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Sustainable computer chips set to supercharge AI
CategoriesSustainable News

Sustainable computer chips set to supercharge AI

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: It is clear that AI represents the future of computing, but today’s most popular AI chips (GPUs) are expensive and require huge amounts of energy, which is incompatible with both broader use outside data centres, and a low-carbon future. Now, EnCharge AI, which was spun out of the lab of Dr Naveen Verma at Princeton University, is building on new research outside of the GPU model to accelerate AI capabilities for a broader range of users.

To create chips that can handle modern AI in smaller and/or lower-energy environments, the researchers turned to analogue computing. The team designed capacitors to work with the analogue signal to switch on and off with extreme precision. By having this computation done directly in memory cells (in-memory computing), they created a chip that can run powerful AI systems using much less energy.

EnCharge’s PR Account Manager, Yhea Abdulla, explained to Springwise that, “It’s all geometry-based, aligning wires that come in a capacitor (no extra parts, costs, or special processing). They combined this with their research in in-memory computing (IMC) to enhance computing efficiency and data movement issues, bringing in the value of analogue without the historical limitations.”

EnCharge has recently been awarded an $18.6 million (around €17.2 million) grant by the US’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The funding will be used to further develop the chip technology as part of DARPA’s Optimum Processing Technology Inside Memory Arrays (OPTIMA) programme to unlock new possibilities for commercial and defense-relevant AI workloads not achievable with current technology.

From climate forecasting to food waste and cancer detection, AI has already grown to the point where it is becoming incorporated into many aspects of daily life. This makes it vital that we reduce the energy needed to run AI applications.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Meet the women revolutionising sustainable fashion
CategoriesSustainable News

Meet the women revolutionising sustainable fashion

By Zarkon Group,

1. Turning pineapple waste into natural textiles

Dr Carmen Hijosa, the Founder and Chief Creative & Innovation Officer of Ananas Anam was inspired to create a natural, sustainable leather alternative after witnessing first-hand the environmental impact of mass leather production and chemical tanning while working as a consultant for the leathergoods industry. Realising that PVC would not be a viable alternative, she embarked on a journey involving years of research and development, including a PhD at the Royal College of Art in London, where Ananas Anam was developed.

Her company creates natural textiles using the fibres from discarded pineapple leaves. The phenomenal growth in popularity of pineapples means that 25 million tonnes of waste a year is created from the plant’s leaves. For the full story, watch the film above.

Photo source: Aciae  

2. Turning ocean plastic into clothing

In Australia, fashion brand Aciae works to the Circle to Zero principle, striving to eliminate waste from every step of its production processes and contributing to the overall reduction of global plastic pollution.

The company’s name is Latin for thread and refers to its practice of turning single-use plastic waste into the thread that’s used to create its machine-washable, waterproof, recyclable shoes. Gathered plastics are cleaned, shredded, and then melted down for extrusion. The extruded fibres are then spun into thread, completing the transformation of trash into fabric.  

Founder Tina Li says: “The brand embodies the spirit of women shaping the sustainable development narrative, ensuring we all play a part in the story.”

Aciae.com.au

Photo source: Recovo

3. A marketplace that connects fashion brands to deadstock

‘Deadstock’ is a term that refers to the surplus fabric that is generated by fashion houses and normally destined for landfill or the incinerator.

Circular startup Recovo, led by CEO and co-founder Monica Rodriguez, matches buyers of deadstock fabric with those who have it to sell via an easy-to-use online platform. The company has created a curated catalogue of unused natural and synthetic fabrics, yarns, and other production materials, and does all the heavy lifting for sellers. Buyers can browse this catalogue and request samples at the touch of a button.  

Since the company was founded in 2021, it has grown rapidly and now operates in 16 countries in the European Union. To date, it has saved the equivalent of 98,000 kilogrammes of CO2 and 22 million litres of water.

Recovo.co

Photo source: © PDPics from pixabay via Canva.com

4. Turning discarded clothes into new materials

Re-Fresh Global, a Berlin based startup co founded in 2021 by Viktoria Kanar and Revital Nadiv, is turning discarded clothing into new raw materials. These materials can be used to create products like cosmetics, cars, packaging, pharmaceuticals, fibres, and furniture. 

