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climate-resilient great barrier reef house by JDA takes cues from surrounding marine life
CategoriesArchitecture

climate-resilient great barrier reef house by JDA takes cues from surrounding marine life

By Zarkon Group,

the house at lizard island by JDA Co.

 

Australian architecture practice JDA Co. constructs a climate-resilient residence on the rugged fringes of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. Located on Lizard Island, the project emerged from the client’s aspiration to build ‘the greatest reef house in the world’. Employing a design that harmonizes with the surroundings, the house showcases a resilient exterior crafted from board-formed concrete. This robust material protects against extreme weather conditions while maintaining a gentle impact on the environment. Perforated copper blades lining the exterior act as debris shields that can withstand powerful cyclonic winds synonymous with the reef location.

climate-resilient great barrier reef house by JDA takes cues from surrounding marine life
the house is located on the Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef | all images by Peter Bennetts

 

 

JDA introduces SITE-RESPONSIVE AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT design

 

In the challenging environmental context of its location, the construction of the house demanded ingenuity. Collaborating closely with the builder, JDA Co. (find more here) achieved a delicate balance between minimizing disturbance to the environment and creating a durable structure that stands the test of time.

 

The house is inspired by the rich geology and marine life on Lizard Island. The architectural plan is reminiscent of the stingrays. Narrow slit windows to the south and west act as ‘gills’ and are placed to direct prevailing breezes and allow the house to breathe on hot days. Every detail of the residence is meticulously crafted to create a shelter and a protective haven when needed. The exterior design seamlessly combines functionality and visual appeal with its robust concrete construction. This carefully chosen material ensures resilience in the face of the region’s winds, offering strength and stability. Enhancing the concrete exterior, perforated copper blades serve as dependable shields, capable of withstanding the strong winds that may arise.

climate-resilient great barrier reef house by JDA takes cues from surrounding marine life
the house is inspired by the rich geology and marine life on Lizard Island

 

 

360-degree views of the great barrier reef

 

A central, curved stairwell serves as the heart of the house, seamlessly connecting its levels. As users ascend the stairs, they can gaze upward to find an oculus, allowing them to track the sun and moon’s patterns. The house is completed by a roof terrace and spa, offering panoramic 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. Each of the three bedrooms is individually designed to capture vistas of nearby and distant scenic locations.

 

To bring warmth to the residence and showcase the vibrant natural environment, Rosewood timber, and copper materials are utilized. A large curving Emerald Quartzite kitchen bench, reminiscent of a conch, adds a touch of subtle green tones that harmonize with the hues of the landscape and reef beyond. The material selection is deliberately restrained, allowing the surroundings to take center stage.

climate-resilient great barrier reef house by JDA takes cues from surrounding marine life
narrow slit windows to the south and west act as ‘gills’ directing breezes and allowing the house to breathe

 

 

JDA’s 3D LASER technology

 

To ensure the project harmoniously integrates with the landscape, it was crucial for JDA Co. to understand the challenging rock bed formation on-site. Before detailed design and construction, the design team utilized their in-house 3D laser technology, Spatial Ops, to explore, walk through, and seamlessly incorporate the landscape, even from off-site. This technology also documented the construction progress, accurately capturing building elements like the spiral stair formwork for contractors.

 

Fabricating most building elements off-site and shipping them to the island required a precise digital model, achieved through laser scanning. JDA’s experience on Lizard Island showcases the benefits of Spatial Ops technology, enabling the scanning of objects and places worldwide. It minimizes on-site time and facilitates data analysis within days of the site visit. The scanning technology and processes eliminate the need for travel to and from inaccessible locations, streamlining the entire project.

Reference

Living room and office in The Apartment in Under One Roof by &Tradition
CategoriesInterior Design

&Tradition unveils apartment in 3 Days of Design exhibition

By Zarkon Group,

Danish furniture brand &Tradition has opened the doors to a four-storey showroom in Copenhagen, featuring a complete apartment and rooms designed by Jaime Hayon and Space Copenhagen.

Unveiled during 3 Days of Design in an exhibition titled Under One Roof, &Tradition‘s design team has transformed the interior of an 18th-century townhouse on 4 Kronprinsessegade.

Living room and office in The Apartment in Under One Roof by &Tradition
The Apartment takes over the top floor of the townhouse

The top floor has become The Apartment, an entire home interior that is described by Els Van Hoorebeeck, creative and brand director for &Tradition, as “the cherry on the cake”.

Despite being completely kitted out in the brand’s products, it was designed to have the feel of a lived-in space rather than a showroom.

The Apartment in Under One Roof by &Tradition
Designed by &Tradition’s in-house team, the spaces combine classic and contemporary

“When you enter, you feel this balance between colours and neutrals, between wood tones and glass or metal, and between classic and contemporary designs,” Van Hoorebeeck told Dezeen.

“There’s a lot of product in there, but you don’t notice it,” she said.

