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An engine turns waste heat into clean electricity
CategoriesSustainable News

An engine turns waste heat into clean electricity

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Various studies have estimated that around 20 to 50 per cent of industrial energy consumption is discharged as waste heat – and up to 30 per cent of this could be harnessed and utilised. Looking to make use of the heat emitted by traditional engines, Israel-based startup Luminescent has built a system that produces zero-emission electricity. 

A small, isothermal engine upcycles waste heat and is designed to fit alongside conventional large engines and generators in order to send electricity back to the grid. If needed, the Luminescent device stores between 8 and 20 hours of renewable energy.  

The new device uses a heat transfer liquid to gather and move the heat emitted from another engine into the upcycling system. The liquid is then mixed with either air or gas and put under pressure, which causes the material to expand – this expansion converts the liquid into kinetic energy that powers a generator. The generator can then run other devices and systems, store power, or send electricity back to the grid. 

Currently working at around 70 per cent efficiency, the system could become available commercially in the next two to three years. Luminescent plans to use the $7 million (around €6.5 million) it raised recently in a round of seed funding to bring the engine to market.  

From the excess heat of public transport systems heating homes to car parks heating the buildings above, Springwise has spotted many ways innovators are making use of previously wasted emissions and resources.

Written By Keely Khoury

Reference

Sakuragicho Residence by Akira Koyama + KEY OPERATION INC. / ARCHITECTS
CategoriesSustainable News

33 Trailblazing Firms Leading the Globe Into a New Era of Architectural Design

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer’s A+Awards Best Firm categories allow design firms of all sizes to showcase their practice and vie for the title of “World’s Best Architecture Firm”. Start an A+Firm Award Application today. 

Poised at the forefront of contemporary architecture, the following list of A+Award-winning practices features the firms behind some of the world’s most ground-breaking projects from the past 10 years. As winners of the Best Firm Categories, each office was judged based on the strength of their portfolios. Whether small or large in number, their trailblazing teams are producing considered, dynamic designs that push the bounds of traditional typologies and point the industry in exciting new directions for the future.

Start A+Awards Submission

The judging criteria for the A+Firm Awards program have been carefully formulated to cover a broad range of qualities, allowing jurors to come to a fair decision on which firms are delivering excellence in their respective fields. These standards are embodied by all of the winners on this list, many of whom share a holistic and socially engaged approach to design. Through their architectural work, these practices propose innovative solutions to complex local challenges while remaining cognizant of the global landscape. To this end, their portfolios articulate eloquent responses to the changing needs of the modern world, mindful of climate change, sustainability and inclusivity. Spread across six continents, these pioneering architecture and design practices around the world are ones to watch in 2023…

Best Firms In Asia

Akira Koyama + KEY OPERATION INC. / ARCHITECTS

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in Asia

Sakuragicho Residence by Akira Koyama + KEY OPERATION INC. / ARCHITECTSGoshikidai Forest Cemetery by Akira Koyama + KEY OPERATION INC. / ARCHITECTSFirm Location: Tokyo, Japan
Pictured Projects: Sakuragicho Residence, Yokohama, Japan ; Goshikidai Forest Cemetery, Kimino, Japan

Simplicity and innovation define the work of this Tokyo-based architectural firm. By balancing their clients’ needs with environmental, cultural and historic factors, they devise refined, forward-thinking solutions for every element of the design process, from building materials and construction methods to spatial organization.

Their expansive portfolio establishes them as accomplished all-rounders, spanning residential blocks, luxury penthouses, commercial spaces, medical buildings and even a striking contemporary cemetery.

KRIS YAO | ARTECH

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in Asia

Palace Museum, Southern Branch by KRIS YAO | ARTECHWuzhen Theater by KRIS YAO | ARTECHFirm Location: Taipei, Taiwan (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Palace Museum, Southern Branch, Chiayi City, Taiwan ; Wuzhen Theater, Zhejiang, China

With offices in Taipei and Shanghai, KRIS YAO | ARTECH was founded in 1985 and demonstrates an impressive mastery over an array of architectural typologies, ranging from commercial, cultural and educational spaces to residential and spiritual buildings.

The practice’s design philosophy balances a commitment to cutting-edge technology with an emphasis on emotive architectural schemes that harmonize with their environmental and cultural surroundings.

Best Firms In Australasia

Fearon Hay Architects

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in Australasia
Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Medium Firm (11-49 employees)

Bishop Selwyn Chapel by Fearon Hay ArchitectsFaraday Street Studio by Fearon Hay ArchitectsFirm Location: Auckland, New Zealand (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Bishop Selwyn Chapel, Auckland, New Zealand ; Faraday Street Studio, Auckland, New Zealand

Fusing creativity, design excellence and a sensitive consideration of place, Fearon Hay Architects’ team of experienced professionals tackles a diversity of projects across the world.

From their studios in Auckland and Los Angeles, they mastermind remarkable architectural responses to a wide scope of briefs encompassing hospitality, office and urban spaces, as well as private dwellings and religious structures.

Cumulus Studio

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in Australasia

Devil's Corner Cellar Door by Cumulus StudioCradle Mountain Visitor Centre by Cumulus StudioFirm Location: Tasmania, Australia (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Devil’s Corner Cellar Door, Apslawn, Australia ; Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre Tasmania, Australia

Collaboration is at the heart of this Australian architecture and interior design studio, which has offices in Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne and Adelaide. The practice’s architects, designers and operations team work collectively to explore the potential of each design, whether commercial or residential, contemplating its context and considering overlooked architectural perspectives.

This emphasis on open dialogue among the team, their clients, stakeholders and the community results in pioneering, inclusive designs that are respectful to all.

Best Firms In Central & South America

Studio MK27

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in Central & South America

Jungle House by Studio MK27Cultura Bookstore by Studio MK27Firm Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Pictured Projects: Jungle House, Guarujá, Brazil ; Cultura Bookstore, São Paulo, Brazil

Headquartered in vibrant São Paulo, Studio MK27 pays homage to Brazilian modernism, while reimagining this revered architectural movement through a contemporary lens. For the award-winning firm, formal simplicity and attention to detail are paramount, an acuteness that’s reflected in their exacting portfolio.

The practice’s defining projects span dynamic residential schemes that respect Brazil’s natural topography and striking commercial spaces, including bars, bookshops and vineyards, that offer an immersive architectural experience.

FGMF

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in Central & South America

Casa Sombrero by FGMFFEED Meat Market by FGMF
Firm Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Pictured Projects: Casa Sombrero, Campinas, Brazil ; FEED Meat Market, São Paulo, Brazil

Driven by a belief that architecture should reflect life and embrace plurality, heterogeneity and dynamism, this Brazilian practice is at the forefront of contemporary architecture. Their designs explore the connection between the built environment and its surroundings, utilizing state-of-the-art materials and construction techniques.

Ranging from an upscale meat market to a public school and a remarkable rooftop condo, their varied portfolio is united by a distinctive architectural voice, establishing them among the best architecture firms around the world.

Best Firms in Europe

Mecanoo

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in Europe

World Port Centre Rotterdam by MecanooNatural History Museum Abu Dhabi by MecanooFirm Location: Delft, Netherlands (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: World Port Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands ; Natural History Museum, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo was founded in 1984 and has an exceptional collection of forward-thinking projects under their belt. The practice’s schemes are shaped by the trifactor of people, place and purpose. This guiding philosophy considers the client and user’s requirements, the physical and cultural environment and the present and future functions of a building.