First, the company uses its automated technology to sort and separate textile waste, depending on its material composition and colour. Then, Re-fresh’s patented biotechnology transforms shredded textile fibres into industrial quantities of new and highly versatile resources.  

This process creates three new, raw material types: nanocellulose, ethanol, and sanitised textile pulp. The nanocellulose is strong and highly versatile, meaning it can be used in items including packaging, paper, and pharmaceuticals. The pure bioethanol (alcohol) has various useful applications across the beauty, sanitation, and biofuel industries. And finally, the textile pulp, made from recycled natural and synthetic fibres, can be used in the production of new fibres, whether that be for car upholstery or sound-absorbing workplace interiors.

Re-fresh.global

Written By: Angela Everitt

Reference

The Phoenix sustainable neighbourhood by Human Nature
CategoriesSustainable News

UK’s “most sustainable” neighbourhood receives planning approval

By Zarkon Group,

Development company Human Nature has received planning approval to transform a former industrial site in Lewes into a sustainable 685-home neighbourhood that will be the UK’s largest made from timber.

The Phoenix, which was granted planning permission last week, will be built from engineered timber and be the most sustainable neighbourhood in the UK, according to Human Nature.

The Phoenix sustainable neighbourhood by Human NatureThe Phoenix sustainable neighbourhood by Human Nature
The buildings in the Phoenix development will have engineered timber structures

“One year after proposals were announced for the transformation of a 7.9-hectare brownfield site into the UK’s most sustainable neighbourhood, the Phoenix development has today been granted planning permission, taking the visionary project a step closer to reality,” said Human Nature.

“When complete, it will be the UK’s largest timber-structure neighbourhood and a blueprint for sustainable placemaking and social impact that can be deployed at scale.”

Sustainable neighbourhood in Lewes by Human NatureSustainable neighbourhood in Lewes by Human Nature
It will be located on a former industrial site

Located in the South Downs National Park, the Phoenix will contain energy-efficient homes, public space and healthcare, retail, hospitality and industrial space, all constructed from engineered timber including cross-laminated timber.

It will be the largest structural timber neighbourhood in the UK by number of units, Human Nature’s head of sustainable construction Andy Tugby told Dezeen.

The buildings will range from two to five storeys tall and be clad in prefabricated panels made from locally sourced timber and biomaterials such as hemp.

Sustainable development in Lewes by Human NatureSustainable development in Lewes by Human Nature
A riverside walk will feature in the neighbourhood. Image by Carlos Penálver

Industrial structures on the site will be repurposed to house most of the community spaces, including a canteen, event hall, taproom, fitness centre, workspace and studios.

The Phoenix’ homes will be designed to be energy efficient and powered by renewable energy sourced from on-site photovoltaic panels and an off-site renewable energy facility.

Aiming to create a place for all generations and for people with mixed incomes, 30 per cent of the 685 residences will be affordable homes – 154 of which will be built to the government’s Local Housing Allowance rates and the remainder built as part of the First Homes scheme.

The Phoenix will be designed as a walkable neighbourhood that prioritises people over cars, with a mobility hub providing electric car shares, car hire, electric bike services and shuttle buses to help encourage a shift away from private vehicle use.

Public squares, gardens, community buildings and a riverside pathway that stretches the length of the site will provide space designed for interaction between residents.

Timber structure neighbourhood by Human NatureTimber structure neighbourhood by Human Nature
The development will contain energy-efficient homes

The Phoenix masterplan was designed by Human Nature’s in-house design team with UK architecture studio Periscope and Kathryn Firth, director of masterplanning and urban design at Arup.

Developed designs for the scheme will be made in collaboration with UK architecture studios Archio, Ash Sakula, Mae Architects, Mole Architects and Periscope and engineering firms Expedition Engineering and Whitby Wood.

Drawing of a park surrounded by buildingsDrawing of a park surrounded by buildings
The Phoenix aims to provide sustainable housing to people with a range of income brackets. Image by Carlos Penálver

Human Nature is a development company based in Lewes that was founded by former Greenpeace directors Michael Manolson and Jonathan Smales.

