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Interior Design

Emma Martí celebrates Menorca’s architecture in Hevresac Hotel

By Zarkon Group,13/04/2023

Spanish architect Emma Martí has converted an 18th-century townhouse on the Balearic island of Menorca into the intimate eight-bedroom Hevresac Hotel, taking over all of its five floors from basement to attic.

The building, which originally belonged to a local merchant and privateer, is set in the historic centre of Mahón – a former trade hub that still bears traces of French and English culture after spending many years under colonial rule.

Hevresac owners Ignasi Truyol and Stephanie Mahé brought Martí on board for the renovation in part because she was an old friend, who they thought could be trusted to conserve and enhance the spirit and character of the building.

Martí’s aim for the project was to fill the building with light and life while preserving its wealth of existing architectural elements, from wooden beams and mosaic flooring to stucco walls and staircases.

“The aim of the project was to create a fresh and inspiring hotel that values the beauty of the existing architecture,” said the hotel’s owners.

Lounge of hotel in Menorca by Emma Martí Arquitectura — Original details such as parquet floors were retained throughout

Hevresac’s original floors, covered variously in wooden parquet and encaustic cement tiles, were carefully preserved.

In areas where it was not possible to retain the original elements, Martí chose a new design language using modern equivalents of these original materials, including micro-cement.

Guest room of Hevresac Hotel — Hevresac Hotel has only eight guest rooms

The renovation process revealed both the stucco on the walls and the original paintwork on the beams, uncovering part of the building’s hidden history.

The original wrought iron columns in the living room are now a celebrated feature. Less noticeable but equally interesting is the Masonic symbolism on the wrought-iron railing of the marble staircase at the entrance.

Bathroom of hotel in Menorca by Emma Martí Arquitectura — Solid timber was used to frame private bathrooms in each of the bedrooms

Martí also wanted to preserve the original room structure of the townhouse.

To allow for this, she added private bathrooms within each of the existing bedrooms using a lightweight timber framing system made of solid Flanders pine, while three-ply spruce boards form partitions, headboards and wardrobes in each bedroom.

“Martí’s intention is for the new materials to coexist and harmonise with the originals, providing a new language, lightness and contemporaneity,” the owners said.

A new staircase – also utilising spruce ply – now coexists with the original staircase, providing an alternative route through the Hevresac Hotel.

The material is key to the contemporary language of the new insertions, which sit clearly differentiated alongside layers of the building’s past.

“I like to work with an honest and frank attitude towards the island’s architectural heritage,” Martí told Dezeen. “I wanted it to be clear what our intervention was, not to highlight it but to highlight the value of what existed in the building.”

Hallway of Hevresac Hotel — Three-ply spruce boards form partitions and wardrobes in each of the bedrooms

To fill the spaces with natural light, several skylights were added on the upper floor, with one above the main stairwell as well as three new openings in the facade.

In the basement, the vaulted ceiling made of local marés stone required an intervention to lighten the space.

Martí’s response was to remove a bay of the existing vault and install a new, more comfortable staircase to link the ground floor with the basement and flood the space with light.

Wooden staircase in hotel in Menorca by Emma Martí Arquitectura — Martí also added a new spruce ply staircase

Hevresac’s choice of furnishings reflects Mahón’s cosmopolitan history, including an eclectic assembly of antique, vintage and contemporary pieces from all over Europe.

Among them are Nanimarquina rugs, Achille Castiglioni lights and some of Marcel Breuer’s Cesca chairs, as well as items from Menorcan antique dealers including Alcolea & Kraus and Antics Antigüedades.

“It’s a kind of synergy,” the owners said. “Together, the components project a warm, creative and personal composition, which is more than the algebraical sum of those individual pieces.”

Terrace of Hevresac Hotel — The hotel has a small terrace

Martí, who founded her self-titled studio Emma Martí Arquitectura in Menorca in 2013, has since completed a number of projects on the island.

Among them is a work retreat inside an abandoned girls’ school, with design-driven spaces where businesses can host meetings or team-building sessions.

The photography is by Pol Viladoms

Reference

Sustainable News

Three innovations for the future of travel and tourism

By Zarkon Group,12/04/2023

Now is the time of year when many start thinking about our summer holidays. Travel has long been associated with escapism and disconnection as well as adventure and discovery. But, in 20 years’ time, as the world becomes more connected and crowded, how will holidaymakers find the respite they seek? And, just as importantly, how can we feed this human desire without damaging the planet – especially given that tourism-related transport alone is expected to account for 5.3 per cent of global CO2 emissions by 2030? To find out we asked some of the world’s leading futurists in our Future 2043 report.

