Other Biodome Proposals

Proctor and Matthews Architects has submitted plans for this whopping £90 million, 34m-tall biodome at Chester Zoo. The huge EFTE-clad structure, known as the Heart of Africa Biodome, will cover 16,000m², making it larger than the Grimshaw-designed Tropical House at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

The scheme is part of the wider £225 million “˜Natural Vision’ redevelopment proposal for the zoo, planned over the next 15 years and overseen by AECOM and Barton Willmore, which is expected to create “˜Europe’s largest conservation, animal and leisure attraction’.

Underneath the undulating, free-form roof structure, the zoo wants to “˜simulate the natural African rainforest habitats of the Congo’ with a jungle canopy and authentic climate.

The Chester Zoo
http://archiseek.com/2010/larger-biodome-than-eden-project/

Eco dome proposal in South Korea
http://5election.com/2010/05/09/eden-project-south-koreas-eco-domes-revealed/

A Bit About Green Roofs

There are quite a number of excellent resources pertaining to all things green in roofs. Green roof technology has bee around for a whille but it seems to be one or those eco-items that is growing in popularity. (Pardon the pun there!)

To get to some straight facts of the matter I found this helpful chart for the CMHC resource
"Design Guidelines for Green Roofs" by Steven Peck and Monica Kuhn, B.E.S., B. Arch,O.A.A. The PDF also includes a few well documented case studies.



For more info there are plenty of resources out there.
Greenroofs.com (The green roof industry resource panel...)

An interesting article here also

Choosing plants;
Green roof plants.com
Green garage.net

Naturhus

http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/naturhus-wraps-a-house-in-its-own-private-greenhouse.html

http://www.ecosol.se/media.html

Home Grown

The Wall Street Journal had a great article.....

Ryue Nishiziwa’s House

This project by architect Ryue Nishiziwa is a Vertical Garden House located in Tokyo.

I love the idea but I am not sure how comfortable I would be with being so "on display" for all to see. Especially in city as crowded as Tokyo. Kind of a fish-bowl effect. Also, not sure how they build things in Japan but there does not seem to be much in the way of building systems but maybe they are cleverly tucked away somehow?



Never-the-less, an interesting approach to introducing the outdoors to the modern "house". Found here at Inhabitat.

3DS Max

Condo

I think I am starting to finally figure out this program!

HVAC Supply Infos

Here we have some resources for HVAC supply sources.

http://www.titus-hvac.com/index.aspx

Excellent overview of HVAC systems here from Berkely (all 72 pages of it!)
Has also extensive bibliography for further research purposes.
http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/vitalsigns/res/downloads/rp/hvac/hvac-sml_opt.pdf

HARTMAN, THOMAS: DIRECT DIGITAL CONTROLS FOR HVAC SYSTEMS, MCGRAW-HILL INC., NEW YORK,NY, 1993.

LECHNER, NORBERT: HEATING, COOLING, LIGHTING, JOHN WILEY AND SONS, NEW YORK, NY, 1991

STEIN, BENJAMIN AND JOHN REYNOLDS: MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR BUILDINGS,
8TH EDITION, JOHN WILEY AND SONS, NEW YORK, NY, 1992.

Typical basic HVAC system with returns. From Autodesk curriculum.(http://bimcurriculum.autodesk.com/exercise/exercise-452-modeling-exposed-hvac-systems)

Laboros-Lux-Librae

Environmental Law

I have chosen to focus on environmental law as a focus for this project. The main details of the work done in the environmental area of law tends to be focused on the "health of the greater good" and so the workers will in effect toil for the benefit of others (as well as themselves).

Taking this in perspective there seems to be a need for the employees to be free to aim for a healthy life-work-balance.

Hence Laboros-Lux-Librae (latin for Life-Work-Balance)

This is a law firm that strives to achieve results that exceed expectations through our commitment to our clients adding maximum value to their business. Handling complex and sophisticated matters efficiently and responsivly through commitment to our communities. Providing extensive and worthy pro bono and public service and through active involvement and leadership on the part of our firm we commit to sustaining an enriching our environment through diversity and teamwork. We strive to improve while celebrating our accomplishments.

The firm will always focus our conitued effort on the work at hand while our workplace is modern, innovative and fun so that our own well-being is not compromised in the process of helping others.