Sustainability is a key consideration in the fabric of their designs, along with an emphasis on flexible spaces that can shift and evolve to accommodate changing needs in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Roark Studio

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in Europe

Nowe Kolibki by Roark StudioPier of the Future by Roark StudioFirm Location: Sopot, Poland
Pictured Projects: Nowe Kolibki, Gdynia, Poland ; Pier of the Future, Gdynia, Poland (Concept)

This innovative Poland-based architecture studio works across a diverse range of typologies, from public piers, community spaces and educational buildings to multi-unit residential developments.

The firm’s holistic projects are informed by the tenets of neuroarchitecture, imbuing their designs with emotive value and prioritizing the health and well-being of those who inhabit the structures and their wider urban locales.

Best Firms in North America

MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in North America

Oregon State University Forest Science Complex by MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURECatalyst Building by MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTUREFirm Location: Vancouver, Canada
Pictured Projects: Oregon State University Forest Science Complex, Covallis, Oregon ; Catalyst Building, Spokane, Washington

Innovators in the field of sustainable design, MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE are lauded for their carbon-neutral buildings and pioneering timber construction techniques. Climate change and social change are key drivers that underlie their impressive portfolio, which has been recognized for a number of prestigious awards.

The Vancouver-based practice tackles a broad spectrum of projects across varying scales, including boutique interiors, architectural marquees, housing developments and large institutional buildings across Canada and beyond.

Montalba Architects

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in North America

Vertical Courtyard House by Montalba Architects, Inc.LR2 House by Montalba Architects, Inc.Firm Location: Los Angeles, California (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Vertical Courtyard House, Santa Monica, California ; LR2 House, Pasadena, California

They may be headquartered in Los Angeles, but this international practice has an impressive reach, with a portfolio of work stretching from the United States to Europe and the Middle East.

Encompassing commercial and residential spheres, their humanist approach to architectural design not only places special emphasis on the site requirements and clients’ needs, but also on the wider context beyond the development’s walls. The result is bold, socially conscious buildings that positively contribute to the built landscape.

Best Firm in Middle East & Africa

Studio Toggle

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in the Middle East & Africa
Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Firm

Ternion by Studio ToggleEdges Al Barouk by Studio ToggleFirm Location: Salmiya, Kuwait (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Ternion, Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait ; Edges Al Barouk, Salmiya, Kuwait

With far-reaching expertise across commercial, residential, public and hospitality architecture, as well as interior design, Studio Toggle’s approach is shaped by their commitment to logic and problem-solving. However, their precise and considered schemes also embrace the unexpected.

Founded in 2012 and based in Kuwait City and Porto, the firm’s impactful portfolio of projects is defined by a careful balance of antitheses. Their philosophy is that form follows function, simplicity is complex and even chaos can be organized.

HQ Architects

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best in the Middle East & Africa

Fein 1 Central by HQ Architects
Bus Terminal Petach Tikva by HQ ArchitectsFirm Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Pictured Projects: Fein 1 Central, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel ; Bus Terminal Petach Tikva, Israel (Concept)

Based in Tel Aviv, HQ Architects revel in challenging tradition. Interrogating and reimagining conventional typologies, their subversive stance leads to surprising structures and urban spaces that push the boundaries of modern architecture in Israel and beyond.

While their perspective is playful, the 35-strong team is dedicated to delivering quality designs, an assurance that’s upheld by rigorous technical expertise and creative building solutions.

Best Interior Design Firms

Fyra

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Interior Design Firm

Bardem by FyraNew Nordic School by the Sea by FyraFirm Location: Helsinki, Finland
Pictured Projects: Bardem, Helsinki, Finland ; New Nordic School by the Sea, Helsinki, Finland

Founded back in 2010, this Helsinki-based interior design agency creates bespoke, immersive spaces where people and community take center stage. Fyra’s striking projects embody the values of their clients while bringing their own distinct perspective to each design.

Their varied portfolio extends across office, retail, hotel, restaurant and educational environments, as well as a range of cross-sectional ventures. The company’s bold, decisive schemes are underpinned by a commitment to sustainability and a strong emphasis on cooperation between the team and the businesses and individuals they work with.

PANORAMA Design Group

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Interior Design Firm

KidsWinshare Plus by PANORAMA Design GroupOneJee Hotel by PANORAMA Design GroupFirm Location: Hong Kong, China
Pictured Projects: KidsWinshare Plus, Chengdu, China ; OneJee Hotel, Shenzhen, China

Spatial storytelling is at the forefront of this playful interior design practice. Headquartered in Hong Kong and with offices across China, the firm has extensive experience curating projects for the hospitality, retail and wellness industries, as well as vibrant child-friendly spaces.

Revising conventional typologies, PANORAMA Design Group balances locational and economic factors with their signature vibrant style to conjure up unique and unconventional schemes for every size and function of space.

Best Landscape Design Firms

TROP

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Landscape Design Firm

Under the Ficus Shade by TROPBotanica Khao Yai by TROPFirm Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Pictured Projects: Under the Ficus Shade : Garden for Ad Lib Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand ; Botanica Khao Yai, Pak Chong, Thailand

This architectural landscape design studio has been innovating remarkable projects across Asia since 2007. TROP’s pioneering portfolio ranges from design-forward public parks to biophilic hotels, commercial spaces and installations, along with residences rooted in organic materials and natural topography.

The firm believes the design process is as vital as the design itself. To this end, their team of designers and construction supervisors foster close relationships with each client, articulating complex projects from inception to realization.

ASPECT Studios

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Landscape Design Firm

The Urban Gallery at Hyperlane by ASPECT StudiosPrahran Square by ASPECT StudiosFirm Location: Melbourne, Australia (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: The Urban Gallery at Hyperlane, Chengdu, China ; Prahran Square, Melbourne, Australia

Encompassing an international team of landscape architects, urban designers and strategists, ASPECT Studios prides themselves on designing projects that benefit the community and the natural environment.

Their specialism is crafting intuitive public spaces and using their profound understanding of this typology — its uses and tension points — to inform their creative and technical processes. The result is memorable landscape design projects that fuse function and fun, dynamic architecture across public parks, plazas, coastal walkways and busy city streets.

Best Large Firms

Zaha Hadid Architects

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Large Firm (50+ employees)

Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Centre by Zaha Hadid ArchitectsKing Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre by Zaha Hadid ArchitectsFirm Location: London, United Kingdom (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Centre, Zhuhai, China ; King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (KAPSARC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Known the world over, the extensive portfolio of Zaha Hadid Architects extends across the globe, broaching every architectural sector, including commercial, corporate, residential, educational and cultural buildings.

Their distinctive futuristic aesthetic is immediately recognizable, defined by curvaceous volumes, organic forms, undulating lines, severe angles and stark materials, including concrete, glass and steel. The firm’s ground-breaking designs are at once bold and dramatic, and acutely responsive to the surrounding environment.