Other timber developments published on Dezeen include a zero-carbon housing scheme in Wales by Loyn & Co and Henning Larsen’s plans for Copenhagen’s first all-timber neighbourhood.

The images are by Ash Sakula, courtesy of Human Nature, unless stated.

Reference

Can coal be converted into sustainable protein?
CategoriesSustainable News

Can coal be converted into sustainable protein?

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: It’s well-established that the food we eat has a huge impact on the planet, with food production generating over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. But, do you ever consider the impact of what we feed our livestock? For instance, feed production accounts for between 50 and 85 per cent of the climate change impact of pigs and poultry. And often, countries must rely on imports for quality feed, including China, which has been heavily dependent on imported soy – raising concerns over supply and food security in the country.

Now, however, researchers at the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences believe they have a more sustainable and affordable alternative protein source: coal.

The team, led by Professor Wu Xin, converted coal into methanol via coal gasification, and this methanol was then fermented using a type of yeast called Pichia Pastoris to create single-cell proteins. This particular yeast strain is optimised for growth in methanol, achieving a methanol-to-protein conversion rate of 92 per cent the theoretical value. According to Professor Wu Xin, this makes the novel process far more efficient at producing crude protein than any other process in the food chain at the moment.

The proteins produced contain a holistic profile of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, which makes the resource a viable substitute for foodstuffs like fishmeal, soybeans, meat, and skimmed milk powder. For the future, the team aims to continue refining the process and use of methanol to make protein, hoping to make it even cheaper and more efficient.

There’s a lot of room for improvement in the global food system, and luckily innovators are rising to the challenge. Springwise has also spotted this AI-driven approach to making tastier alternatives to meat as well as these compact urban farms that tackle food insecurity.

Written By: Archie Cox 

Reference

Sustainable Practice: 10 Marvelous Multi-Unit Residences Designed With Passive House Principles
CategoriesArchitecture

Sustainable Practice: 10 Marvelous Multi-Unit Residences Designed With Passive House Principles

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer’s 12th Annual A+Awards are officially underway! Sign up for key program updates and prepare your submission ahead of the Final Entry Deadline on January 26th.  

Picture a world where manmade towers not only house vibrant communities but do so with a commitment to energy efficiency and affordability. This may sound too good to be true, but such buildings already exist and are increasingly cropping up in diverse corners of the globe. Indeed, architects worldwide are already imagining a new model for sustainable urban living, where design innovation meets efficiency (energy, monetary and material) in the soaring heights of multiunit residential buildings.

Mitigating the most devastating consequences of our carbon addiction is the overarching challenge of 21st-century society; however, most countries also face housing crises, and affordability is urgent. Can passive house design — long associated with bespoke private single-family homes, both newly built and remodeled — be something of a panacea for affordable housing?

Indeed, the multi-pronged benefits of the following multi-unit projects seem almost too good to be true. Passive House design can reduce energy consumption by up to 90%, leading to substantial savings on energy bills for residents while providing tangible benefits as indoor air quality improves. Standing at the forefront of a green revolution and challenging conventional housing and construction norms, these apartment complexes employ airtight façades, energy recovery systems and innovative insulation, making these buildings pioneers and painting a picture of a future where sustainable architecture is accessible to a broader range of inhabitants.

Timber House

By MESH Architectures, Brooklyn, New York

Jury Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Multiunit Residential Building


The design for Timber House, New York’s first mass-timber condominium, was principally driven by two things: a high-tech digital model (to generate the wooden components, which were subsequently delivered for assembly) and Passive House design principles. This sustainable haven sets a new standard, uniting nature-inspired aesthetics, energy efficiency and residential comfort in a six-story, fourteen-home marvel. The energy-efficient envelope — sealed with with intensive insulation, “smart” air sealing and triple-glazed windows — wraps around the ingenious structure, which consists of glue-laminated timber columns, beams and floor plates.