Bedroom for The Apartment in Under One Roof by &Tradition
The bedroom showcases a quilted bedspread by Swedish-Danish duo All the Way to Paris

Spanish designer Hayon has created two rooms on the first floor, which give an insight into the creative process behind products he has developed for &Tradition.

The first, called Cabinet of Curiosities, features a glass display case filled with objects and drawings, revealing the forms and images that inspire Hayon’s designs.

Jaime Hayon's Cabinet of Curiosities in Under One Roof by &Tradition
Jaime Hayon has created a room called Cabinet of Curiosities

The second presents new works by Hayon – including the Momento vessels and a limited edition of his Formakami pendant lamp – in a scenography framed by large silhouette characters. This room is called Teatro Surreal.

“We felt it was important to show the world that his products come out of,” said Van Hoorebeeck.

Jaime Hayon's Teatro Surreal in Under One Roof by &Tradition
Jaime Hayon’s Teatro Surreal creates a scenography for his new products

The two rooms by Danish interiors studio Space Copenhagen can be found on the second floor.

These spaces include a studio and, building on the studio’s experience in hotel and restaurant design, a dining room. Here, shades of green and brown combine with fresh herbs and plants to bring a sense of nature.

New products are peppered throughout these two rooms.

They include the Trace storage cabinets, which are filled with kitchen utensils and tableware, and the Collect rugs.

Space Copenhagen's dining room in Under One Roof by &Tradition
Space Copenhagen has created a dining room in shades of green and brown

Founded in 2010 by Martin Kornbek Hansen, &Tradition combines contemporary and classic design in its collections.

The brand has been based at 4 Kronprinsessegade since 2018, but the building primarily served as a headquarters, with offices located on the upper levels.

Verner Panton Lounge in Under One Roof by &Tradition
Verner Panton’s Flowerpot lamps feature in several rooms

The company has now moved its offices to another nearby location, which made it possible to open the entire townhouse up to the public for the first time during 3 Days of Design.

Other spaces revealed in Under One Roof include the Verner Panton Lounge, which is dedicated to mid-century pieces by the late Danish designer such as the 1968 Flowerpot lamps.

Archive in Under One Roof by &Tradition
An archive room is filled with original drawings and vintage samples

There are also rooms designed to appeal to the senses. These include the Listening Lounge, a relaxed space filled with music, and Mnemonic, which centres around a range of scents.

Other key spaces include a “workshop” showcasing the possibilities of the modular workspace furniture, an archive filled with original drawings and vintage samples, a cafe and a shop.

Shop in Under One Roof by &Tradition
A cafe and shop are located on the ground floor

Van Hoorebeeck hopes the spaces will help tell the stories behind the products.

“What we wanted to do here is to create a whole universe,” she said. “Every room is based on showing a different atmosphere between contemporary and classic designs.”

“Now the layout of the house is set and every year we’ll just adapt it,” she added.

The photography is courtesy of &Tradition.

3 Days of Design took place in venues around Copenhagen from 7 to 9 June 2023. See Dezeen Events Guide for information, plus a list of other architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Reference

Photo of a lightweight steel bench on the street of a European city against an old building
CategoriesSustainable News

Vestre launches “world’s first” furniture made from fossil-free steel

By Zarkon Group,

Street furniture brand Vestre and designer Emma Olbers have produced a piece of furniture using fossil-free steel that was made without creating carbon emissions.

The Tellus bench is made from steel forged by Swedish steelmaker SSAB in its converted blast furnace, which uses green hydrogen instead of coal for heat, and so emits no carbon dioxide.

Vestre, which aims to be recognized as the world’s most sustainable furniture company, says it is the first furniture manufacturer in the world to use the fossil-free steel. Steel is one of the brand’s prime targets for slashing its carbon emissions.

Photo of a lightweight steel bench on the street of a European city against an old building
The Tellus bench is the world’s first item of furniture made from fossil-free steel

“Early estimates show that converting all our steel to fossil-free could reduce our overall footprint by around 60 percent,” said Vestre chief sustainability officer Øyvind Bjørnstad.

For designer Olbers, the goal was to lower emissions even further by using as little material as possible to make the bench. Even though SSAB’s alloy is forged without coal, there are still carbon emissions elsewhere in the value chain, such as from mining and transport, so every gram of material still has some carbon cost.

“An outdoor bench for public environments must also withstand a lot of wear and tear,” Olbers said. “We have striven to use as little material as possible but still maintain the strong construction.”

Photo of the Tellus bench by Vestre on a sandy shoreline overlooking the water
Emma Olbers designed the bench so it would use as little material as possible

Aesthetically, Olbers wanted the bench to have a “metal feel” but also look inviting, so she gave it wide armrests that would invite repose while providing enough space to rest a coffee cup.

Tellus is intended for parks and other public spaces, and can be ordered in any classic RAL colour. The bench is titled after one of the alternative names for planet Earth.

Vestre came to work with the fossil-free steel following a long-time partnership with SSAB. Bjørnstad describes the companies as having a “tight dialogue” on several sustainability projects.