Killa Design

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Large Firm (50+ employees)

Museum of the Future by Killa DesignBoutique Resort by Killa DesignFirm Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Pictured Projects: Museum of the Future, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ; Boutique Resort, Oman (Concept)

Located in Dubai, Killa Design seeks to shrug off architectural methodologies of the past and tackle each project as a new opportunity for innovation. Sustainability and contextual sensitivity are at the heart of the firm’s designs, which negotiate social and environmental responsibilities with an uncompromising commitment to high-quality constructions.

Dedicated to creating spaces that enrich the user experience, their areas of expertise span hospitality, corporate and residential, as well as museums, cultural buildings, urban design and master planning projects.

Best Medium Firms

Duvall Decker

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Medium Firm (11-49 employees)

New U.S. Courthouse by Duvall DeckerThe Selah House by Duvall DeckerFirm Location: Jacksonville, Mississippi
Pictured Projects: New U.S. Courthouse, Greenville, Mississippi ; The Selah House, Malvern, Pennsylvania

Founded in 1998, Duvall Decker is committed to creating exceptional spaces that promote the well-being of those who inhabit them and improve the quality of the built environment.

Combining design acumen with technical expertise, their talented team works across an array of typologies, from residential and interior projects to educational, religious, commercial and municipal structures, as well as master plans. No matter their client’s needs or budget, the firm’s goal is to deliver architecture that endures in both material and memory.

Best Small Firms

Chiangmai Life Architects

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Small Firm (1-10 employees)

Panyaden Secondary School by Chaingmai Life ArchitectsBamboo Sports Hall at Panyaden International School by Chaingmai Life ArchitectsFirm Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Pictured Projects: Panyaden Secondary School, Chiang Mai, Thailand ; Bamboo Sports Hall at Panyaden International School, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Northern Thailand-based Chiangmai Life Architects are striving to bring organic sustainable design into the 21st century. Championing bamboo and earth, the firm creates striking architectural buildings fit for modern life, including residences, schools and meditation centers.

Their portfolio pays homage to natural construction materials, from rammed-earth buildings to exquisitely intricate bamboo roof structures. These sustainable resources are paired with cutting-edge technology to help combat issues such as pollution, as well as ensuring projects have a minimal carbon footprint.

The Design Institute Of Landscape & Architecture China Academy Of Art CO.,LTD

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Small Firm (1-10 employees)
Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Cultural Firm

Boat Rooms on the Fuchun River by The Design Institute of Landscape & Architecture China Academy of ArtCity Lounge of Zhongshan Road by The Design Institute of Landscape & Architecture China Academy of ArtFirm Location: Hangzhou, China
Pictured Projects: Boat Rooms on the Fuchun River, Hangzhou, China ; City Lounge of Zhongshan Road, Jiaxing, China

From orchestrating the master plan of a village to delivering exceptional residences, renovation projects and stand-out hospitality spaces across China, this architecture firm has overseen a varied collection of schemes across a range of sectors.

Headquartered in Hangzhou in the east of China, the practice delivers structures that harmonize with both the natural and built environment. Inspiration is sought from the surrounding landscapes as well as traditional Chinese vernacular architecture, which is elevated by modern construction techniques.

Best Sustainable Firms

The Miller Hull Partnership

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design by The Miller Hull PartnershipLoom House by The Miller Hull PartnershipFirm Location: Seattle, Washington (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, Atlanta, Georgia ; Loom House, Bainbridge Island, Washington

Sustainable architecture is a key tenet of The Miller Hull Partnership’s mission statement. With studios in Seattle and San Diego, the pioneering firm seeks to understand the power of nature through their work, embracing passive systems and locally sourced materials in their projects.

Connection with the natural world is central to the practice’s architectural process, whether it’s applied across domestic, educational or civic contexts. Paired with an emphasis on cooperation and problem-solving, they deliver innovative and unexpected spaces that serve occupants and the wider environment.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

Wild Mile by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank Headquarters by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)Firm Location: New York City, New York (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Wild Mile, Chicago, Illinois (Concept) ; Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank Headquarters, Shenzhen, China

Across a diverse portfolio that encompasses a floating eco-park, transport terminals, cultural hubs, commercial towers and refined residences, plus a cathedral and even a naval training base, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) establish themselves as impressive all-rounders.

Sustainable strategies are part of the firm’s architectural DNA, seen through the inclusion of powerful insulation, glazing, energy-efficient lighting and biophilic solutions. The masterminds behind an array of environmentally advanced structures and developments, their projects are designed to adapt to future changes in the ways we live, work and communicate, resulting in remarkable spaces that are built to endure.

Best Young Firms

Jonathan Burlow

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Firm

Over the Edge by Jonathan BurlowOver the Edge by Jonathan BurlowFirm Location: Folkstone, United Kingdom
Pictured Project: Over the Edge, Kent, United Kingdom

Founded in 2018, this emerging practice is already making waves on the architectural landscape. The firm’s design philosophy is anchored by a commitment to both problem-solving and exceptional artistry, ensuring a harmonious balance between these dual priorities.

The studio is based in Kent, however, the founder’s diverse cultural background informs the company’s unique architectural perspective. Consequently, the team celebrates and experiments with global notions of place, society and convention across their broad scope of projects.

Best Young Interior Design Firms

L&M Design Lab

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Interior Design Firm

Mirror Bridge by L&M Design Lab Wondering in the woods by L&M Design Lab Firm Location: Shanghai, China (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Mirror Bridge, Shanghai, China ; Wandering in the woods, Xiamen, China

L&M Design Lab was named after the firm’s guiding mantra: logic is magic. Their team channels their creativity and curiosity into innovative, purposeful designs that offer exciting new iterations of conventional typologies.

Specializing in architectural, interior and urban design, the practice was founded in 2013 in Shanghai. The firm has since brought their dynamic viewpoint to bear on a range of built environments, from residential spaces to stand-out commercial offices and playful educational structures.

WIT Design & Research

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Interior Design Firm

Dong Fureng House Museum by WIT Design & ResearchJetlag Books Pop-up Store by WIT Design & ResearchFirm Location: Beijing, China
Pictured Projects: Dong Fureng House Museum, China ; Jetlag Books Pop-up Store, Beijing, China

This Beijing-based firm was started in 2015 and already has an impressive catalog of projects to show. WIT Design & Research demonstrates a masterful command over spatial design, incorporating a nuanced understanding of architecture and interior art to produce exceptional schemes.

Whether handling the sensitive renovation of a historic listed building or designing a futuristic installation for the retail sphere, they showcase a deft negotiation of materials.

Best Commercial Firms

X+LIVING

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Commercial Firm

Deji Plaza Phase I, Floor 6 Washroom by X+LIVINGNew Century Magic Hotel by X+LIVINGFirm Location: Shanghai, China
Pictured Projects: Deji Plaza Phase I, Floor 6 Washroom, Nanjing, China ; New Century Magic Hotel, Huzhou, China

Leaders in commercial design, X+LIVING rips up the rule book on spatial archetypes with their theatrical and experimental approach. Graphic lines, bold geometries and Escher-inspired aesthetics set their vibrant portfolio apart from the crowd. The result is deeply immersive spaces imbued with a whimsical sense of wonder.

While creativity and storytelling may be at the forefront of the firm’s practice, they’re matched with a staunch commitment to utility, delivering an artful combination of functionality and fancifulness.