Meanwhile, the interior showcases the amazing aesthetic possibilities of specifying low-carbon materials — from hexagonal porcelain tiles to renewable softwoods — all illuminated in the natural light that pours in from multiple skylights. Perhaps most remarkably, the ingenuity of the design ensure that building only relies on the electrical grid (one that is generated by renewable sources) for heating, hot water and cooking.

Paseo Mallorca 15

By OHLAB / oliver hernaiz architecture lab, Palma, Spain

The city of Palma has a new landmark, and it isn’t what the general population might expect from the sun-soaked Mallorcan capital, known for the splendor and intricacy of its massive cathedral and the magnificent concentration of modernismo-style buildings (the Catalan equivalent of Art Nouveau). What sets this new residential complex apart isn’t simply its strikingly delicate façade and palpable material approach, but also the design’s dedication sustainability, energy-efficiency and urban integration.

Passive House standards were used to ensure achieve maximum energy savings; in fact, the design boasts a nearly 90% reduction of the air, heating and cooling requirements of conventional buildings in this area. In addition,  construction method falls within the nZEB (nearly zero energy building) standard for consumption. Sliding panels made of wooden slats are both practical and aesthetic: they filter the intense Mediterranean sunlight but also generate an ever-changing play of patterns inside. These are part of a distinct double façade, sheathing a solid stone envelope beneath.

The Rye Apartments

By Tikari Works, London, United Kingdom

Like a beacon for the future of design, this ten-unit residential building is proudly perched on a highly visible corner in London. The design, which incorporates a variety of different apartment layouts for families of varying sizes, emerged through a rigorous analysis of privacy, daylight and neighboring building forms. The resulting architectural language complements the surrounding context and history. For example, red masonry shingles create an urban composition which is both reminiscent of the surroundings yet distinct.

Beyond aesthetics, the architects consistently sought to maximize the design’s efficiency, by minimizing material use and waste, embodied energy and cost. Such strategies include a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) frame and numerous passive principals for energy reduction and saving, such as PV panels, whole-house heat recovery ventilation, and hi-performance solar control glazing, all set within a super air-tight envelope.

Vital Brookdale

By Dattner Architects, Brooklyn, New York

Vital Brookdale stands as a prime example of affordable Passive House and community-oriented housing, providing 160 affordable housing units and 25,000 square feet (2,320 square meters) of health-centric community space in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood. This initiative incorporates a 100kW solar photovoltaic system mounted on the roof, a green roof, advanced mechanical systems, top-tier insulation and windows, LED lighting, water fixtures with low flow, and various other energy-efficient features. Meanwhile, inside, materials were selected according to the ease of installation, cost, maintenance and their impact on resident health. The result is a resounding testament to the untapped power of Passive House design in multifamily housing.

PUNTA PRIMA MALLORCA

By GRAS Reynés Arquitectos, Calvià, Spain

The challenge: a client’s demand for extensive construction on a limited plot, which left little space for nature. The solution: a strategic blend of architectural elements that minimize visual impact and enhance the natural values of the land, embracing Passive House design to do so.

154 Broadway

By Utile, Inc., Somerville, Massachusetts

A five-story mixed-use development with commercial space on the ground floor and 45 rental units above, this project achieved Passive House certification, utilizes mass timber construction and is an all-electric, Net Zero Ready Building. The upper floors facing Broadway showcase a mosaic of rainscreen siding, reducing massing while providing shading and play of light through deep windows.

As an all-electric initiative, 154 Broadway eliminates on-site fossil fuel combustion and significantly reduces grid demand through an efficient, airtight envelope and advanced ventilation systems. The sizable design comprises 40 studios, 3 one-bedroom and 2 three-bedroom units, including 9 affordable units.

Sendero Verde

By Handel Architects, New York City, New York

Located in East Harlem, the design for this massive housing complex, home to 709 affordable units, prioritizes Passive House principles without compromising on design excellence. Inspired by a historic trail that once traversed the location, the project organizes itself into three distinct volumes, which frame a central meandering landscaped path. that culminates in a captivating central courtyard. This dynamic space cascades across various levels, fostering the creation of individual community gardens.