Photo of the Tellus steel bench in a lush, green public park
The bench is designed for public spaces such as parks

The Norwegian brand brought in Olbers because of the designer’s dedication to sustainable practices, which Bjørnstad said involves being highly scientific and rigorous in her approach.

The Swedish designer’s previous work includes the Now or Never – 1kg CO2e exhibition at this year’s Stockholm Furniture Fair, in which she visualised the carbon emissions of common materials.

The iron and steel industries currently account for around five per cent of total global green house gas emissions. SSAB first announced its plans to make steel free of fossil fuels in 2016 and made its first batch of the alloy last year.

The material has exactly the same properties as traditional steel but is produced using a process called Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology (HYBRIT), in which green hydrogen is burned instead of coal and coke.

Photo of the Tellus bench armrest and seat in detail
The pattern in the steel sheet helps to minimise the amount of material used

Green hydrogen is obtained via the electrolysis of water, which splits the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen and emits no greenhouse gases.

SSAB is planning to convert all of its factories in Sweden, Finland and the USA to HYBRIT and phase out its other steel products by 2045.

Doing so could reduce the total CO2 emissions of Sweden by around ten per cent and Finland by approximately seven per cent, SSAB has estimated.

Close-up photo of the Tellus bench backrest showing screw detail
Fossil-free steel has the same properties as traditional steel

Vestre’s previous sustainability efforts include introducing CO2 emissions product labelling and reusing its old fair stands for new installations.

Its production facility in Norway, completed by BIG in 2022, is described by the brand as the most environmentally friendly furniture factory in the world, with Passivhaus strategies, solar panels and geothermal wells.

Photography is by Einar Aslaksen.

Reference

A solution for calculating and offsetting emissions from ad campaigns
CategoriesSustainable News

A solution for calculating and offsetting emissions from ad campaigns

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Few people stop to think about the carbon emitted by browsing the internet, but running and cooling servers and powering data transfer uses a lot of carbon. Each video or display ad impression represents an average of one gramme of CO2 emissions, which may not sound like a lot, until you consider how many ad impressions are viewed worldwide.

Now, Sharethrough, an omnichannel supply-side advertising exchange, and Scope3, a supplier of supply chain emissions data, have partnered to create GreenPMPs, the first supply-side platform (SSP) to offer media with net-zero carbon emissions.

The GreenPMP initiative enables brands to allocate a portion of their ad spend towards the funding of high-quality carbon removal activities, in order to compensate for the carbon emissions generated by running digital ad campaigns. Ultimately, this should make it easier for brands to reach their goals of net-zero emissions.

Video source GreenPMPs

The programme places a Green icon on ads to alert consumers that it is sustainable. Using Sharethough’s GreenPMPs site, advertisers can measure their emissions across the entire programmatic supply chain in real time, using data from Scope3. Using a Carbon Emissions Estimator, advertisers can get an approximation of how much carbon waste an ad campaign could potentially generate, and then remove their ads from high-emission or low-performing sites to reduce their overall campaign emissions.

Surveys show that consumers tend to favour brands that demonstrate their sustainability and eco-credentials. In the archive, Springwise has spotted other brands making a sustainable change, including a pasta brand that saves energy by promoting passive cooking and a fashion brand that promotes clothing resale.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Hopkins House
CategoriesArchitecture

High-tech pioneer Michael Hopkins dies aged 88

By Zarkon Group,

Breaking news: RIBA Royal Gold Medal-winning architect Michael Hopkins, who was one of the early pioneers of high-tech architecture, has died aged 88.

Hopkins, who was one of the UK’s most influential architects, “died peacefully at the age of 88 surrounded by his family”, his wife Patty Hopkins told the Guardian.

A pioneer of high-tech architecture in the 1970s and 80s, Michael Hopkins along with Patty Hopkins, was responsible for some of the style’s most significant early works and developing the later historicist high-tech style.

“I first met Michael in the AA refectory – he was a tall, stylish, somewhat enigmatic figure,” said Patty Hopkins. “We worked together and shared a life with a beautiful family for 61 years. Michael was obsessive about architecture and tenacious in refining a design until he was absolutely satisfied with it.”

“He was usually (and annoyingly) right,” she continued. “He made the world – and the buildings so many people live work, and learn in – more beautiful. We will miss him more than we can imagine”.

Hopkins House
Hopkins House was an early influential building designed by Michael and Patty Hopkins. Photo courtesy of Historic England Archive

He was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, jointly with Patty Hopkins, in 1994. Projects designed by his studio have been shortlisted for the UK’s top architecturee award – the Stirling Prize – four times.

Influential buildings designed by Hopkins Architects include the industrial-looking Hopkins House, the Schlumberger Research Centre, Westminster Underground Station, Portcullis House and the Olympic Velodrome.

Born in Poole, Dorset, Michael Hopkins studied at London’s Architectural Association under tutors Cedric Price, Bob Maxwell and Peter Smithson, before joining Foster Associates (now Foster + Partners).