Various Associates

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Commercial Firm

SND Taikoo Li Qiantan by Various Associates HAYDON Shanghai by Various Associates Firm Location: Shenzhen, China
Pictured Projects: SND Taikoo Li Qiantan, Beijing, China ; HAYDON Shanghai, Shanghai China

With a distinguished portfolio encompassing a variety of high-end projects, from boutique hotels, restaurants and retail schemes, to offices, installations and exhibition spaces, Various Associates brings a holistic perspective to commercial design.

Their projects demonstrate a mindful consideration of both spatial practicalities and brand values, while respecting wider locational context. By translating elements of environmental and cultural histories into the vernacular of modern architecture, the firm creates landmark schemes that respond to their surroundings while furthering the narrative in radical ways.

Best Cultural Firms

Tabanlioglu Architects

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Cultural Firm

Ataturk Cultural Center by Tabanlioglu Architects Dakar Congress Center by Tabanlioglu Architects Firm Location: Istanbul, Turkey (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Ataturk Cultural Center, Istanbul, Turkey ; Dakar Congress Center, Dakar, Senegal

Headquartered in Istanbul but with studios in Dubai, Doha and New York City, Tabanlioglu Architects has an impressive international reach. While the firm may have a global presence, they react to the social and physical landscapes of each project individually, ensuring that they add value to the surrounding localities.

Their portfolio includes a diversity of important public, cultural and municipal buildings, including community centers, shopping centers, a library and even an airport terminal. The practice’s visionary approach doesn’t sacrifice sustainability in the name of style either, with a vehement emphasis on sustainable practices.

Best Public Projects Firms

NADAAA

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Public Projects Firm

Adams Street Branch Library by NADAAAMelbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne by NADAAAFirm Location: Boston, Massachusetts (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)
Pictured Projects: Adams Street Branch Library, Boston, Massachusetts ; Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Innovation is at the center of this Boston-based design firm. Steeped in a collaborative culture, the practice challenges the norms of the construction industry and devises new ways to build across projects of all scales, from public infrastructure ventures to bespoke fixtures and furnishings.

While their work bridges different industrial spheres, they’ve masterminded a succession of remarkable public schemes. The firm’s research-driven designs are ever cognizant of the end user, oriented to accommodate community dialogues and motivate public participation in the public realm.

SBM Studio

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Public Projects Firm

Sarzhyn Yar by SBM StudioHouse in Kharkiv by SBM StudioFirm Location: Kharkiv, Ukraine
Pictured Projects: Sarzhyn Yar, Kharkiv, Ukraine ; House in Kharkiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine

The connection between people and the landscapes they inhabit, whether cultural, social or environmental, is key to the work of SBM Studio. Encouraging this discourse through architecture and landscape design, the firm creates meaningful spaces, reinforced by cutting-edge technology and construction techniques.

While they have extensive experience working across the commercial and residential sectors, the dynamic practice has been shifting its gaze to public projects, endeavoring to improve the built environment and punctuate city topographies with communal natural spaces.

Best Residential Firms

PETITDIDIERPRIOUX

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Residential Firm

Athletes’ Village Olympic Games 2024 by PETITDIDIERPRIOUX152 Housing Units by PETITDIDIERPRIOUXFirm Location: Paris, France
Pictured Projects: Athletes’ Village Olympic Games 2024, L’lle-Saint-Denis, France ; 152 Housing Units, Villeurbanne, France

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Paris, PETITDIDIERPRIOUX has built up an impressive portfolio across public and private typologies. Their scope includes new multi-unit residences, office buildings, public developments and renovation projects across France and beyond.

Notably, the 35-strong team is designing a number of residential buildings for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games athletes’ village. Still under construction, the ambitious project has been devised with adaptability in mind. Following the Olympics, the structures will be repurposed as public housing and assimilated into the city’s established landscape.

Sanjay Puri Architects

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Best Residential Firm

Studios 90 by Sanjay Puri ArchitectsNirvana 63 by Sanjay Puri ArchitectsFirm Location: Mumbai, India
Pictured Projects: Studios 90, Kodla, India ; The Street, Mathura, India

Sustainability and respect for the local environment inform the design ethos of this Mumbai-based firm. Sanjay Puri Architects delivers pioneering spaces and structures that exist in harmony with their surroundings. Consequently, their projects offer creative responses to contextual challenges, addressing hot climates with innovative architectural solutions and construction methods.

Founded in 1992, the practice’s catalog of work is wide-ranging, spanning master planning projects, schools, hospitality buildings, retail and office structures and ambitious multi-unit housing developments, all executed with an unwavering commitment to energy efficiency.

Architizer’s A+Awards Best Firm categories allow design firms of all sizes to showcase their practice and vie for the title of “World’s Best Architecture Firm”. Start an A+Firm Award Application today. 

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Reference

Bosch heat pump dryer in butler's pantry setting; white tile and gray cabinets
CategoriesSustainable News Zero Energy Homes

Heat Pump Dryers: Low-Impact Laundry

By Zarkon Group,

If you’re interested in shaving off perhaps 10% of your household energy use (and your electric bill) with a single purchase, it’s time to look into heat pump dryers. “An electric dryer can use anywhere from 700 to 1000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. That’s about a tenth of the average American’s electricity usage,” said Joe Wachunas, electrification advocate for Electrify Now and Project Manager at New Buildings Institute. “You can cut that by 75% or more using heat pump dryers.”

With options on the market that use as little as 200 kWh of energy in a year, it’s not hard to see why their market share is increasing. “Heat pump technology is critical here in America, especially,” Wachunas says. “And heat pump dryers are an exciting, relatively new technology.”

Traditional vented dryers

Vented dryers can be either gas or electric, and they require venting to the outside of the home through ducts. A heating element heats the air in the drum, evaporating the moisture from clothes. Then as the dryer runs, the hot, moist air is vented outside and replaced with air pulled in from your laundry room, basement, or wherever it’s located. This influx of fresh air must be heated to continue drying the clothes.

Ga-Young Park,  Residential Appliances Manager at ENERGY STAR, pointed out another inefficiency. “Because vented dryers pull in cooled or heated air from your home and vent it outdoors, your air conditioner or heater has to work even harder to maintain the indoor temperature.” Also, vented dryer drums get very hot during operation, which—aside from the fire risk—can overdry clothes and potentially damage fabrics.

Heat pump dryers

Electric-powered heat pump dryers (aka ventless or condensation dryers) dry clothes without using a heating element or vent. Instead, heat pump technology pulls air into a condenser, heats it, and sends it into the drum, where it absorbs moisture from the wet clothes. Then, the air cycles to an evaporator, where it’s cooled. As the air gets colder, it loses moisture, which is either drained or collected in a removable tray.

That same air is then pulled from the evaporator into the condenser to be reheated while it’s still warm. In other words, heat pump dryers recycle warm air instead of venting it to the outdoors. Not having to heat fresh, cold air leads to big energy savings. Park added, “Heat pump models dry laundry at lower temperatures, which is much gentler on clothes. And unlike vented dryers, there’s basically no fire risk.”

Hybrid heat pump dryers

Hybrid heat pump dryers combine the heat pump cycle with the heating element of a vented dryer. This pairing helps the dryer drum get hotter, so clothes dry faster. Hybrid heat pump dryers are much more efficient than vented dryers, but because of the heating element, they’re less efficient than pure heat pump dryers.