For alternative futurist Gus Balbontin, in 2043: “We will need more and more true disconnection and it will get harder to come by,” while “fewer and fewer places on earth will feel truly like we are exploring foreign cultures.” At the same time, changes in pricing, access, and consumer decision-making will change how we travel and think about our impact. “Perhaps more people will decide to leave the Antarctic alone and experience it via a documentary or with a pair of VR goggles,” he speculates.

While, today, tourism is often associated with consumerism and environmentally damaging behaviour, will the tourists of the future be cut from the same cloth? Anne Skare Nielsen, co-founder of Universal Futurist thinks not. “While the tourist of 2023 was often the worst version of ourselves, travellers in 2043 will be idealists, less concerned with taking home a stone from a beach and more focused on giving back,” she argues, suggesting that, “we’ll go diving to not just enjoy the sights, but to restore a coral reef.”

Tourism is an important industry for many developing countries, so we can’t simply stop travelling altogether, and innovations in sustainable travel are therefore extremely important. Here are three of the best recently spotted by Springwise.

There is a now a new way to stay hydrated when visiting Venice’s historic streets and waterways. Visitors to the island can use a map and an app to find a fountain of fresh water near their location. Each fountain is unique and provides a glorious mix of design and location. The map encourages people to carry their own personal water bottles and forego the disposable plastic versions whenever possible. The Venice Tap Water website lists all currently available fountains within the city and on the surrounding islands. There are nearly 200 listed, making it often only a matter of a few steps to find safe drinking water. Water distribution company Veritas provides detailed water quality information for the area, alongside a map of public restrooms in the city. Read more

Rivers are some of the most idyllic, and valuable, natural environments on earth, and this beauty naturally attracts the attention of tourists. While river tourism bolsters local economies and creates an incentive to preserve natural waterways, traditional fossil fuel tourist vessels create emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants. Moreover, gas or oil leaks from motorboats and sailboats with engines can contaminate water. And from the tourists’ own point of view, the peace and tranquillity of a river scene is often soured by the noise and vibrations of a chugging engine. But what if there was a way to address these problems? Croatia has some of the most beautiful rivers and lakes in Europe, and Croatian startup iCat has developed a solar-powered passenger catamaran that enables tourists, and others, to enjoy the scenery in a more sustainable way. Read more

Based in France, Murmuration is focused on sustainable tourism and has recently announced the launch of Flockeo – a community platform that allows travellers to choose sustainable destinations. The Flockeo platform is inspired by the European Commission’s ETIS indicator system, which assesses the sustainability of tourism destinations. By combining satellite and statistical data, Flockeo provides users with information on environmental, social, and economic indicators. This data can be used to evaluate the sustainability of a destination and make informed decisions about where to travel. Read more

Want to discover more about what the world will look like in 2043? Download our free Future 2043 report which draws on the insights of 20 of the world’s leading futurists. For more innovations, head to the Springwise Innovation Library.

Reference

Sustainable News

Harvesting the Skies: 6 Modern Architectural Designs that Revitalize Rainwater Management

By Zarkon Group,12/04/2023

Judging for the 11th A+Awards is now underway! While awaiting the Winners, prepare for the upcoming Architizer Vision Awards, honoring the best architectural photography, film, visualizations, drawings, models and the talented creators behind them. Learn more and register >

The history of rainwater harvesting stretches back millennia, with evidence of its practice in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt and Rome. A testament to human ingenuity, these early societies recognized the importance of capturing and storing rainwater to ensure a stable water supply, especially in arid regions. As cities grew and centralized water systems developed, rainwater harvesting took a back seat, only to be revived in the face of modern challenges.

Today, as the world grapples with the impacts of climate change and increasing water scarcity, architects and engineers are revisiting the potential of rainwater harvesting in contemporary design. This sustainable water management solution serves to conserve resources and alleviate the burden on overtaxed municipal systems, reduce energy consumption and mitigate flood risks.

Advancements in technology and materials have paved the way for innovative rainwater harvesting systems, ranging from simple rooftop catchment setups to complex, large-scale integrated systems. Green rooftops, permeable pavements and landscape design elements such as bioswales and rain gardens are increasingly employed in urban environments to maximize rainwater capture and infiltration. While the rise of green building certifications like LEED and BREEAM, architects are incentivized to incorporate rainwater harvesting into their designs, further propelling its adoption.