At Foster Associates he was the project architect for the highly influential Willis Building in Ipswich, before leaving to establish Hopkins Architects with Patty Hopkins in 1976.

The studio’s first project was Hopkins House in Hampstead. The stripped-back home, which combined glass and a modular framework of mass-produced components, was a translation of the industrial aesthetic being developed by the high-tech architects to a domestic scale. The couple would go on to live in the house their entire lives.

High-tech architecture: Anthony Hunt is the high-tech architect's engineer
The Schlumberger Research Centre was another early high-tech work. Photo courtesy of Historic England Archive

Following the Hopkins House, the studio continued to develop high-tech buildings throughout the 1980s including the Greene King warehouse in Bury St Edmunds, Patera Building System concept, Schlumberger Research Centre in Cambridge and Mound Stand at Lord’s Cricket ground in London.

In the 1990s, the studio developed the style to include more historical elements with Bracken House in London and Nottingham’s Inland Revenue Centre both incorporating brick and stone.

High-tech architecture guide: Portcullis House by Michael Hopkins
Portcullis House is an example of the later style

The development of historic high-tech culminated at Portcullis House alongside the UK Parliament, which was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize in 2001.

Hopkins Architects remains one of the UK’s largest studios and was shortlisted a further three times for the Stirling Prize in the 21st century for the Evelina Children’s Hospital, Olympic Velodrome and 100 Liverpool Street – all in London.

“With Michael the process was always intensely focussed and the conversation that led to the buildings always began as a voyage of discovery typically centred on establishing a sense of place, about how to make historic connections, how to put the materials together in an honest and contemporary way so that the building would appear calm and make immediate sense to the end user,” said  Hopkins Architects principal Michael Taylor.

“Nothing was ever taken for granted. It was a demanding and enlightening process and we all had great fun on the journey together. Whatever the demands of the moment Michael was always true to himself,” he continued.

“With this approach he changed the course of architecture in the UK and will be a point of reference across the profession long into the future. He was greatly respected both as an architect and as a person of integrity and we will all miss him enormously.”

The photography is courtesy of Hopkins Architects.

Reference

Bread counter at Pan cafe
CategoriesInterior Design

Studio Wok designs bakery Pan as contemporary take on Japanese culture

By Zarkon Group,

Architecture practice Studio Wok has created a matcha-green counter and Japanese-style fabric panels for bakery and wine bar Pan in Milan’s Acquabella district.

The studio created the eatery, which is led by Japanese chefs Yoji Tokuyoshi and Alice Yamada, to have an interior that would represent a meeting between Japan and Milan.

“There are references to Japanese culture, non-literal and far from stereotypes,” Studio Wok said. “The intention was for a deeper understanding, working on the concept of quality, both in materials and in details.”

Bread counter at Pan cafe
A fibreglass counter sits at the centre of the bakery

A central bread counter is the “protagonist piece” in Pan’s interior design.

The counter was constructed from panels of fibreglass grid and its eye-catching colour was informed by the vivid green of matcha, an ingredient widely used in Pan’s food, the studio said.

Fibreglass was also used to create an external bench, linking the bakery with the wider neighbourhood.

Fibreglass bench outside Milan bakery
Fibreglass was also used for an external bench

“We did a lot of research looking for a ‘poor’ material that could be ennobled by being used in an innovative way,” Studio Wok told Dezeen.

“Fiberglass grating is a material used in industry but little used in interiors and it seemed perfect to us.”

Ceiling fins in Pan cafe
Fabric hangs from the ceiling

The green of the fibreglass is echoed in vertical fins of hanging fabric that define the ceiling, creating a dialogue between hard and soft elements within the space.

These suspended sheets of fabric are a contemporary update of the traditional Japanese design element of ‘noren’, meaning curtains or hanging divider panels.

Ceiling inside Pan bakery
Wooden seats have views of the street

“The ceiling sheets have the main function of creating a three-dimensional covering to make the environment more welcoming and also to work from an acoustic point of view,” the studio said.

“They create a suspended three-dimensional world, both continuous and ephemeral. Furthermore, they dialogue with natural light during the day and with artificial light in the evening.”

Bathroom sink by Studio Wok
The bathroom has a decorative stone sink

In the bathroom, the green theme continues with a wall and sliding door featuring translucent panels of pressed cellulose, which have been fixed onto a wooden grid frame.

“We were looking for a translucent material to allow natural light to pass through the anteroom. It also reminded us of the rice paper walls, typical of Japan,” Studio Wok said.

The effect of these materials is to create “a green monochromatic box from which the monolithic element of the sink emerges,” Studio Wok said.

The sink was made of a grey-tinted natural stone called Moltrasio.

In the main space, light grey walls and floors in hand-trowelled cementitious resin amplify the sense of light, while chestnut was used in both its pale natural form and stained black across integrated and freestanding furniture.

