold-plated box with carved flowers or a bamboo box, they all were made of natural materials, plain but durable.

The wall lamps in wooden structure in the reception hall is an excellent modern interpretation of “food box”, a traditional wooden food box from ancient times, and this design demonstrates one’s proper search in the dim lights. The vaulted housing structure also represents cultural inheritance and continuation.The long table with the trace of time avoids any carving and decoration.

Under the double presentation by touch and vision, it holds the art installation displaying dead wood sprouting next spring. The intrinsic beauty is fully displayed.The vault structure of “Paddy Fields” restaurant is derived from the green tiled slope roof of Linpan in western Sichuan, making the space spacious. Under the plain base, the direct contact between furniture and people gives rise to tradition.

MATRIX Original showcased the modern evolution of different Sichuan’s Chinese style furniture, adding traditional undertones to the design feast.

As the center of the courtyard, “Tea time in paddy fields” pub has two entrances, one front and the other back, completely creating an open space. In warm light, one can enjoy tranquil Zen atmosphere at the end of the bar.While relying on nature, the space also can offer lush bamboo and splendid orchestra with interior running water, which are of great interest.Light and shadow from the garden wander in the interior space.

Chinese garden borrowing techniques are perfectly used to let one experience the vast world and feel the vitality from inside to outside via the growth of grass and trees.The rough but clean wall presents the purest scene to express the true spiritual appeal.Open a window and let in the sunlight so as to fill the room with warmth and coziness.

Take a stroll at the end of the story, and hometown rests in the peace of mind. .

Mu Spring Resort by IDMatrix Gallery

Reference

Sustainable News

Circular production process uses industrial fruit waste for vegan leather

By Zarkon Group,10/06/2022

Spotted: The development of vegan leather that looks and feels like the most luxurious animal leather, is a major goal for designers. Startup Polybion specialises in organic, vegan leather made in a closed-loop production process. The company uses local sources of industrial fruit waste as the basis for its material and has already identified additional waste streams should demand grow.

Called Celium, Polybion’s leather is grown to a variety of thicknesses. Fungi and bacteria feed on the fruit waste, producing cellulose as a byproduct of that process. The Polybion team then stabilises the growing material at the desired size and depth before treating it to be ready for dying and other bespoke processes. Customisable and strong, Celium can be produced with an infinite variety of grains and embossments, along with varying levels of water resistance.

Already, Polybion has identified enough biowaste nearby to create up to 168 million square feet of the vegan leather each year. From vehicle interiors and footwear to homewares and fashion, large-scale organic leather production could make significant inroads in multiple industries seeking more sustainable resources.

The scope of new leather options is widening by the day, with creators and innovators in many industries finding new ways of working with surprising ingredients. Springwise has spotted a number of leather alternatives, with two recent innovations being lab-grown leather and a leather bag made from grape skin.

Written by: Keely Khoury

10th June 2022

Email: contact@polybion.bio

Website: polybion.bio

Reference

Sustainable News

A self-powered smart pillow for sleep monitoring

By Zarkon Group,09/06/2022

Spotted: A good night’s sleep is essential for maintaining health and wellbeing. But for many, it can be hard to get much-needed shut-eye. In fact, sleep disorders affect up to 70 million Americans every year.

While there are a variety of sleep-tracking devices on the market, most of them either lack accuracy or are too intrusive to be used on a regular basis. However, scientists in China have developed a smart pillow that strikes a balance between these two extremes.

The pillow is equipped with a series of sensors that track head movements to accurately monitor the quality of sleep. Crucially, the pillow is designed to be comfortable and unobtrusive, making it an ideal solution for those who want to track their sleep without disturbing their rest.

The pillow, which is outfitted with a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and sets of flexible, porous polymer triboelectric layers, is self-powered, generating electricity from the sleeper’s head movements.

While the pillow is primarily designed to track sleep quality, the scientists imagine that it could find other uses, such as monitoring patients with neck conditions or acting as an early warning system for people with sleep apnea.