Sendero Verde stands as a testament to the fusion of radical architecture and sustainability on a monumental scale. Upon completion, Sendero Verde is poised to redefine architectural boundaries as the world’s largest fully affordable Passive House building.

Quarter of Nations

By Gerber Architekten, Hamburg, Germany

These two new sculptural buildings in Hamberg extend a traditional working class residential area, reinterpreting the original architectural language or the area while simultaneously reconciling them with the high energy efficiency requirements of a passive house building. The resulting complex adds seventy-five publicly funded housing units that vary in size and layout (for single persons, couples and families), thereby extending the principals of the surrounding urban fabric — IBA 2013, an intercultural housing project designed to house over 1,700 people from 30 different nations.

The SIX Veterans Housing

By Brooks + Scarpa Architects, Los Angeles, California

The SIX, a LEED Gold-certified affordable housing project, redefines shelter for previously homeless veterans in McArthur Park. Breaking from traditional layouts, it prioritizes public areas over private space: four levels of housing units surround a courtyard with green-roofed balconies, visually connecting to the street below.

What truly sets The SIX apart, however, is its commitment to Passive House principles, surpassing standard practices for energy efficiency. From solar control and natural ventilation to daylight optimization and low-flow fixtures, every aspect is meticulously planned. This results in a building 50% more efficient than conventional structures.

Ville Verdi

By ALBERT WIMMER ZT-GMBH, Vienna, Austria

Ville Verdi transcends traditional housing, embracing passive house elements to form an eco-friendly haven. Comprising 5 villas with 34 residential units each, the design emphasizes barrier-free accessibility and communal spaces, fostering a sense of community.

The innovative eco-design incorporates a corrugated iron cladding contributes to the three-dimensional shapes while providing for a recyclable and virtually maintenance-free façade. This rear-ventilated façade prevents construction damages and the system can be extended to Passive House standard.

Knickerbocker Commons Passive House Apartment Building

By Chris Benedict R.A., New York City, New York

Designed to operate with an impressive 85 percent less energy than typical New York City apartment buildings, this groundbreaking six-story residential building in Bushwick was the country’s first mid-sized apartment complex adhering to Passive House design standards. Featuring 24 units of affordable housing, each rental residence incorporates individual ventilation systems, small radiators for heating and airtight window air conditioning units, meeting the stringent Passive House criteria. The triple-paned windows and a sculpted exterior facade utilizing STO EIFS insulation optimize energy performance by minimizing heat loss in winter and reducing solar heat gain in summer.

Architizer’s 12th Annual A+Awards are officially underway! Sign up for key program updates and prepare your submission ahead of the Final Entry Deadline on January 26th.  

Reference

Pioneering period positivity with sustainable femcare
CategoriesSustainable News

Pioneering period positivity with sustainable femcare

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: According to a survey conducted by Plan International, more than one in three boys believe periods should be kept a secret, believing menstruation to be an ’embarrassing’ topic. It’s unsurprising, then, that researchers suspect that ‘period positivity’ is declining. If negative stigma isn’t tackled, it will remain challenging for women’s health concerns to receive the attention they deserve from societies and medical systems. At the same time, advocates for universal free period care products report a rise in demand for supplies as the global economy continues to react to inflation and political instability. 

In the Netherlands, period care company Yoni provides healthy, non-toxic menstrual products, and works to raise the profile of campaigners who are normalising periods and other aspects of female reproductive healthcare. 

The company’s goal is to provide menstruators of any age with products that are good for the body and the environment. The period and incontinence underwear and menstrual cups are all available in a range of sizes and absorbencies. Menstrual cups are made from medical-grade silicone and are 100 per cent plastic-, latex-, and BPA-free. Many Yoni products contain organic cotton and are biodegradable, and each pack of tampons and pads contains a code for tracing the source of the cotton used in that batch. 

The company also offers customers the option to gift a pack of period care products to the charity Armoedefonds. And, as part of Yoni’s campaign to raise awareness of menstruation and break down misconceptions, the company features an online gallery of Game Changers that highlights various individuals who champion positive-impact social campaigns. The gallery provides information and resources for getting involved in the campaigns.  

Yoni currently ships products across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany and plans to expand availability as soon as possible.  