Interior of Pan, Milan
Black-stained chestnut was used for the bar area

The bar area has a more serious, less playful atmosphere, informed by the black-stained chestnut wood of the counter and cabinetry.

Here, a rough-hewn natural stone boulder serves as a water counter, introducing a freeform, sculptural element to the space.

Bar at Pan in Milan
Studio Wok designed the bakery and wine bar with references to Japan

To anchor the space in the local neighbourhood, Studio Wok designed large windows with pale chestnut frames that open the bakery up towards the street.

Seating in the window areas “project the interiors of the venue outwards, creating a hybrid threshold space between the domestic and the urban,” the studio said.

“Our vision for the material palette at Pan was to seek a balance between elements with a contemporary and industrial flavour, with others that are more natural and timeless,” said Studio Wok.

“It’s a celebration of Japan and its dualism between innovation and wabi-sabi spirit.”

Studio Wok has previously designed a cavernous pizza restaurant and transformed a barn into a country home.

The photography is by Simone Bossi.

Reference

Illustration of ductless heat pump: the head mounted on the interior wall blows heat into the livingroom space, while outside, the condenser unit broadcasts cooler air, even in the winter setting depicted - illus
CategoriesSustainable News Zero Energy Homes

Heat Pumps Pave the Way to Zero Carbon

By Zarkon Group,

According to the The International Energy Association, “Heat pumps, powered by low-emissions electricity, are the central technology in the global transition to secure and sustainable heating.” Why? As rooftop solar panels, community solar, and utility-scale renewable energy expand, the incredible efficiency of heat pumps will free us from fossil fuels and help propel the way to zero carbon.

Heat pumps have been around for decades in the form of air conditioners and refrigerators, so the technology is mature and already cost competitive. The Inflation Reduction Act will bring tax credits, 30% off the cost of installation, bringing the technology within reach of even more families and property owners.

And best of all, heat pumps provide better comfort, using a more constant flow of heat compared to the on/off blast of a 3000° natural gas furnace. Heat pumps run smoothly, without temperature swings, and they filter and move more air through the house.

Whole house heat pumps

Similar to a furnace or central AC system, whole house heat pumps pump heat throughout your home via ductwork. For homes with existing ducts, this can be an easy change out of a fossil fuel –burning furnace for a heat pump.

The ducted, whole house heat pumps come in constant speed and variable speed. Constant speed heat pumps (also called single– or dual-stage heat pumps) run at only one or two speeds. They either run at full blast or they’re off, nothing. These often feature a lower upfront cost, but higher operational costs. And they usually require some type of backup (electric-resistance or gas) heating system, because they will struggle to work efficiently below 20° or 30°F. You’ll recognize a constant speed heat pump by the fan on the top of the outdoor unit, looking like a classic air conditioner box.

Variable speed heat pumps run at different speeds, modulating up and down to maintain the target temperature. They run a lot, but at lower energy levels and are overall more efficient. They will cost more upfront, but many work well in much colder temperatures. Thus, all cold climate heat pumps run at variable speeds.

Compared to the on/off blast of constant speed heat pumps, variable speed models run more quietly at lower speeds. You’ll see a more vertical looking outdoor unit with a fan on the side rather than the top. Variable speed units can be used with both ductless and ducted heat pump systems.

In 2021, we replaced an ancient gas furnace on one side of a Cleveland, OH, duplex. This whole-house, variable-speed heat pump provides heating and cooling under highly variable weather conditions. Because it’s used for short-term rentals, we keep it at a comfortable 72° all year. This all-electric arrangement on this side of the duplex costs far less to operate than the gas side.

Ductless heat pumps

As their name implies, ductless heat pumps don’t use ducts to distribute heat. Instead, they rely on indoor units (aka “heads”) installed in the wall, linking directly to an individual outdoor condenser; similar to a window or wall air-conditioning unit. This means that no conditioned air is escaping through leaky ducts, nor are ducts exposed to sunlight or unconditioned space. So ductless installations are most efficient.

Ductless heat pumps are logical for any space without ductwork. And they offer efficiency, economic, and environmental advantages over a central ducted heating system. All DHPs use variable speed technology. One downside is that you need to install a head on an exterior wall wherever you want heat; or provide backup electric-resistance heaters for rooms that don’t (or can’t) have a head

In our home in Portland, OR, heat pumps have kept our family warm for over a decade, since we removed our gas furnace. We also gained some square footage in our garage, which we have converted to an accessory dwelling unit.

The home came with baseboard electric heat in bedrooms and bathrooms, in addition to the central furnace. We now have two heat pump “heads” in the living room and master bedroom, and we use the backup electric-resistance heat very occasionally in the other rooms. This hybrid approach reduced our capital costs and costs us incredibly little to run. Our energy bills are only 20% of the national average!

How will they propel us to zero?

A heat pump uses refrigerant to capture heat and then moves that heat into (heating) or out of (cooling) your house. In the winter they pump heat from outside (even from cold air) to the inside, and in summer, they reverse. Here in Portland, and other places across the globe, climate change is bringing a greater need for cooling. A heat pump is, essentially, a super-efficient, reversible air-conditioner that you can use year-round.