Other sleep innovations spotted by Springwise include an app that uses neurofeedback for better sleep, sleepwear that protects from insect bites, and a smart mattress that encourages a better night’s sleep.

Written By: Katrina Lane

9th June 2022

Email: zhong.wang@mse.gatech.edu

Website: pubs.acs.org

Reference

Architecture

7 Tips for Snapping a Killer Architectural Photograph

By Zarkon Group,09/06/2022

The art of architectural photography is a passion not just for architects, but everyone with a desire to capture the environment around them in all its glory. This desire extends far beyond simply archiving a building’s physical features: we yearn to capture the mood, atmosphere and emotion of places and the people that inhabit them. This is what Architizer’s One Photo Challenge — our global annual competition dedicated to architectural photography — is all about.

With 2 top prizes of $2,500 and global recognition for your work, this is a competition you will want to get involved with. Head this way to learn more and upload your submission:

Enter the One Photo Challenge

Architizer’s popular architectural ideas competition poses a simple question: Can you capture a single photograph that tells a powerful story about architecture? The best architectural photographs can tell you more about a building or cityscape than any essay or lecture, informing and inspiring in equal measure.

But what does it take to achieve such lofty goals with your phone, a compact or even an SLR? I am no technical expert when it comes to the genre, but I have taken a few snaps in my time: 10,000 photographs over 9 months of traveling in 2012 drew me so deeply into this niche, I suspect I’ll never view the built environment the same way ever again!

Here’s what I learnt over the course of that extraordinary year, primarily relating to composition and shot selection. Hopefully, one or two of these tips will aid you in your own quest for photographic immortality…

Louis Kahn Looking at His Tetrahedral Ceiling in the Yale University Art Gallery, 1953. © Lionel Freedman. Via Archdaily

1. Let There Be Light

Khan, Ando and Zumthor will tell you as much — light is the most crucial tool in an architect’s box, and the same can be said for photographers in the field. For exteriors, visit your subject in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky to capture images with a greater degree of contrast — assuming, of course, the weather is kind to you. I have been known to sit for an hour or more, waiting for the clouds to break so I can catch my favorite buildings at their glorious best. It pays to be patient!

Look for concentrated natural light sources within buildings too, for dramatic, high contrast shots full of atmosphere.

Centre Pompidou by Piano + Rogers.© Royal Academy of Arts. Via Metalocus

2. Color Me Stunning

Black turtleneck clichés abound, many architects would consider themselves somewhat allergic to color — there is nothing like a high-contrast monochromatic image to accentuate the striking forms and uncompromising lines of a modernist icon by Niemeyer or Corbusier.

However, it is possible — bear with me here — for a flash of color could provide a distinctive, eye-catching moment within your image, communicating architectural language by accentuating a window reveal, a soffit, or a key structural element. Try photographing the work of Richard Rogers, with his vibrant Pompidou ductwork, to kick-start your newfound love affair with color.

© Trey Ratcliff. Via PhotographyMad

3. The Rule Of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds is typically recognized as a safe bet when considering composition in photography: keep your primary subject or focal point off centre, a third of the way across the view, to creating additional tension, energy and interest within the image. For more distant shots, a composition should have balance and weight if the horizon sits a third of the way up the image.

Having said all this, if your subject lends itself to a centred composition, or a zoomed-in detail, go right ahead – rules are made to be broken!

© Ezio Beschi. Via Flickr

4. Rhyme and Rhythm

A certain Johann Wolfgang once compared architecture to frozen music, and you can see his point: Some of the greatest works in our time have some wonderful rhythmic qualities. If you can find the right angle from which to take your photograph, these rhythms can be emphasized, revealing the logic behind the designer’s thinking and the structural qualities of the building in a single, stunning image.

Once you have those repeated elements within your viewfinder, align diagonal lines of perspective with the corners of the photograph to add depth and balance in equal measure.