The Independent

By Rhode Partners, Austin, TX, United States

The Independent by Rhode Partners, Austin, TX, United States Photograph by Nick Simonite

The Independent by Rhode Partners, Austin, TX, United States. Photograph by Patrick Wong

The Independent is an architectural marvel by Rhode Partners. The eco-conscious building reigns supreme in Austin’s Seaholm District as the city’s tallest LEED Gold Certified tower. This 688-foot skyscraper playfully teases gravity with its cantilevered blocks and a levitating infinity pool, while its floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer stunning city panoramas. A vertical neighborhood of 363 units, The Independent boasts 12 competitive, luxury condo amenity spaces across two floors spanning 20,000 square feet that cater to the high expectations of the tower’s residents.

At the same time, the architects endeavored to meet high levels of sustainability. Tucked within its stainless-steel mesh crown, a colossal liquid damper tank ensures stability against high-altitude winds while the pièce de résistance, a cutting-edge rainwater harvesting system and a 75-kilowatt solar power system, make this eco-friendly titan an iconic fixture in Austin’s skyline.

Fort 137

By Daniel Joseph Chenin, Ltd., Las Vegas, NV, United States

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Residential > Residential Interiors (>3000 sq ft)

Fort 137 by Daniel Joseph Chenin, Ltd., Las Vegas, NV, United States. Photographs by Stetson Ybarra

Nestled in the pristine Las Vegas Valley, this eco-conscious residence serves as a base camp for a family of nature-loving scientists. Drawing inspiration from historic fort structures, the house boasts a compact, clustered design, with each volume meticulously placed to optimize views and combat desert climate challenges.

Embracing the landscape, panoramic glass doors extend living spaces, enabling cross-ventilation and daylighting. Louvered roof overhangs provide summer shade and allow winter light penetration. A curated palette of native materials, such as weathered steel, hot rolled steel, reconstituted oak and limestone, ensures the residence ages gracefully alongside its environment.

Crucially, a state-of-the-art rainwater harvesting system elevates the home’s sustainability, conserving precious resources in the parched region. This architectural gem reduces its carbon footprint and exemplifies harmonious coexistence with nature by employing sustainable strategies like passive cooling, daylighting, thermal mass, and photovoltaic panels.

Rain Harvest Home

By Robert Hutchison Architecture, JSa Arquitectura, Temascaltepec de González, Mexico

Rain Harvest Home by Robert Hutchison Architecture, JSa Arquitectura, Temascaltepec de González, Mexico. Photo Credit Robert Hutchison

Rain Harvest Home by Robert Hutchison Architecture, JSa Arquitectura, Temascaltepec de González, Mexico. Photograph by Jaime Navarro

Rain Harvest Home, a collaborative creation by Robert Hutchison Architecture and JSa Arquitectura, is an experiential abode in the mountains west of Mexico City. Comprising three porous wooden structures, the residence embraces the landscape and embodies a regenerative design that addresses water scarcity in the region. Each building collects rainwater, supplying the home with 100% of its water needs year-round through an on-site reservoir and treatment system.

As part of the visionary 450-acre La Reserva el Peñón development, Rain Harvest Home exceeds the requirement to harvest rainwater for 60% of its water needs. Walking trails between the buildings double as bioswales, while the site also boasts a bio-agriculture garden, emphasizing the family’s commitment to living in harmony with nature.

House in the Countryside

By Herreros Arquitectos, Artà, Spain

House in the Countryside by Herreros Arquitectos, Artà, Spain. Photographs by José Hevia

House in the Countryside, a project by Herreros Arquitectos in Artà, Spain, brilliantly transforms a former shepherd’s refuge into a charming occasional-use residence. The design replicates the original structure symmetrically, preserving its intelligent orientation, ventilation and water collection facilities. The dry-constructed outer wall fosters a dialogue with the local climate through independent systems of openings and shutters.

The interior retains the original compartments, each housing a single primary object defining its function. The inverted roof facilitates natural cross-ventilation that is adjustable to create an ideal climate. Notably, the rainwater harvesting system is preserved and optimized, with the dual-slope roof directing water to the original gutter and cistern, upholding the spirit of the initial construction.

U House, Ericeira

By Jorge Graca Costa, Ericeira, Portugal

U House, Ericeira by Jorge Graca Costa, Ericeira, Portugal. Photographs by Fernando Guerra, FG + SG

U-House, perched atop a hill in Ericeira, Portugal, is a sustainable residence designed by architect Jorge Graca Costa for a professional surfer and his family. Inspired by traditional Mediterranean courtyard houses, the structure protects against the region’s windy climate while offering captivating views of San Lorenzo Bay.

A dense mesh of trees surrounds the 300-square-meter home, and its layout frames the bay view and moderates the courtyard’s climate. A grassy area, decked patio, and non-chlorinated pool heated by solar and biomass energy create a harmonious outdoor space.