Heating currently accounts for nearly half of all the energy used in homes. For heating, heat pumps are three to five times more efficient than fossil fuels, and save 50% on electric bills compared to electric resistance systems. They will heat everything, from air to water to laundry, and where they’re powered solely by renewable energy, they produce zero operating carbon.

Heat pumps are therefore key to decarbonization. As they are becoming more widely available, more contractors are becoming familiar with how to size, install, and maintain them. Of the 41% of US homes that use electricity for heating, only a quarter of those (13 million) use efficient heat pumps. But in 2021, heat pump sales surpassed gas furnaces, in the US, for the first time.

Whether it’s ducted or ductless, in Oregon or Ohio, modern ranches or old craftsman duplexes, our family has used the mighty heat pump to stay warm, save money, and do our part to solve the climate crisis. So while heat pumps might not get as much love, they rank up there with solar panels and electric vehicles as crucial technologies that will decarbonize our lives without sacrificing modern comforts. Let’s get heat pumped up and put one of these amazing machines in every home ASAP.Decarbonize your life logo

This article springs from an post by Naomi Cole and Joe Wachunas, first published in CleanTechnica. Their “Decarbonize Your Life,” series shares their experience, lessons learned, and recommendations for how to reduce household emissions.

The authors:

Joe Wachunas and Naomi Cole both work professionally to address climate change—Naomi in urban sustainability and energy efficiency and Joe in the electrification of buildings and transportation. A passion for debarbonization, and their commitment to walk the walk, has led them to ductless heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction cooking, solar in multiple forms, hang-drying laundry (including cloth diapers), no cars to electric cars and charging without a garage or driveway, a reforestation grant from the US Department of Agriculture, and more. They live in Portland, OR, with two young children.

Reference

Warehouse robots that work with people
CategoriesSustainable News

Warehouse robots that work with people

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: By 2026, it is expected that the UK logistics sector will face a shortage of 400,000 workers. One solution to this problem is automation, and our 2022 European Logistics Occupier Survey found that 80 per cent of occupiers believe that warehouse robotics are the top technology disruptor to logistics supply chains. But does this mean that robots will replace human workers? Or will organisations opt for a hybrid approach to automation? 

One startup that is firmly promoting the hybrid route is Robust.AI, a US-based company that develops robots that help human workers be more productive.  

According to the company, many robotic solutions make people feel unsafe and unseen, which leads to inefficient operations. As a result, it has developed a Collaborative Mobile Robot (CMR) called ‘Carter’. This CMR, the startup’s first hardware product, is designed to not only work near workers, but with them. The robots, which are essentially autonomous warehouse carts, move with and respond to human workers – like a ‘dance partner’ – and can be easily taken over manually by a worker grabbing the handlebar. The idea is that the robots will take care of laborious and repetitive tasks, such as transporting objects, leaving human workers to focus on high-value activities such as picking and packing.

Supporting Robust.AI’s hardware is its software suite ‘Grace’. This, the company claims, allows facilities managers to introduce automation quickly without changing their existing environment. To set up Grace, employees walk through the warehouse using the camera on a phone or tablet to map the environment. This creates a digital model of the facility, which can be used to set up workflows, all through a standard web browser. For example, a facilities manager can set up a virtual conveyor belt between two points in a warehouse using the robots. 

The Grace software is also installed on the Carter robots, allowing them to perceive and track people, locations, and objects. The robots then feed their perceptions back to fleet intelligence to optimise the system.

Springwise has spotted many other ways robots are being used, including to clean ships and make deliveries.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

Reference

Low Energy, Big Views: OKALUX Reimagines Insulated Glazing
CategoriesArchitecture

Low Energy, Big Views: OKALUX Reimagines Insulated Glazing

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer’s new image-heavy daily newsletter, The Plug, is easy on the eyes, giving readers a quick jolt of inspiration to supercharge their days. Plug in to the latest design discussions by subscribing. 

Insulated glazing revolutionized architecture as we know it. Throughout history, windows let in light but also cold and heat. In the 1930s, a refrigeration engineer created the Thermopane window, featuring two panes of glass with a layer of air in between, it could better control temperature. From that moment on, architects began to utilize larger glazing, eventually creating the modern glass skyscrapers we see today.

Known for innovations in architecture and materials, OKALUX has been a leader in the glass manufacturing industry for more than 50 years. OKALUX originated from Heinrich Otto KG, a weaving and textile spinning company based in the South of Germany during the 1960s. Now headquartered in Marktheidenfeld, Germany, with an office in New York, OKALUX continues to redefine materials for a wide range of applications. They continue to develop and supply insulating glass for daylighting, shading and insulation. Featuring products that enhance the efficiency of facades and interiors, the following projects represent OKALUX glazing around the world. Together, they showcase how glazing can help make the most of light, reducing energy consumption and creating more comfortable places to live, work and unwind.