Hong Kong High Rise. © Michael Wolf. Via Daily Mail

5. Clean vs. Chaotic

A classic architectural cliché is illustrated in that most infamous of Tumblrs, ‘Unhappy Hipsters’: Clean-cut minimalism, free from even the slightest speck of dust, a children’s toy, or — heaven forbid — a smiling face. However, consider shooting buildings in all their ugly glory: Anarchic apartment blocks, traffic-filled streetscapes and rusting industrial monoliths can tell a story that your slick, set-piece image may never manage.

The same can be said for weather: Capturing your favorite architectural icon on a crisp, clear day is just fine, but what about shooting it during the chaos of a thunderstorm, or even a blizzard? Brave the elements and find out, hardy souls.

‘Break Point’. © Darell Godliman. ViaBD Online

‘The Urban Lantern’. Via BD Online

6. The Human Touch

Speaking of smiling faces, who needs ’em? I have spent many a long day waiting with growing frustration as people walk in front of the church or museum elevation I’m trying to catch a perfect, person-free image of. We are all about the architecture, not the portraiture… right?

Ok, I must grudgingly admit that sometimes people can add an awful lot to your photograph. From a practical point of view, they provide comparable scale — tiny people in front of gargantuan skyscrapers really throw the urban environment into sharp perspective. On top of this, they can also provide that vital injection of cultural and social context — after all, without their inhabitants, buildings are merely objects upon the plains.

Via Craft Hubs

7. All the Gear, No Idea

If you search around the internet for architectural photography guides, you will be swamped with a plethora of recommendations regarding equipment and specifications: wide-angle lenses, tripods, tilt-shift lenses, polarising filters, bellows for detail shots, long exposures for night scenes, varied apertures… the list goes on.

If you are just starting out, reading about all of this can be bewildering – but ultimately, the best way to learn is to get out there and experiment. You will soon learn how the gear works and which settings will give you the result you are looking for.

Right, I’m off to the dark room, excuse me…

Submit your best architectural photo in the inaugural One Photo Challenge for shot at $2,500 and global recognition:

Enter the One Photo Challenge

Top Image: 56 Leonard Street by Herzog & de Meuron, photographed by One Photo Challenge juror Paul Clemence.

Reference

Sustainable News

World’s first blockchain infrastructure for pre-purchased carbon credits

By Zarkon Group,08/06/2022

Spotted: There are now a huge number of projects working to reduce or sequester carbon. However, there is not nearly enough funding available for all the projects that require it. This is proving to be a major stumbling block to developing innovative solutions to the crisis of global warming. Estonian DAO (decentralised autonomous organisation) Solid World is working to change this by using blockchain infrastructure to supply forward carbon credits.

To offset carbon use, organisations can either purchase verified carbon credits from an advanced and ongoing offset project (such as established renewable energy or methane capture, for example) or they can invest in new projects that will generate offsets over time (such as a tree-planting project that needs time for trees to mature). Forward crediting is a method of accounting that allows companies to support early-stage projects in return for future offsets. But for forward crediting to work, early-stage projects need sufficient investment.

This is where Solid World comes in. They are creating a blockchain-based tokenised infrastructure that adds liquidity to forward markets. This will be done using a variety of mechanisms, including maintaining ‘world-class’ due diligence and risk assessment of all projects; creating tokenised agreements backed by blockchain and off-chain options; forward commodity trading which guarantees there is always a buyer and a seller at market rates; and collaboration options such as a loan facility collateralised by specific carbon credits held by traders.

Solid World Chairman Stenver Jerkku explains that the DAO is entirely rethinking the mechanics of the forward carbon market. “The carbon markets are really untransparent and predatory towards new players right now. Our mission in Solid World DAO is to fix that. Using Blockchain and web3, we can realign the economic incentives for all the players in the space, bring capital efficiency to the institutions and make sure there is a liquid forward market for carbon credits.”