Sustainability is integrated seamlessly into the design, combining eco-friendly features without sacrificing aesthetics or functionality. The house is constructed with cork insulation and benefits from passive design for natural heating and cooling. Solar panels are used for floor and water heating, with additional support from biomass heating. The microclimate environment created by the patio and chemical-free pool further contributes to the eco-friendly design.

Rainwater harvesting plays a crucial role in the home’s sustainability; a pre-existing well is used for collecting rainwater for irrigation purposes. With numerous green features, the U-House boasts an A+ energy rating from the National Energy Agency, showcasing the success of blending architecture with prescriptive performance design in a comfortable, livable space.

Tucson Mountain Retreat

By D U S T, Tucson, AZ, United States

Tucson Mountain Retreat by DUST, Tucson AZ, United States. Photographs by Jeff Goldberg

The Tucson Mountain Retreat in the Sonoran Desert is a thoughtfully designed home that minimizes environmental impact while maximizing connections to the mystical landscape. The house is constructed primarily of Rammed Earth, an eco-friendly material with excellent thermal mass properties. The design comprises three distinct zones for living, sleeping, and music recording/home entertainment, which can only be accessed by stepping outside and traversing the desert landscape. This separation ensures acoustic isolation and continuous interaction with the natural surroundings.

A 30,000-gallon rainwater harvesting system supplies water for all household uses, while solar heat gain is reduced by orienting the house along an east-west axis and minimizing openings on the east and west facades. South-facing patios and deep overhangs provide unobstructed views, passive heating, and cross-ventilation. When the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors are opened, the house and desert merge into one seamless, boundless space.

Reference

Corrugated metal accessory dwelling unit with a circular window

Architecture

North Arrow Studio designs a playful, birdhouse-like ADU in Austin

By Zarkon Group,12/04/2023

North Arrow Studio has completed a compact, corrugated metal accessory dwelling unit in East Austin’s Chestnut neighbourhood featuring a custom, circular pivot window that is reminiscent of the round opening in a birdhouse.

Aptly named the Birdhouse, the 900-square foot (84-square metre) ADU shares a narrow 5,900-square metre (550-square metre) lot with a 1939 single-storey house and three large protected pecan trees.

North Arrow Studio’s principal architect Francisco Arredondo described the two-bedroom, two-bath house as “simplicity carried to the extreme”.

“There’s simplicity in the footprint, the massing, and the material palette throughout,” Arredondo said. “But it’s also a smart little house that makes me smile.”

The home was strategically placed around the trees to create a courtyard between the main house and the ADU while providing privacy for the separate living quarters.

The L-shaped plan features a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room featuring a roll-up garage door on the ground floor, all wrapped around an external pecan tree.

Upstairs, the main suite sits within the vaulted ceiling of the double-gabled form. Four five-foot (1.5-metre) diameter circle windows sit under each gable and use the surrounding tree canopy for privacy.

“They create a resemblance to a traditional birdhouse and bring a sense of whimsy to the design,” the studio said.

One of the custom-fabricated steel windows serves as the required egress for the room.

“We began with a pivot design and worked our way towards a final swing design that opened up to the pecan tree’s canopy,” the team explained.

The rounded-window motif carries throughout the house with miniature custom steel circle windows.

“Strategically selected walls are curved to soften edges and draw you into the spaces,” the studio said. “Interior finishes are simple and restrained apart from a few accent walls that give life to each room.”

The monotone ADU is wrapped in light corrugated metal that “is a nod to the many metal sheds and accessory buildings already found throughout the neighborhood, but with a modern and playful twist”.

The soft, rounded edges and neutral colour complement the existing house and provide an accent along the alley, and the metal runs up the walls and becomes the roof material as well.

In the courtyard, a curved polycarbonate wall brings light into the hallway and creates a softly glowing, semi-transparent effect.

Corrugated metal was selected for its sustainability and resilience as the envelope is 100 per cent recyclable, repels sun and heat in Texas summers and is durable and low-maintenance, according to the studio.

“Working with a tight budget and constrained footprint can be very helpful in creating a story for the design,” the studio said. “The constraints begin to guide you and lend opportunities to be creative with traditional materials and spaces in ways that typically wouldn’t be considered.”

In 2014, North Arrow Studio created a stilted home in the Texas Hill Country that references Mies Van der Rohe’s glass Farnsworth House.

The photography is by Chase Daniel.

Project credits:

Builder, developer, owner: Brita Wallace, Digs ATX
Styling: Ben Newman Studios

Reference

Overview of dining room in Light Years Asian Diner

Interior Design

Studio Plenty designs Byron Bay diner to feel like “a warm hug”

By Zarkon Group,12/04/2023

Asian diner chain Light Years has renovated its restaurant in the Australian surf town of Byron Bay, with interiors conceived by local practice Studio Plenty in collaboration with home-grown artists and designers.