Des Moines Library

Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, Des Moines, IA, United States

As the centerpiece of the Des Moines Western Gateway Park urban renewal project, this public library was sited between the center of the city and a newly designed public park. As well as library facilities, the building contains a flexible activity space, education facilities, children’s play areas, a conference wing and a cafeteria. In plan, it responds to the orthogonal nature of the city blocks to the east while stretching out into the park to the west. This plan is extruded vertically with a glass-metal skin, which gives the building its distinctive appearance.

The triple-glazed panels incorporate a sheet of expanded copper mesh between the outer panes. The three-dimensional quality of the copper mesh reduces glare and solar gain, ensuring that views from the inside into the park are maintained at all times. The project uses OKATECH, an insulated glass unit. A wide variety of metal meshes can be placed within the glass cavity for a distinctive aesthetic. At the same time, the mesh faces the sun and screens out high solar gain.

Halley VI Antarctic Research Station

Designed by Hugh Broughton Architects and AECOM, Antarctica

Harkening back to the beginning of insulated glazing itself, the Halley VI Antarctic Research Station was designed for polar research. As the world’s first re-locatable research facility, it was constructed by Galliford Try for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The project aimed to demonstrate ground-breaking architecture characterized by a compelling concept, but also a structure that’s executed with careful attention to detail and coordination.

As the team explains, the Antarctic Research Station sought to push the boundaries of design in a life critical environment. The designers created a beacon for sustainable living in the Polar Regions to draw attention to some of the most significant science conducted on our planet. The central module accommodates the majority of the stations social areas; it consists of double height space with a large east-facing window made of OKAGEL. The insulating glass system features an inter-pane cavity filled with translucent Nanogel, a special noncrystalline solid.

Damesalen

Designed by MIKKELSEN Architects, Copenhagen, Denmark

Extending an existing university gymnastic hall with a testing laboratory, the Damesal project was designed with a new building on top. The project offered an opportunity to explore an architectural concept where the geometry of the additional floor is designed with a simple box shape in glass. The architectural and functional variation happens as the glass façade responds to the program and functions within the building. The building’s envelope embodies design and performance as a collaboration between the architect and the supplier of the customized glass solution.

Working closely with Dow Corning led to a strategy that deals with the local energy frame, and at the same time takes orientation and solar exposure into account. Both horizontal and vertical layouts were studied and calculated, as well as solutions integrating OKALUX components redirecting daylight while creating a level of shading. By positioning an insulating material in the cavity of the triple glazed units, there was an opportunity to experience the same material inside and outside.

Greenpoint EMS Station

Designed by Michielli + Wyetzner Architects, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The Greenpoint Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Station was designed as a two-story facility that supports FDNY ambulance crews and vehicles. The project was made with a strong, distinctive form occupying a prominent site in the rapidly developing neighborhood. The station’s requirements led to a four-part division of the facility. Because the space for housing vehicles called for a higher ceiling height than the rest of station, one side is taller than the other. This change organizes the building’s functions.

The first floor’s different ceiling heights create different levels at the second floor and that shift in levels repeats at the roof line. This shift and programmatic division is marked with a skylight extending from the front to the back of the building. The 90-foot-long, second-story translucent glass wall appears to float above the ground and contributes to the building’s strong identity. This works with the transparent staircase by OXALUX that connects the entrance to the second floor. It is framed by a glass façade with OKATECH Expanded Mesh. The aluminum inserts act as a design element while providing effective sun and glare protection.

David H. Koch Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital

Designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, New York, NY, United States

The Koch Center was designed to provide advanced integrative healthcare and complex outpatient services. Patient-centered and family-centered care is at the forefront of the building’s medical program, announced by a triple-height lobby that offers respite from the surrounding streets. Infusion and radiation oncology areas, as well as diagnostic imaging, typically found in basement areas, are located on upper floors. This gives patients and staff the benefit of natural light.

Functional and clinical program areas are set back from the building perimeter, so patients and families travel along light-filled corridors. This strategy also gives the curtain wall a consistent level of opacity across the facade, whose appearance subtly shifts in response to the changing light throughout the day. The curtain wall owes its rich architectural character to the OKALUX wood screen inserted into its triple-glazed assembly — the first such application on this scale — and to the undulating frit pattern applied to the inner surface of the outer pane.

Cité de l’Ocean et du Surf

Designed by Steven Holl Architects, Avenue de la Plage, Biarritz, France

SHA designed the Cité de l’Océan et du Surf museum to raise awareness of oceanic issues and explore educational and scientific aspects of the surf and sea. Centered around leisure, science, and ecology, the project was made in collaboration with Solange Fabião. The design includes the museum, exhibition areas, and a plaza, within a larger master plan. The building form derives from the spatial concept “under the sky”/“under the sea”.