Bosch heat pump dryer in butler's pantry setting; white tile and gray cabinets

Bosch WTG86403UC 300 Series 24 Inch Smart Electric Dryer, ventless. Images courtesy Amazon.

Size, price, and dry time

“People often think heat pump dryers take way longer to dry clothes because they use lower temperatures,” said Park. In reality, heat pump models can have dry times comparable to many vented dryers on the market today. All models with the ENERGY STAR label meet an 80 minute maximum dry time for a “typical” cycle, and some newer models demonstrate dry times as low as 50 to 35 minutes.

Historically, heat pump dryers have been compact in size, smaller than typical US household dyers. Things are changing, though. Park reported only ten options for standard-size dryers with heat pump technology, but expects that more standard-size heat pump dryers will continue to come on the market, particularly as hybrid models become more available.

Heat pump dryers are definitely more expensive than traditional vented dryers, but more and more, utility-sponsored rebates are available to offset the cost differential. Owners may also save on installation. Heat pump dryers do not require venting ductwork, which makes them simpler and less expensive to install. Homeowners can install the dryers nearly anywhere, provided the condensed water is allowed to collect or drain along with the washer.

Of course, you’ll also see major savings on your monthly energy bill.

Finally, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will provide additional rebates and tax credits for homeowners looking to make energy-efficient home upgrades. (This savings calculator can help you estimate how much money you can save on a heat pump dryer through the IRA.)

Note: European households use an average of 3,700 kWh of electricity each year, just a third of what Americans use. Not coincidentally, while most of the world saves big money and energy by hanging clothes outside to dry, the practice is restricted or completely banned by many communities across the United States!

ENERGY STAR’s 6 Most Efficient Dryers

ENERGY STAR, run by the US Environmental Protection Agency, has overseen testing and labeling of quality, energy-efficient products for more than 30 years. The blue ENERGY STAR label signifies brands and models that are leaders in energy efficiency.

ENERGY STAR ranks dryers based on their Combined Energy Factor (CEF), a measure of energy efficiency. The higher a dryer’s CEF, the more energy efficient it is.

ENERGY STAR’s six most energy-efficient clothes dryers are all heat pump dryers (as of January 1, 2023).

Blomberg – DHP24404W 

  • Combined Energy Factor (CEF): 11.0
  • Estimated Annual Energy Use: 217 kWh/yr
  • Estimated Energy Test Cycle Time: 67 minutes
  • Additional Features: Sanitization cycle, Filter cleaning indicator, Steam cycle, Drum light, Time remaining display

Beko – HPD24414W 

  • Combined Energy Factor (CEF): 11.0
  • Estimated Annual Energy Use: 217 kWh/yr
  • Estimated Energy Test Cycle Time: 67 minutes
  • Additional Features: Sanitization cycle, Filter cleaning indicator, Steam cycle, Drum light, Time remaining display

Miele – PDR908 HP

  • Combined Energy Factor (CEF): 9.75
  • Estimated Annual Energy Use: 245 kWh/yr
  • Estimated Energy Test Cycle Time: 53 minutes
  • Additional features: Filter cleaning indicator, Drum light, Wrinkle prevention option, Time remaining display

Asko – T411HS.W.U

  • Combined Energy Factor (CEF): 9.1
  • Estimated Annual Energy Use: 263 kWh/yr
  • Estimated Energy Test Cycle Time: 80 minutes
  • Additional features: Filter cleaning indicator, Drum light, Wrinkle prevention option, Time remaining display

Samsung – DV53BB89**H*

  • Combined Energy Factor (CEF): 8.5
  • Estimated Annual Energy Use: 281 kWh/yr
  • Estimated Energy Test Cycle Time: 69 minutes
  • Additional features: Sanitation cyle, drum capacity 7.8 cu-ft

LG – WKHC202H*A 

  • Combined Energy Factor (CEF): 8.0
  • Estimated Annual Energy Use: 299 kWh/yr
  • Estimated Energy Test Cycle Time: 72 minutes
  • Additional features: Wrinkle prevention option, time remaining display, drum capacity 7.2 cu-ft

This article springs from Electrify Now’s webinar on Heat Pump Dryers. For more strategies and technologies to electrify your home, visit their YouTube Channel.

By Catherine Polslusny

Reference

A platform stops imperfect food from going to waste in Mexico
CategoriesSustainable News

A platform stops imperfect food from going to waste in Mexico

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: According to a report by the WWF, more than 15 per cent of usable food is lost before it ever leaves the farm, with the majority of this waste occurring in middle and high income regions. Some of this waste occurs when food is left on the field due to order cancellations, imperfections in food appearance, or a surplus. This represents a tremendous waste of resources. Mexican startup Perfekto is hoping to improve the situation with its delivery boxes.

Launched in 2021, Perfekto works with more than 70 producers to ‘rescue’ food that cannot be sold to suppliers. Subscribers choose from different types and sizes of box, or can request a ‘surprise’ box. These boxes can also be personalised with different types of produce and are then delivered using proprietary software that automates routing and logistics. All of the fruit and vegetables arrive with minimal packaging, and what packaging there is, is returnable to Perfekto for recycling and/or reuse.

Since its origins, the business has grown to more than 3,000 active monthly subscribers. However, the company envisions even bigger things in the future, with hopes of expanding into food other than fruits and vegetables, including those foods that are less likely to sell because of dented packaging. Perfekto recently announced that it has raised $1.1 million (approximately €1.07 million) in pre-seed funding to expand its food rescue programme across Mexico City, improve operations and technology, and expand its catalogue of products.

Perfekto is one of a number of companies that are working to save food from ending up in landfills. Springwise has also spotted a platform that helps hospitality companies manage their inventories to reduce waste, and AI that checks the ripeness of produce.

Written By Lisa Magloff

Reference

The world's first commercial CO2-to-methanol plant
CategoriesSustainable News

The world’s first commercial CO2-to-methanol plant

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Methanol (CH3OH) is a chemical building block used in hundreds of everyday products, including plastics, paints, and car parts, as well as a clean-burning fuel. However, methanol production itself is not clean – it is produced in an energy-intensive process that usually begins with natural gas: a fossil fuel. Now, Carbon Recycling International (CRI) is working on a way to change this with a production process that uses captured waste carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases.

CRI has recently completed the world’s first commercial-scale CO2-to-methanol plant, located in Anyang, Henan Province, China. The cutting-edge facility uses Emissions-to-Liquids (ETL) technology developed by CRI and first demonstrated at its pilot plant in Iceland. This process uses carbon dioxide that is recovered from existing lime production emissions, and hydrogen recovered from coke-oven gas. The waste gases are captured at their point of emission and transferred to the gas conditioning system, where impurities are then removed to produce carbon dioxide. At the same time, hydrogen is generated by water electrolysis using a renewable electricity source.

Björk Kristjánsdóttir, CEO of CRI, explains, “We are proud to have successfully realised this important project and to bring our environmentally friendly, ETL technology into the global market. This technology can support large-scale reduction of carbon emissions and help facilitate the energy transition.”