Blockchain is being used for an increasing number of investment vehicles – especially those involving decarbonisation projects. Recently, Springwise has covered a number of innovations in this space including a nature-backed financial instrument and a peer-to-peer renewable energy marketplace.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

8th June 2022

Website: solid.world

Reference

Architecture

8 Stunning Structures Shaped By Their Sloping Sites

By Zarkon Group,08/06/2022

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletter.

Despite technical complications involved in construction, inclined sites can invoke inspiring new architectural possibilities that just aren’t possible on flat sites. Better views, unique spatial design, creation of privacy using a variety of levels, and much more. Floating buildings can be constructed on slopes either by using a taller foundation or supports. On the other hand, architects have also created buildings that follow the incline or are even partially or fully buried into the slope. Below are a few ways in which architects have made the most of sloped sites to create unique homes and public buildings.

Villa Vals by SeARCH, Vals, Switzerland

SeARCH took the idea of a mountain house one step further by building a home that is concealed within the slope rather than on top of it. Given its proximity to the bath of Vals, the team wanted to create a home without disrupting the snowy inclines. A circular cavity into the mountain becomes the entrance as well as a patio. The rooms are placed around this central opening, ensuring that all the windows reach the surface. And while it may look small, appearances can be deceiving, and the inside of the home feels spacious, bright and airy. Meanwhile, the use of materials like stone, wood and concrete helps unify the design with the terrain around.

Khyber Ridge by Studio NMinusOne, Whistler, Canada

This home is broken up into five levels that adapt to the changing slope. The arrangement of the volumes is based on the unique function and views that each space requires. The topmost level contains the bedrooms as well as a large balcony for residents to take in the nature around. Part of it is embedded into the rock to create a sense of intimacy and privacy. The level below cantilevers out of the rock and houses the common areas, making it seem like it is floating within the trees. Below the mid-level entrance lies the guest room, which is completely sunken into the mountain slope for privacy. Some of the natural rock surfaces were in the interior spaces remains exposed, amplifying the alpine atmosphere.

Images by Benedikt Markel

Krkonose Mountains Centre for Environmental Education by Petr Hajek Architekti, Vrchlabí, Czech Republic

Inspired by the geometry of the Krkonose Mountains, this new building blends into the landscape (almost completely!) when seen from certain angles. The roof is covered with vegetation to reinforce this illusion. While mostly underground, a part of the structure rises above the terrain and features a glass wall that invites passersby to peek into the building and observe the activity taking place inside. Concrete is used to create the interior volumes that are then divided using plywood partitions. The furniture within is made using the leftover plywood from the bigger partitions to reduce waste.

House D by PAUHOF Architekten, Austria

Connected volumes, natural finishes, spacious interiors and stunning views make up this home. One the one hand, this is a four-story structure with stacked volumes that follow the contours of the site. On the other hand, the structure’s rounded corners are governed by the property line. The windows are placed in a way that the residents can overlook the mountains while also preventing their neighbors from being able to peek in. It follows a spiral circulation with a floating roof on the upper level. The home comprises a studio gallery, library, multiple bedrooms, baths, a family room as well as other utilities.

Sheltered Villas by A&M Architects, Karpathos, Greece

This multi-level structure creates a strong relationship between the exterior and the interior. The different volumes that make up the three villas are partially nestled into the slope of the site. The retaining walls holding up the structure extrude from the ground and are painted in white to help them stand out in the landscape. The inner volumes feature clean lines, simple geometry and black accents for the minimal aesthetic and help the view of the Aegean Sea become the hero of the experience.

Ebenezer Chapel by Vilalta Studio, Raleigh, North Carolina

Building on the increase of architecture that challenges the perception of what religious buildings should look like, Vilalta Studio presents a conceptual underground chapel. Dug into the sloped terrain near Richland Creek, the granite structure is imagined to stretch about 50 feet deep into the ground. Visitors would enter the chapel through a downward ramp that leads to an underground chamber and creates a contemplative space before entering the main gathering area. A large tower, the only element that visibly extends out of the site, brings light and air into the building. The chapel, which can accommodate 250 people, also has a skylight above for light and ventilation.