A concave “under the sky” shape creates a central gathering plaza, open to sky and sea, with the horizon in the distance. The convex structural ceiling forms the “under the sea” exhibition spaces. This concept generates a unique profile and form for the building, and through its insertion and efficient site utilization, the project integrates seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. The project utilized KAPILUX by OKALUX, an insulating glass which incorporates a capillary slab within the glass cavity. This capillary slab is comprised of honeycombed, clear or white tubes.

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Reference

Pergola House by Will Gamble Architects
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight homes with pergolas where residents can make the most of summer

By Zarkon Group,

An oak pergola that protrudes from a glazed extension in a conservation area and a concrete pergola covered in shrubbery are included in our latest lookbook.

A pergola is a structure that is attached to a home to protect and shelter it from the elements. Pergolas can provide shade to the interior or outdoor area they cover, as well as create some protection from rain.

Outdoor spaces covered by pergolas are often used as dining or lounge spaces, which means residents can spend time outside while being less exposed to the sun.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cherry red interiors, lavish bedrooms with bathtubs and concrete kitchens.

Pergola House by Will Gamble Architects
Photo is by Rory Gardiner

Pergola House, UK, by Will Gamble Architects

British architecture studio Will Gamble Architects renovated this Georgian home in a conservation area in Leicestershire that now includes a glass-walled extension surrounded by a wooden pergola.

When designing the extension, the studio looked to garden pergolas to create a contemporary contrast to the existing Georgian structure. The oak framework extends past the perimeters of the extension to form a shaded pergola.

Find out more about Pergola House ›

Monticello House by di Gregorio Associati Architetti
Photo is by Hèlén Binet

Monticello house, Italy, by Di Gregorio Associati Architetti

Concrete pergolas covered in overgrown shrubbery were added to this brick home in northern Italy, completed by architecture studio Di Gregorio Associati Architetti.

The concrete pergola shields and surrounds an extension that was added to the house, as well as an outdoor seating area that sits at the centre of the new building. Floor-to-ceiling windows line the interior of the home.

Find out more about Monticello house ›

Casa di ConFine by Simone Subissati Architects
Photo is by Magi Galluzzi

Casa di Confine, Italy, by Simone Subissati Architects

Italian architecture firm Simone Subissati Architects designed this home in Le Marche that aims to immerse its residents in the surrounding landscape.

The studio created a fragmented frame that follows the long and narrow profile of the home. A void at the centre of the building sees the fragmented frame carried over to form a pergola between two volumes of the home. The pergola-covered courtyard leads out to a pool.

Find out more about Casa di Confine ›

NCaved by Mold Architects
Photo is by Yiorgis Yerolympos

NCaved, Greece, by Mold Architects

On the island of Serifos in Greece, Mold Architects built a partially submerged home on a rocky hillside that features large glazed openings, walled terraces and a large swimming pool.

The terraces are flanked by stone walls that follow the topography of the landscape and partially covered by slatted pergolas that cantilever from the main structure and help to shade the interior.

Find out more about NCaved ›

Avándaro 333 by Zozaya Arquitectos
Photo is by Cesar Belio

Avándaro 333, Mexico, by Zozaya Arquitectos

Located in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, this home is part of a 27-house complex that was named after a nearby lake.

Architecture studio Zozaya Arquitectos used masonry and clay across the exterior of the home, which was then contrasted with contemporary additions such as wood and steel pergolas.

A balcony on the upper levels of a home is accessed through retractable glazed walls and sits beneath a wooden pergola.

Find out more about Lake Avándaro ›

Villa Mandra by K-Studio
Photo is by Claus Brechenmacher and Reiner Baumann

Villa Mandra, Greece, by K-studio

A latticed chestnut-wood pergola covers an outdoor dining area Villa Mandra, a holiday home on the Greek island of Mykonos that was designed by Greek architecture practice K-studio.

Alongside covering an outdoor dining area, the large pergola also shades a lounge area. Metal pendant lights were fixed to the pergola and provide the shaded area with light at night.

Find out more about Villa Mandra ›

Exterior of The Weathered House by Selencky Parsons
Photo is by Felix Mooneer

The Weathered House, UK, by Selencky Parsons

Architecture studio Selencky Parsons extended a Victorian home in south London and added a steel-framed structure and large sliding doors that better link the interior with the outdoors.

The extension is characterised by the weathered-steel structure. This begins at the kitchen area and forms a pergola over an outdoor dining space that is directly accessed via glass sliding doors from the interior.

Find out more about The Weathered House ›

Pergola House by Apollo Architects & Associates
Photo is Masao Nishikawa

Pergola House, Japan, by Apollo Architects & Associates

Designed by Apollo Architects & Associates and located in Kawaguchi, a city just north of Tokyo, Pergola House is a two-storey home that has an L-shaped plan with courtyards covered by pergolas.

The pergolas are formed of wooden ceiling beams that extend beyond the walls of the interior. Expanses of glass line the walls and double-height spaces help to create an open-plan design and blur the boundaries of the interior.

Find out more about Pergola House ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cherry red interiors, lavish bedrooms with bathtubs and concrete kitchens.

Reference