To meet the goal of zero carbon, it is going to be necessary to find low-carbon methods for producing basic materials. Springwise has also spotted a method for making protein out of methane and turning waste CO2 into carbon fibre and wastewater treatment chemicals.

Written By Lisa Magloff

Reference

Designers people in front of projected image
CategoriesSustainable News

Three Swiss design brands present sustainable products in San Francisco

By Zarkon Group,

Promotion: a fashion label, packaging designer and coffee roastery are three brands from Switzerland taking part in the Swiss Design Accelerator Program in San Francisco, USA.

The three studios – YVY, Paula Cermeño León and Mikafi – represent innovative design practices emerging from Switzerland.

Recognised at the international event for their pioneering attitude to the design, the three brands aim to have sustainability and circular economic values at the forefront of their creative processes.

Designers people in front of projected image
The designers exhibiting their brands in San Francisco (above) and work by Paula Cermeño León (top). Photo by Myleen Hollero for Swissnex in San Francisco

YVY is a fashion label founded by designer Yvonne Reichmuth in 2015, which designs and manufactures leather goods in Zurich.

The brand produces ready-to-wear accessories such as wallets, belts, jewellery and hats in addition to bespoke harnesses and clothing, which are predominantly made from leather.

A designer wearing suit and leather harness
YVY designs and manufactures leather goods

The brand has clothed notable celebrities such as Kristen Stewart, Billie Eilish, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Troye Sivan, Taylor Swift and Camila Cabello among others.

YVY does not release seasonal collections, instead it creates carry-over pieces that aim to reduce material waste and allow designs to be continuously refined.

Two people with coffee machine
Mikafi designs pioneering the coffee roasting process

The leather is sourced from byproducts of the food industry, with the brand also offering non-animal alternatives on a case-by-case basis to cater to all client requirements.

The leather follows traditional processing techniques and uses vegetable tanning methods to make the material safe for both those handling it during the manufacturing process and for the planet.

Person wearing leather harness
The brand uses traditional leather treatment methods

Mikafi designs fully automated coffee roasting systems that are made up of both hardware and software that work in tandem to reduce the impact of coffee making on the environment.

The brand’s tabletop mini roasting appliance called MCR 1 allows coffee beans to be roasted on demand, which reduces overproduction and waste, and being electrically powered makes the machine more environmentally viable than traditional gas-powered roasters.

Two people with coffee machine
Mikafi is pioneering the coffee roasting process

MCR 1 is still in its testing phase, and has been designed for use in commercial hospitality settings such as bakeries, cafes and restaurants.

It is made up of a chamber containing coffee beans on the top, with a large circular window below that shows the roasting process happening inside.

Coffee machine with large circular window on worktop
MCR 1 is still in its testing phase, and has been designed for use in commercial hospitality settings such as bakeries, cafes and restaurants.

It is made up of a chamber containing coffee beans on the top, with a large circular window below that shows the roasting process happening inside.

Mikafi’s digital platform manages the process of the coffee beans from farm to cup, and aims to open up channels of communication between farmers, hospitality venues and consumers.

“The concept is thought to foster a fairer and more direct trade between the coffee farmer and the consumer, and most of all to strengthen the taste experience of the latter,” said Mikafi.

Coffee machine with large circular window on worktop
MCR 1 has a large window so users can observe the roasting process happening

Paula Cermeño León is a designer who specialises in creating sustainable packaging as well as personal care products informed by the importance of circularity and the benefits of working with plants.

She combines her design skills, which she developed during her studies at ECAL in Switzerland, with expertise from professionals who work closely with plants, including botanists, biologists, artists and engineers.

Photograph of product wrapped in dried leaves
Paula Cermeño León used natural waste material for packaging incense

Among León’s designs is a proposed alternative to conventional packaging for Peruvian brand Misha Rastrera, which makes Palo Santo incense.

As opposed to using conventional plastic film packaging, León chose to use surplus corn husks produced during farming to make packaging that is sustainable and compostable.

Photograph of neutral coloured skincare items on white background
The face mask must be wetted before use

Other eco-based products by León include self-care items, such as the face mask set from her Herbier Project, which is made from plant fibres that can be distributed dry and rehydrated when ready to use.

Her Refined Remedies collection of medicinal products for minor wounds and menstrual pain are also infused with plant extracts and present a contemporary take on herbal remedies.

Hand smoothing patch onto arm on yellow background
Remedies are used for minor ailments

The Swiss Design Accelerator program is the result of collaboration between Swiss Art Council, Pro Helvetia, under the label Design Switzerland, and Swissnex in San Francisco, an initiative by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, connecting “Switzerland, North America and the world in science, education, innovation and the arts”.

The program aims to build connections and international visibility for emerging Swiss designers and brands in the design industries.

The program ran from 7 November to 13 November 2022 and was held at Swissnex’s space at Pier 17 in San Francisco.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Swissnex as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

Reference

Volvo develops trucks with fossil-fuel-free steel
CategoriesSustainable News

Volvo develops trucks with fossil-fuel-free steel

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Since their creation, fossil fuel vehicles have been a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. While we are beginning to lessen the environmental cost of road transport by travelling in fossil fuel-free cars, auto manufacturers still rely on fossil resources when building their products. And, with the Paris Agreement giving automakers until 2040 to produce net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the entire value chain of vehicle production, this is an issue.

In a bid to resolve this, the Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB has harnessed new technology that leverages electricity and hydrogen to create fossil fuel-free steel. As steel is elemental to assembling cars and trucks, this innovation gives auto manufacturers a chance to fulfill the Paris Agreement and achieve net-zero emissions.

Showing its environmental commitment, Volvo Trucks has become the first truck manufacturer in the world to use fossil-free steel. The hydrogen-produced steel will be placed into the frame rails that form the backbone of Volvo’s electric trucks, where all the other main parts are mounted. Once the availability of fossil fuel-free steel increases, Volvo claims it will then be introduced in other parts of the truck.

“Our journey to net zero emissions includes both making our vehicles fossil-free in operation and over time fully replacing the material in our trucks with fossil-free and recycled alternatives,” says Jessica Sandström, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Volvo Trucks.

Volvo began their small-scale introduction of the SSAB steel in May 2022 and it became commercially available the following month, just nine months after the first fossil-free vehicle concept was unveiled.

Springwise has spotted other innovations seeking to decarbonise steel, such as the implementation of AI within steel and cement plants, and using green hydrogen to manufacture green steel.

Written By Georgia King

Reference

Headshot of Lord Deben
CategoriesSustainable News

“Architects need to embrace radical change to avoid a hellish future”

By Zarkon Group,

As yet another COP fails to put the world on a path to avert climate catastrophe, it’s time for architects to fundamentally rethink the work they do, writes Michael Pawlyn.

The outcome of COP27, and Antonio Guterres’ grim warning that “we are on a highway to climate hell”, requires us as designers to do some serious thinking about what we do next. Aside from the breakthrough on “loss and damage” payments to the countries most affected (generally the poorest and least responsible for the problem) there was virtually no progress in getting the world on-track for a safe future. It would be easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenge, but the more courageous thing to do is to engage in an urgent debate about how change happens – and then to take radical action accordingly.

It may also be tempting to think that we can carry on broadly as normal and try a bit harder at sustainability, but that would be a disastrous course of action. We need to accept that the degree of change required is far greater than the industry has embraced to date.