The team behind Light Years wanted its flagship eatery to mirror the playful visual identity established across its three other venues on Australia’s East Coast while refining and elevating their aesthetic.

“We were asked to reimagine the Byron Bay restaurant, taking cues from its sister diners but with greater restraint in composition,” Studio Plenty founder Will Rathgeber told Dezeen.

“We were looking to achieve something refined without letting go of the relaxed culture behind the brand, with satisfying colours and patterns, and playful shapes and materials.”

Dining room of Byron Bay restaurant by Studio Plenty — Terracotta tiles were used to finish the walls and floors

Soft corners and gently curving walls help to create a sense of intimacy, according to Rathgeber, while the restaurant’s colour palette of soft pink and terracotta tones “embraces you like a warm hug”.

Underpinning the playful feel of the eatery is a careful focus on the practicalities, with arched openings and material thresholds helping to define three distinct spaces – the main dining room, a curved bar with counter seating and a private dining area for larger groups.

Arched opening leading through to private dining area in Light Years Asian Diner — Arched openings separate the restaurant’s different dining areas

The restaurant’s material palette incorporates handmade terracotta tiles with a rustic brushed finish and a rusty colour that is also picked up in the restaurant’s floors and the Fibonacci terrazzo bar counter.

In the main dining room, the ceiling was treated with an acoustic spray to absorb sound while contributing to the earthy, vernacular look of the diner thanks to its bumpy texture.

Wooden reception desk of Byron Bay restaurant by Studio Plenty — Rattan acoustic panels cover the ceiling near the entrance

Since the acoustic spray does not adhere to pipes, Studio Plenty specified a motorbike exhaust wrap for the pipes to achieve a harmonious ceiling plane.

In the bar area, ceilings are clad in rattan acoustic panels by local product designer and interior stylist Sarah Ellison, who also worked with Studio Plenty to design the restaurant’s custom furniture including the chunky tables and bistro-style chairs.

Artist collective Studio of the Sun created two colourful murals for the restaurant, with one featuring playful illustrations laser-printed onto a section of glossy white tiles.

“The client was committed to a locally focussed project, hence approaching Studio Plenty to design the restaurant and Sarah Ellison and Studio of the Sun to collaborate,” said Rathgeber.

Bar of Light Years Asian Diner — A curved terrazzo bar provides counter seating

Rathgeber founded his Byron Bay practice in 2020 after cutting his teeth working for architecture firms Woods Bagot and Jackson Clements Burrows in Melbourne.

“We believe happiness is achieved through sensible design, not excess,” he explained of his studio’s ethos. “We have an appetite for rational design and an obsession with functionalism.”

Private dining area of Byron Bay restaurant by Studio Plenty — The private dining area is defined by a Studio of the Sun artwork

Elsewhere in Byron Bay’s bustling bar and restaurant scene, Australian studio Pattern has designed the interiors for an eatery serving South America-style small plates and cocktails.

Its patchy grey surfaces and concrete fixtures were designed to reflect the “raw beauty” of late-night eateries in Mexico.

The photography is by Jessie Prince.

Reference

Sustainable News

Luxury tables made from sea plants

By Zarkon Group,11/04/2023

Spotted: Seeing the beauty in biowaste is an exciting movement in the art world as artists and innovators transform potential pollution into useful new items. Working with local Greek artisans, designer Alexia Mintsouli uses an ancient sea plant to create luxurious marble tables. And Mintsouli’s studio, Alex Mint, recently introduced the Oceanides collection of tables.

The tops of the tables are made from Posidonia Oceanica, one of the oldest living organisms on Earth and a plant that is usually disposed of because it is seen as having no value. The legs and base of the tables in the collection are made from Peloponnesian Tortora Marble. The name of the collection alludes to mythical sea nymphs from Greek lore.

By basing production in Greece, near where the material is collected, the studio greatly reduces transport costs and carbon emissions. Additionally, the collection of the biowaste saves money for local municipalities who would otherwise have to dispose of it. The tables also sequester the carbon ingested by the plants.

The collection currently consists of three tables, the square coffee table Oceanus, and two round tables, the Tethys and Calypso. The entire collection is available online.

Other ways that Springwise has spotted biowaste being used to create new, more sustainable products includes helmets made from waste scallop shells and automobile interiors made from lentils, coffee, and eggshells.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Architecture

Hidden Secret: How Energy Usage Was Transformed in Marcel Breuer’s Iconic Hotel

By Zarkon Group,11/04/2023

With climate change now firmly at the forefront of every architects’ mind, new innovations that help reduce carbon emissions are more critical than ever. While flashy façades and green roofs often take the headlines, it’s actually the hidden components of buildings — those elements concealed behind walls, in roof spaces, or within maintenance floors — where the most groundbreaking energy-efficient systems can be found.