House in Chihuahua by Productora, Chihuahua, Mexico

In addition to adapting to the site, this home’s form is designed with the area’s extreme climatic conditions in mind. The temperature in the northern region of Mexico can go below freezing point in the winter and turn to scorching heat in the summer. And there are drastic temperature differences between day and night as well. Having part of the house underground helps regulate the temperature within by using the soil’s thermal mass. There are multiple roof openings and patios that not only bring in light but also create breakout spaces for the residents.

Åre Solbringen by Waldemarson Berglund, Åre, Sweden

The project includes three inclined homes on the Åreskutan mountain in Sweden. Most houses in this region are built in a way that results in one habitable floor. The architects cultivated a diagonal typology that allows them to create five usable levels that all get abundant light. The unit lies entirely along the slope. The different levels within are connected by a long flight of stairs on one side. Starting with the living room and the kitchen at the bottom, the stairs lead to the bedrooms, hall, bathroom and sauna on the upper floors. It is constructed using brick slabs, timber structural elements, a metal sheet roof and white plasterboard. Unlike the bright interiors, the wooden panels used on the exterior surfaces will age with and time and turn grey.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletter.

Reference

Sustainable News

Innovation and SDG 14: Life below water

By Zarkon Group,07/06/2022

Oceans are the cradle of life and make up 95 per cent of the space available to living things. Yet research shows that marine biodiversity is declining dangerously, with humans the biggest cause. And each year 8 million tonnes of plastic waste escape into the sea.

The ocean matters to humanity in more than one way. Not only does it support the livelihoods of billions of people – it also has an enormous influence on the climate. An estimated 83 per cent of the global carbon cycle is circulated through marine waters, and oceans have absorbed around a third of all the CO2 ever produced by humans. Moreover, marine waters contain resources that are extremely useful in the fight against climate change. Seagrass meadows sequester carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, and seaweed is used in a wide range of sustainable innovations.

Given the importance of oceans to our shared future, many innovators are looking to the ocean for inspiration. Although international co-operation and government action are essential for enacting change, innovation will also play a crucial role in protecting life below water.

Ocean pollution

Around 80 per cent of ocean pollution is caused by our lives on land through sources such as agricultural run-off, pesticides, plastic, and untreated sewage. And much ocean pollution ends up on the seafloor – including 60 per cent of chemical leaks, oil spill-offs, and micro-plastics. Latvia’s PurOceans Technology is tackling seafloor pollution in a unique way. The company pumps bubbles of ambient air to the lowest depths where they stick to chemical pollutants and float back to the surface.

To garner corporate funding and support for pollution clean-up, startup CleanHub has developed a tech platform that connects brands whose plastic products may end up in the ocean with local plastic collection schemes.

Marine and coastal ecosystems

Marine ecosystems are not only crucial for the vast array of species that live in them – they are also integral to the global economy. For example, hundreds of millions of people around the world rely on coral ecosystems for food and economic security. Yet, according to the UN Environment Programme, around 14 per cent of the world’s coral has been lost since 2009. In response, Blue Oasis Technologies has developed engineered underwater ‘cities’ that are designed to save coral. The structures are made up of 55-tonne modules that are lowered into the ocean with a crane, as well as smaller, stackable modules. Elsewhere, a project by Danish energy company Ørsted aims to provide a ‘safe haven’ for corals by growing them at the base of wind turbines.

While coral reefs receive a lot of well-deserved attention, they are not the only form of marine ecosystem. Seagrass meadows are home to myriad animals and plants, and act as extremely effective carbon sinks. Non-profit Beneath the Waves has teamed up with digital data company Hexagon AB to map seagrass meadows using airborne laser technology. The enhanced data will improve the accuracy of monitoring and restoration efforts.

Overfishing

The world produces around 200 million tonnes of fish and seafood every year. Statistics on overfishing are notoriously complex (and controversial). But a 2017 assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations found that over one-third of fish stocks are overfished. And the proportion of fish stocks that are over-exploited has increased over time.