There was virtually no progress in getting the world on-track for a safe future

We urgently need to transcend conventional sustainability approaches to pursue regenerative solutions that are net-positive rather than simply mitigating negatives. We need to move from mechanistic approaches towards more systemic approaches and to widen our perspectives from being solely human-focussed to recognising the whole web of life on which we depend. In short: architects need to embrace radical change if we are to avoid the hellish future predicted by Guterres.

Change needs to occur at the level of mindsets. This has been the focus for Architects Declare UK, in the way the declaration points were written, the events we have organised and the practice guide that was produced. The source of inspiration has been the systems thinker Donella Meadows, who asserted that the best way to change a system is by intervening at the level of the mindset, or paradigm that drives the system, and by shifting its goals.

If we ask ourselves “what drives the way architects work?” it’s probably fair to say that it’s a mixture of worthy aims, such as transforming the built environment to enhance people’s lives, as well as less comfortable motivations, such as the glory gained from publicity or completing a project. Younger, and future, generations are likely to judge harshly those who are motivated by the latter and some of the big-name architects who would like to think of themselves as avant-garde are at risk of being on the wrong side of history.

If, as many have argued over the years, architecture is a celebration of the age in which it was created, then a good test of its relevance is to consider how a contemporary work will be considered in, say, 20 years. Buildings that are little more than gimmicky manipulations of form that help a developer make more money, or extravagant showpieces paid for by luxury brands are likely to be regarded by future generations as some of the most trivial and morally detached artifacts ever created.

Big-name architects who like to think of themselves as avant-garde are at risk of being on the wrong side of history

Societal norms like democracy and human rights are coming under increasing threat and it is worth contemplating how an informed teenager would regard architects who seem content to be photographed with genocidal leaders or those who design projects for murderous autocrats. If we want to be “Good Ancestors”, to use Roman Krznaric‘s term (in turn, borrowed from Louis Kahn’s client Jonas Salk), we need to think much more consciously about how we spend our limited lifespans and how we will be remembered over longer timescales.

An urge to create monuments or icons has been a significant driver for (mainly male) architects and that now needs to be challenged. Ever since the first skyscrapers, we have fetishised supertall buildings and continually competed to go ever taller. A growing body of evidence is showing that this is an extremely profligate way of building; both in terms of embodied and operational carbon.

Surely, in a planetary emergency we should be competing to design buildings that are best aligned with long-term planetary health? Earlier this year Architects Declare UK wrote an open letter to the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats (CTBUH) in which we proposed that it was time to transform its register of “The World’s Tallest Building”. We called on the CTBUH to shift its focus from a fixation on height to the other part of its mission: Urban Habitats. As an organisation they have done a lot to promote sustainability and now there is an opportunity for them to engage with regenerative thinking.

As a profession, we risk being left behind by other sectors that are embracing change more rapidly. Many large businesses are now accepting that the pursuit of profit is not a sufficiently inspiring purpose to attract the best staff and are defining bold new purposes. Similarly, many institutions are recognising that their original purposes are in need of updating. The 1828 Royal Charter for the Institute of Civil Engineers declared that civil engineering “is the art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of man”.

We risk being left behind by other sectors that are embracing change more rapidly

Architects Declare UK has written to the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Simon Allford, proposing that its mission statement should be updated to align with the planetary emergency. Whether he chooses to make this part of his legacy remains to be seen.

It is encouraging to see that some awards such as the Pritzker Architecture Prize are moving with the times, choosing to celebrate architects who champion retrofit, those who work with low-energy materials and, recognising a more diverse range of architects than was conventionally the case. There are, however, plenty of awards systems that still reward highly damaging approaches, as Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) have argued in connection with the RIBA Stirling Prize.

Ideally, this mindset change would be shared by governments. After two years of requesting, and being refused, a meeting with the UK prime minister or former energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng (during which time it was revealed that ministers from his department held hundreds of meetings with fossil fuel companies), Architects Declare UK recently met with shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband and engaged in a constructive dialogue about systems change.

There are, of course, limits to our agency as architects and designers, but it’s no longer acceptable to claim that our existing limits are the end of the story. Where change is necessary, and exceeds what’s possible for an individual company, we need to collaborate to drive systems change. This means joining groups like Architects Declare, Design Declares, Architects Climate Action Network – wherever you feel most at home – and working together to drive change.

Michael Pawlyn is founder of Exploration Architecture. He is the co-author, with Sarah Ichioka, of Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency published by Triarchy Press, and the co-host of the Flourish Systems Change podcast. He is a co-initiator and Steering Group member of UK Architects Declare.

The top image is by Verstappen Photography via Unsplash.

Reference

Data supports smallholder farmers and regenerative agriculture
CategoriesSustainable News

Data supports smallholder farmers and regenerative agriculture

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Smallholder farms, those covering two acres or less, produce around a third of the world’s food. Yet, there are almost no data services aimed at small farmers. As a consequence, many smallholders are cut off from access to wider farming services, support, and policy. To support smallholders, especially those using regenerative practices, the Smallholder Farmers Alliance, Data Economics Company, and Terra Genesis International have formed Smallholder Data Services to help smallholders better utilise their data.

Smallholder Data Services (SDS) uses a platform built on DECO’s Lydion Software Engine. This is used to develop blockchain-based middleware that allows data to be converted into digital assets which can then be shared in secure, private data vaults and data economic networks. SDS operates on a decentralised Data Economic Network (DENET), wherein each smallholder farmer is in control of their own data vault. Corporate partners can then join a regional or crop-specific DENET to examine traceability, regenerative standards, broader sustainability, and community impact.

SDS focuses on those smallholders who are engaged in regenerative farming—a system of farming methods that seek to enhance the entire ecosystem—or those who are looking to move towards regenerative practices. The platform is designed to manage farm-level data that relates to regenerative farming by enabling companies, consumers, and smallholders to verify sustainability standards. By packaging farm data as Lydion assets, the SDS platform both economically empowers these smallholder farmers while providing verification tools for crop buyers.

According to SDS co-founder Tim Tensen, “This is an exciting moment for Regenerative Agriculture as more companies and brands from around the world are taking steps to act from a whole systems perspective and make bold investments in the future of agroecosystems. Web3 technologies like the platform in development by Smallholder Data Services, represent a unique opportunity to support the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and do so in a way that intrinsically develops trust and integrity throughout supply systems, from farmer to consumer.”

This project is one of the latest to leverage blockchain to monetise data. Springwise has spotted other innovations including a platform that builds transparency in coffee supply chains and brings transparency to the diamond industry.

Written By Lisa Magloff

Reference

Quay Quarter Tower by 3XN
CategoriesSustainable News

Seven principles for designing low-carbon skyscrapers

By Zarkon Group,

Despite growing concerns about the carbon emissions associated with their construction and operation, skyscrapers continue to spring up around the globe. Here, Philip Oldfield sets out seven ways to design tall buildings that are more sustainable.

Is there such a thing as a low-carbon tall building? Or are skyscrapers inherently unsustainable, the SUV of the built environment?

By rising up above their surroundings, tall buildings are exposed to more sun and wind. This could, in principle, be a good thing (think free heating and ventilation). But since so many towers are fully glazed, with little shade, instead they often experience overheating or excess heat loss, increasing operating emissions.