Mitsubishi Electric’s Heat₂O® Heat Pump Water Heater is a prime example. Through energy-efficient operation and reduction of on-site carbon emissions, this cutting-edge system significantly reduces the environmental impact of producing large volumes of Domestic Hot Water (DHW), a key consideration for hospitality, commercial and multi-unit residential projects.

Thanks to its modular design, the Heat₂O system can be harnessed for complex adaptive reuse and renovation projects as well as new constructions. Notably, the technology was put to use in the iconic Hotel Marcel, a $50 million adaptive reuse of the historic Pirelli building, designed by Marcel Breuer. With the goal of becoming the first net-zero hotel in the United States, the installation of Heat₂O is helping the building secure its LEED^® Platinum certification.

Hotel Marcel, formerly the Pirelli building, designed by Marcel Breuer

Architizer spoke with the bright minds behind Mitsubishi Electric’s latest systems to learn more about how the brand is innovating to meet the increasingly ambitious environmental goals of its clients.

Architizer Congratulations on winning a 2022 A+Product Award! What does winning this accolade mean to you and your brand?

Mitsubishi Electric: As a company, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US works toward contributing to a more sustainable society by developing and promoting energy-saving all-electric products and systems that will reduce the use of fossil fuels in the heating and cooling industry. Being recognized for our efforts in this area is significant and means a great deal. Recognitions such as this confirm we’re on the right track and provide momentum in moving forward to reach our goals.

What inspired the design of your product?

Heat₂O has been available overseas for several years. After witnessing its positive impact on a building’s energy efficiency and carbon footprint, we wanted to bring this technology to the U.S. market. Domestic Hot Water (DHW) required by multifamily buildings, hotels, hospitals, senior living facilities and other commercial spaces accounts for roughly 25% of these buildings’ annual energy usage. Until the introduction of Heat₂O, the U.S. building industry lacked an energy-efficient solution to provide high-volume DHW for commercial buildings.

Tell us about the manufacturing process — What are the key stages involved and how do these help ensure a high quality end product?

To produce the Heat₂O QAHV units, Mitsubishi Electric uses a “cell manufacturing process” whereby one person is responsible for each step of the assembly process. Each person is trained at a high level and has an electronic display to ensure they follow clear guidelines/instructions in the process.

Once the unit is assembled it goes through a full functionality test, including electrical safety and operational testing. All test data and unit information including the people who assembled the product are recorded and assigned to the serial number of the product. This ensures that an audit can be performed, and data retrieved post sale if required.

Mitsubishi Electric’s Heat₂O® Heat Pump Water Heater

What detail of your product was most challenging to design, and why? How did you resolve it?

The most challenging aspect was the heat exchange between the CO₂ refrigerant and water circuit. The heat exchanger is a unique and patented design and is called the “Twisted Spiral Gas Cooler.” The challenge was to provide the best possible efficiency while still maintaining a relatively small footprint. This was overcome by using a unique design and using a twisted coil approach, with six of the heat exchangers stacked above one another.

What makes your product unique and of great value to specifying architects?

The all-electric, cold-climate Heat₂O Hot Water Heat Pump reduces the environmental impact of DHW through energy-efficient operation and using CO₂ refrigerant. CO₂, a natural and environmentally friendly refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) of one and an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero, helps commercial facilities qualify for rigorous sustainability certifications such as passive house status. Using Heat₂O reduces on-site carbon emissions in the production of domestic hot water.

Bathroom in the new Hotel Marcel

What has the reception to your product been like from architects/clients/consumers?

We launched Heat₂O in select markets. So far, the demand has been phenomenal. One of the most notable installations was in the $50 million adaptive reuse of the historic Pirelli building in New Haven, CT, into Hotel Marcel, which is projected to be the first net-zero hotel in the United States. Aiming for LEED® Platinum certification and a 60% increase in energy efficiency compared to code requirements, Heat₂O was installed to achieve the project’s aggressive sustainability goals.

How do you see the product evolving in future?

Efficiency improvements will always be a driving factor and goal, together with evolving controls options. There are also many opportunities to combine QAHV with other future products in the Mitsubishi Electric portfolio.

To find out more about Mitsubishi Electric, visit MitsubishiComfort.com, and reach out to one of their experts to learn how to incorporate the Heat₂O into your next project.