One particular issue connected to fishing is by-catch. Globally, we throw just under 10 per cent of the fish and marine animals we catch back into the ocean. To help reduce the impact of fishing on marine life, France’s National Institute for Ocean Science is working with a number of partners to pilot an AI-powered smart net that can sort fish in the water, preventing by-catch. A simpler approach, tested in a study in Mexico, is to use illuminated fishing nets that reduce both by-catch and fishers’ workload.

SDG 14 also mentions illegal fishing as a particular challenge. In Korea, the government is leveraging drones, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things to manage octopus resources and reduce illegal fishing.

Scientific knowledge

To effectively protect and preserve our oceans, it is important for us to understand them. But more than 80 per cent of the ocean is unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored, and it is estimated that 91 per cent of ocean species are yet to be classified by science.

One way we can bolster our scientific knowledge of the oceans is through autonomous vehicles. The UK’s National Oceanography Centre has developed two new classes of autonomous underwater vehicle that can operate up to 1500 metres underwater. And, in China, a new autonomous vessel that serves as the mothership for a fleet of intelligent, self-driven air, surface, and underwater research drones, is currently undergoing trials.

Words: Matthew Hempstead

Know more innovations supporting SDG 14? Spread the word!

Sign up to the Sustainable Source newsletter to receive regular updates on the green innovations that matter and to get our insights into innovation and the SDGs direct to your inbox.

7th June 2022

Reference

Sustainable News

Disrupting locust swarms with sound

By Zarkon Group,06/06/2022

Spotted: The desert locust, which is found in various parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, is considered the most destructive migratory pest in the world. When locusts swarm, they can destroy crops, pasture, and fodder over a large area. A small swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people, while a large swarm can eat food that could feed 81 million people.

Locust swarms are a serious threat to food security in Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, which is why a group of innovators at the Amman, Jordan FabLab decided to work on a solution. The group submitted designs for a prototype as part of an application for a funding award from the Orange Foundation. The project uses high-frequency audio to disrupt and disperse the swarms.

The team developed a small, 3D-printed rocket-shaped device, designed to be released from a drone. This system was chosen because the desert areas where swarms form are often difficult to access by land. Once released, the nose of the rocket embeds in the ground and a speaker plays high frequency audio. The team plan to use any funding they receive to further refine the design and add solar power.

In 2014, the Orange Foundation launched a number of digital education programmes to focus on young people in need. The FabLab movement offered a natural alignment with this goal and the Foundation established the concept of the Solidarity FabLab to help young people develop professional and technical skills. All of the people working on the anti-locust rocket are part of this programme.

A number of innovators are working to help farmers in regions where farmers cannot afford high-tech crop management systems. Springwise has covered a number of these developments, including a desalination system that can be adapted to off-grid use and the use of non-toxic emulsions to control fungi and bacteria and enhance crop growth.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

6th June 2022

Email: fondation.orange@orange.com

Website: fondationorange.com

Reference

Global innovation spotlight: Mexico – Springwise

Global innovation spotlight: Mexico

Mexico Innovation Facts

Three exciting innovations from Mexico

Atomic Architecture: Nanotechnology and Building Sciences

Mu Spring Resort // IDMatrix

Mu Spring Resort by IDMatrix Gallery

Circular production process uses industrial fruit waste for vegan leather

A self-powered smart pillow for sleep monitoring

7 Tips for Snapping a Killer Architectural Photograph

1. Let There Be Light

2. Color Me Stunning

3. The Rule Of Thirds

4. Rhyme and Rhythm

5. Clean vs. Chaotic

6. The Human Touch

7. All the Gear, No Idea

World’s first blockchain infrastructure for pre-purchased carbon credits

8 Stunning Structures Shaped By Their Sloping Sites

Innovation and SDG 14: Life below water

Disrupting locust swarms with sound

Get in touch

about us

Company info

Useful Links

Newsletter