Tall buildings also suffer from what skyscraper architect and engineer Fazlur Khan calls the “premium for height”. As we build taller, towers face higher and higher lateral forces from the wind and seismic loads. To resist these, tall buildings use more structural materials – typically carbon-intensive concrete and steel. The upshot is that taller buildings have a higher embodied carbon than mid- and low-rise blocks.

Across their lifecycle, tall buildings typically generate more emissions

Overall the evidence suggests that across their lifecycle, tall buildings typically generate more emissions than mid-rise. So, should we stop building them?

A major challenge we face over the next few decades is housing billions of people comfortably and safely while radically reducing emissions; 1.6 billion people currently live in inadequate housing, according to the UN. Mid-rise could, and should, provide the basis for much of this. But it’s naive to think there’s a one-size-fits-all solution for every city, and every site.

Where land is scarce, tall buildings can provide greater density, putting more people in close proximity to low-carbon public transit, and the civic infrastructure of the city. The question is: how can we design towers to have far fewer carbon emissions than the norm?

Below are seven principles to follow:

Quay Quarter Tower by 3XN
Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney is an example of a retrofit skyscraper project. Photo is by Adam Mork

Retrofit first

Given that they are an investment of thousands of tonnes of steel and concrete, it seems senseless to demolish a tall building. We only need to look at 270 Park Avenue in Manhattan, built in 1960, retrofitted to LEED Platinum in 2012, but then demolished to howls of despair from architects, historians and environmentalists alike only nine years later so that it can be replaced by a slightly taller and shinier edifice.

A much better approach is to retrofit, reuse and reimagine existing towers, rather than raze and rebuild. The Quay Quarter Tower, by 3XN and BVN, upcycles a 1976 modernist tower block in Sydney, maintaining the core and much of the existing floor plates but entirely transforming the architecture – and increasing the floor area by 35 per cent. This approach reduced embodied carbon by around 8,000 tonnes compared to a new build.

National Commercial Bank in Jeddah
The National Commercial Bank in Jeddah has solid external walls and glazed inner courtyards. Photo is by Wolfgang Hoyt/Esto

Reject the curtain wall

Glazed curtain-walling is the go-to cladding of any skyscraper. Visually monotonous, but also environmentally criminal. You don’t need to be a building physicist to understand why. Even the highest-performance triple-glazing with argon gaps, e-coatings and all the bells and whistles won’t perform thermally as well as a simple insulated wall.

Of course, we need daylight and view, so some glazing is essential – but do we really need to glaze down to the floor and illuminate the tops of our feet? Future tall buildings should embrace shade and solidity in their facades, with glazing limited to perhaps no more than 40 per cent of the wall area.

We can take inspiration from the National Commercial Bank in Jeddah. Designed by Gordon Bunshaft of SOM (who ironically also helped design one of the first fully glazed towers in the world, Lever House, in New York), it has glazed inner courtyards but solid stone external walls as a response to the harsh desert sun.

A visual of the Passivhaus 1075 Nelson Street's exterior by WKK Architects in Vancouver
The under-construction 1075 Nelson Street is the tallest Passivhaus in the world. Image courtesy of WKK Architects

Embrace Passivhaus

One of the environmental benefits of tall buildings is that they are compact, meaning they have less envelope to lose heat from compared to low-rise buildings. This characteristic lends itself to Passivhaus – a performance standard that achieves very low operating energy needs through compact forms, super-insulation, air-tightness and heat recovery.

The tallest Passivhaus in the world is the 178-metre-high 1075 Nelson Street skyscraper designed by WKK Architects, currently under construction in Canada. Better still, why not save both embodied and operational emissions by retrofitting an existing tower to Passivhaus, like ERA Architects have done with the Ken Soble Tower in Hamilton?

The Met by Woha
Woha’s The Met building in Bangkok uses deep balconies to aid cross-ventilation. Photo is by Kirsten Bucher

Flush out the heat

The flipside of a compact shape is that once unwanted heat gets into a high-rise it can be more challenging to get it out again. People and equipment inside buildings give off heat, and because towers are compact and often bulky, they can be more challenging to cross-ventilate.

There are some solutions – designing high-rises with atriums, skygardens, or with permeability can create pathways for breezes to flush out unwanted heat. In Woha’s The Met, in Bangkok, deep balconies provide shade from the sun, while voids cut through the building channel breezes and allow units to be cross-ventilated. Residents have reported little need for air-conditioning as a result, even in the hot tropical climate.

Sara Kulturhus and hotel in Skellefteå
The Sara Kulturhus Centre in Sweden features the world’s second-tallest wooden tower. Photo is by Patrick Degerman

Build with timber

Cement, the primary ingredient of concrete, is responsible for around eight per cent of all human-made carbon emissions. Since tall buildings are big consumers of concrete, can we look to use something else?

Step forward timber. Timber structures have the benefit of lower embodied-carbon emissions than steel and concrete. They are also able to store carbon in the wood for the lifetime of the building.

White Arkitekter’s 20-storey Sara Kulturhus Centre is built from cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (glulam). The timber in the building stores twice as much carbon as was emitted during its construction.

TU Wien Plus-Energy Office High Rise
TU Wien’s Plus-Energy Office High Rise produces more energy than it uses. Photo is by Matthias Heisler

Reduce first, generate second

It’s much better to embrace energy efficiency and low-embodied-carbon strategies first before thinking about on-site energy generation. The TU Wien Plus-Energy Office High-Rise in Vienna is the retrofit of a 1970s office block (are you seeing a trend here?).

Through the use of a super-insulated and airtight facade, a heat-recovery system, night-flush ventilation and low-energy appliances, primary energy was reduced from 803 kilowatt-hours per square-metre per year to just 56kWh/m2/year. This radical reduction means that with photovoltaic panels on the roof and facade, the tower will generate more energy than it uses over the year.

It’s tempting to add wind turbines to the top of a skyscraper – but don’t do it! While it might create a bold green visual statement, it won’t reduce emissions much. Wind speeds increase with height, so it seems sensible to use this to generate clean energy, but turbines also create noise, meaning their use in urban areas is far from ideal.

The Kingdom Tower by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture
The Kingdom Tower in Jeddah is intended to be the world’s tallest skyscraper but construction has stalled. Image is by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture/Jeddah Economic Company

Forget about supertalls

Supertall buildings (those over 300 metres) and megatall buildings (those over 600 metres) need exponentially more materials for construction. More concrete, more steel. This means more embodied carbon. Too often towers of this height are created merely as icons, symbols of power and corporate wealth rather than providing essential societal needs. When was the last time you heard of affordable housing in a supertall building, for instance?

Fortunately, there are signs that we are moving away from using tall buildings as urban trophies. In China, where most supertalls have been built, the government has announced a ban on towers over 500 metres, with those over 250 metres “strictly restricted”.

In our climate-change challenged world, every kilogram of material we use is precious – so let’s not waste them on an inane race for height. Low-carbon tall buildings are possible – but we have to put environment before elevation.

Philip Oldfield is Head of School of the Built Environment, UNSW Sydney. He is the author of the Sustainable Tall Building: A Design Primer (2019).

Reference