All photos courtesy of METUS

Reference

Interior Design

Norm Architects devises understated HQ for kids’ lifestyle brand Liewood

By Zarkon Group,11/04/2023

A refined palette of oak, plaster and steel defines the interior of the Liewood headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, designed by local practice Norm Architects.

The pared-back 2,200-square-metre office was conceived to give prominence to Liewood‘s colourful, Scandi-style children’s clothes, toys and homeware.

Norm Architects has completed Liewood’s Copenhagen headquarters

“With the ambition to create a comfortable space with a somewhat understated character, we worked to let the space obtain its significance through the thoughtful use of tactile elements such as textured plaster walls and contrasting elements like oakwood and steel,” explained Sofie Bak, an architect at the practice.

Staff enter the five-floor office via an airy light-filled lobby that is anchored by a rounded counter, roughly washed with sandy-beige plaster.

Plaster podiums provide display space on the first floor

Cone-shaped pendant lights are strung along the ceiling while oversized stone tiles are laid across the floor, helping to “emphasise the grandeur” of the space.

A pre-existing staircase curves up to the first floor, which accommodates a showroom. This part of the building formerly served as a production hall, with a vast scale that could easily feel empty and unwelcoming, according to Norm Architects.

At mealtimes, staff can gather in The Parlour

To counter this, the practice constructed what it describes as a “warm wooden core” – a house-shaped oakwood volume with built-in shelves for showcasing Liewood’s products.

Large, plaster-coated display plinths are dotted across the rest of the room. At the back is a short flight of wide, wooden stairs where staff can sit and chat throughout the day.

More products can also be presented here on bespoke podiums that, thanks to cut-outs at their base, are able to slot onto the steps.

The building’s first floor also contains The Parlour – a kitchen and dining area where Liewood employees can enjoy meals together. It features a large travertine table, a series of plump grey sofas and graphic art pieces by the Danish designer Sara Martinsen.

Traditional work areas can be found across the rest of the HQ

Work areas throughout the rest of the HQ are furnished with practical desks and storage units that match the off-white walls, while meeting rooms are fronted with panes of glass to foster a sense of openness.

As the building’s original staircase didn’t extend all the way to the fifth floor, Norm Architects installed a spiralling set of white-steel steps.

These grant access to a space the practice refers to as The Apartment: a secondary showroom designed to have a more intimate, homely feel.

The top floor accommodates The Apartment, a more intimate showroom

Elsewhere, Norm Architects recently took its minimalist aesthetic off-shore when designing the interiors of the Y9 sailing yacht, decked out with supple suede furnishings and wood-panelled surfaces.

The photography is by Jonas Bjerre Poulsen of Norm Architects.

Reference

Sustainable News

A climate-tech finance platform for the agricultural industry

By Zarkon Group,10/04/2023

Spotted: According to the World Bank, agriculture currently generates 19–29 per cent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a figure that is set to rise further as other sectors reduce their emissions. This makes agriculture a major part of the climate problem. Regenerative soil management practices could help reduce emissions, and help farms become more resilient, but many farmers cannot qualify for the loans needed to switch. But now, European fintech HeavyFinance aims to help them.

The startup connects farmers with investors, providing financing and loan schemes for farms and projects in the sustainable agriculture space. The company’s platform scores farmers’ borrowing capabilities, facilitates transactions, and administers each loan throughout its life. Around half of their portfolio is currently used to finance sustainable agriculture, with a focus on conservation tillage practices such as no-till farming.

No-till farming, which uses a direct drill to plant crops instead of heavy machinery, is a particularly important part of increasing the sustainability and resilience of agriculture. It lowers emissions by reducing the use of diesel-powered machinery, and leaves soils undisturbed, reducing erosion. As less nutrients leach out of the soils, they require less fertiliser and retain more carbon.

The company recently raised €3 million in a seed funding round led by VC firm Practica Capital. When announcing the funding, Laimonas Noreika, Founder of HeavyFinance, explained that, “Tackling climate change must be a united effort … Food growth plays a vital part in the climate battle as a prominent global issue, and connecting investors with farmers and agricultural specialists through our finance platform can help accelerate the adoption of regenerative soil management practices to reduce carbon emissions output throughout Europe.”

Recent sustainable financing innovations spotted by Sprinwise include neobanks that promote growth in new areas, and the provision of carbon insurance to encourage investment in carbon capture technology.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Architecture

Dear Architects: If You Really Want to Be More Sustainable, Start Prioritizing Reuse Projects

By Zarkon Group,10/04/2023

Architecture 2030’s mission is to rapidly transform the built environment from a major emitter of greenhouse gases to a central source of solutions to the climate crisis. For 20 years, the nonprofit has provided leadership and designed actions toward this shift and a healthy future for all. This article was written by Erin McDade and Lori Ferriss.

The latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are in, and the findings are clear: reusing and retrofitting our existing building stock is critical climate action. The Sixth Assessment Report names building reuse as one of the top strategies to mitigate climate change, stating that places with developed existing built environments will achieve “the largest GHG emissions savings by replacing, repurposing, or retrofitting the building stock.”

According to the IPCC, to have the best possible chance of meeting global climate targets, we must limit our remaining carbon budget to 340-400 gigatons of CO2 emissions. At a current average global emissions rate of approximately 40 gigatons per year, staying within this budget would require rapid decarbonization of every carbon-emitting sector, including the built environment, by 2040. This means achieving net zero across both operational emissions from using buildings and embodied emissions from constructing and maintaining them. Given such a short timeline, when assessing the best way to cut emissions in the building sector, we are compelled to think not just about how much carbon we reduce but when those reductions happen.

Pingtung Public Library by MAYU architects, Pingtung County, Taiwan Popular Choice, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse

While substantial new construction will be required to support a growing global population, and efforts are underway to deploy net zero operations and adopt low/zero embodied carbon materials and construction practices, most new buildings today come with a significant embodied carbon penalty as well as added operational emissions.

On the other hand, renovating an existing building typically saves 50% to 75% of the embodied carbon that would be emitted by constructing a similar new building, especially when the most carbon-intensive parts of the building, the structure and envelope, are reused. When coupled with critical operational decarbonization strategies such as improved energy efficiency, electrification, and on-/off-site renewable energy, building reuse represents the biggest bang for our carbon buck, especially in parts of the world with significant and/or underutilized existing building stocks.

Unfortunately, renovation rates lag behind IPCC-estimated requirements. Current global building stock renovation rates hover around 1% annually, but the IPCC estimates that decarbonizing the built environment in time to meet climate deadlines will require retrofit rates to increase to 2.5 to 5%, and perhaps as much as 10%, annually.

Pingtung Public Library by MAYU architects, Pingtung County, Taiwan Popular Choice, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse

The good news is that there are positive trends to accelerate building reuse on many fronts. To name a few: For the first time in the United States, AIA reported that architectural billings from reuse outpaced those from ground up construction. Funding opportunities are expanding from many sources, including the White House’s Inflation Reduction Act. The Pritzker Prize has recognized architects for exemplary stewardship of existing buildings in two of the past three years. David Chipperfield, this year’s laureate, states “Retrofit is not only the right thing to do, it’s the more interesting thing to do.”

Contributing to this trend is the expansion of tools and resources to support the planning, design and policymaking communities in assigning a value to the carbon-savings potential of building reuse. It has long been a truism in the building industry that “the greenest building is one that’s already built”, but despite this intuitive knowledge, the industry has lacked the ability to easily compare the variables of embodied and operating emissions over specific time frames for reuse and new-construction. This means that the potential avoided emissions associated with reuse are typically unaccounted for in design processes, owner requirements, and climate policies and regulations.

Pingtung Public Library by MAYU architects, Pingtung County, Taiwan Popular Choice, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse

Resources like the CARE Tool are paving the way for a significant uptake in building reuse as a climate solution. The tool, recently released by Architecture 2030, provides a user-friendly platform and easily accessible data to support key decision makers in understanding and quantifying the potential of building reuse to achieve dramatic carbon savings compared to demolition and reconstruction.

The benefits of reusing and improving existing buildings extend well beyond carbon reductions. For example, a strategic investment could leverage the millions of square feet of unoccupied or underutilized buildings to ease the record housing crises in the US and Europe. Investing in communities that have been subjected to historic discrimination in particular has the potential to bring equitable climate solutions that also have meaningful social and economic outcomes.

Carbon smart approaches to reuse will reduce habitat loss, deforestation and pollution, while strengthening neighborhood memory and identity, creating local jobs, building financial equity, increasing neighborhood resilience and empowering communities. The benefits are clear, and the time to act is now! Existing buildings are a key to a climate smart built environment. Let’s untap their potential to transform the existing built environment for a net zero future.

Pingtung Public Library by MAYU architects, Pingtung County, Taiwan Popular Choice, 10th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse | Photo by Yu-Chen Chao

Erin McDade, Associate AIA, is Architecture 2030’s Senior Program Director. She leads the organization’s public policy and building reuse initiatives, focusing on developing data-driven solutions for building sector decarbonization.

Lori Ferriss, AIA, PE, is Goody Clancy’s Regenerative Renewal Practice Leader and Director of Sustainability and Climate Action, leading architecture projects and research investigations for premier educational institutions that are renewing heritage campuses while advancing climate action goals.

Reference

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