A new tool that helps to assess the mix of uses needed for truly sustainable projects highlights the importance of looking at the big picture. Sustainable masterplanning will help engineers and architects win the battle for lower carbon emissions, something tighter Building Regulations alone cannot achieve. That’s the belief of Hilson Moran’s director of sustainability Matt Kitson. Via. BSD read more
EXHIBITION AND INSTALLATION
GRAMAZIO & KOHLER: DIGITAL MATERIALITY
Opening reception: Wednesday Sept 30, 7pm
For many years, designers have relied on digital manufacturing processes such as CNC milling or 3D printing as a tool for formal research at model scale. Gramazio & Kohler’s work, developed through their research at ETH Zurich Faculty of Architecture, investigates the potential use on the building site of industrial robots typically employed to assemble automobiles and perform other high-precision tasks. The accuracy, strength and speed of these robots allow them to fabricate architectural forms of unprecedented complexity and intricacy. read more
Here is a close look at the competition entry by Penn State University for the Solar Decathlon, as well as a video of the Solar PV technology developed by Solyndra that was integrated into the scheme.
Inspired by the surrounding landscape, Vulcano Buono has a gently sloping profile that rises from the earth as a grassy green knoll. The structure’s roof is carpeted with a vegetative layer of over 2,500 plants that helps to insulate the interior spaces and reduces the structure’s visual impact so that it’s barely visible from space. Renzo Piano clearly has a penchant for grassy hills. via inhabitat
Rice concrete can cut greenhouse emissions
Researchers find way to make nearly carbon-free rice husk ash for concrete
(Via:www.msnbc.msn.com)
By Michael Reilly
updated 3:47 p.m. ET, Tues., July 7, 2009
A new way of processing rice husks for use in concrete could lead to a boom in green construction.
Rice husks form small cases around edible kernels of rice and are rich in silicon dioxide, an essential ingredient in concrete. Scientists have recognized the potential value of rice husks as a building material for decades, but past attempts to burn it produced an ash too contaminated with carbon to be useful as a cement substitute.
The world’s penchant for consuming concrete is a huge problem for climate change. Every ton of cement manufactured for use in concrete emits a ton of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Worldwide, cement production accounts for about 5 percent of all CO2 emissions related to human activity.
core.form-ula is the academic wing of form-ula. Our goal is to provide a platform, be it physical or virtual where architects, artists, designers, engineers, scientists, and writers can come together in collaborative space.
Core.Profiles
A Brief introduction to some of the people doing what we find to be progressive work in the field of Architecture, Art, Design and Science.