Other innovations from Springwise’s library that are making it easier for women to access relevant healthcare and products include a digital health clinic specifically for women and last-mile access and delivery of women’s health products.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Redefining dairy to produce sustainable 'pink gold' proteins
CategoriesSustainable News

Redefining dairy to produce sustainable ‘pink gold’ proteins

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: An important ingredient that makes milk and dietary supplements good for the body is the lactoferrin protein. It promotes general immune health and supports the metabolic absorption of iron. Often called “pink gold” because of its value and scarcity, the protein is found naturally in cow’s milk in very small amounts, with one litre of cow’s milk containing around 100 milligrammes of lactoferrin. That isn’t enough to keep up with global demand, particularly as the limited quantities that are available are often used in infant formula to boost nutrition levels. 

Seeking high-quality milk without the environmental side effects, TurtleTree co-founders created a precision-fermented version of the lactoferrin protein. Called LF+, the new protein is gluten- and lactose-free, vegan, and sustainable. Using large fermentation tanks like those used by brewers, the TurtleTree team replicates the structure of the cow DNA that produces lactoferrin and adds it to yeast cells. 

Those genetically modified yeast cells then grow, via industrial fermentation, into large quantities of lactoferrin. Structurally and functionally identical to the protein made naturally in cow’s milk, LF+ has the benefit of being far less expensive to produce and therefore less expensive for brands to use in their products. 

TurtleTree envisions its new version of lactoferrin being used in everything from supplements to high-performance protein drinks, and a whole host of other products that would benefit from sustainably sourced, healthy protein. The affordability of LF+, compared with traditionally produced lactoferrin, makes it possible that most infant formula worldwide could contain the essential protein in future, contributing to significant improvements in global infant health.  

The company is currently undergoing regulatory review for LF+ and this regulatory label will make it clear that the protein is safe to add to almost anything. TurtleTree is also expanding its development of the precision fermentation process to create other types of proteins also found in milk.  

Other examples from Springwise’s library that make innovative use of fermentation include the production of human milk proteins for infant formula and bioengineered fabric dyes for the textile industry.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Sustainable Practice: When Will Architectural Localism Become a Norm Instead of an Exception?
CategoriesArchitecture

Sustainable Practice: When Will Architectural Localism Become a Norm Instead of an Exception?

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer’s 12th Annual A+Awards are officially underway! Sign up for key program updates and prepare your submission ahead of the Main Entry Deadline on  December 15th.  

The climate crisis has a number of fundamental ironies. Action is paralyzed by fear of upending the same economic system killing the planet. We need to think about the issue globally, but what happens in our own neighborhood will define how livable the future is. 

Writing for the British newspaper The Guardian, Sarah Newton, a member of the UK’s Science and Technology Select Committee, used the rather acerbic term “biophilia” to describe a unit of people whose motives are driven by love for their home. This connotes a kind of small-minded NIMBYism — more interested in the locality than the global community. Yet concerns for both are unarguably interconnected and far from mutually exclusive. 

This is particularly pronounced in architecture, construction and development. Sticking with Great Britain, its urban powerhouses exemplify the failure of abandoning localism. Cities such as London and Manchester present gleaming glass and steel skylines, which lifelong residents often take umbrage with, branding them intrusive enclaves. 

Qingxi Culture and History Museum by The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University (UAD)

Whether we know the lease holders or not, the assumption is such structures are built with foreign money for overseas investors in need of a crash pad in a country they pay zero tax towards maintaining. Others are buying properties for short term rental on platforms like Air B&B, marketing to more out-of-towners who want to experience life in a metropolis for a few days. 

On the other side of the world, China offers a fascinating juxtaposition. Home to 145 cities with over one million inhabitants, the sheer scale of urban in the second most populous nation on Earth is overwhelming. And yet the size of this landmass also means remote hamlets are in abundance. Like Sangzhouzhen Town, in Ninghai County. Connected to neighbouring villages by a single road, it’s here we find Qingxi Culture and History Museum, an institution built on, and celebrating, all the region has to offer. 

Although modern in design, the structure is made to be at one with a landscape defined by tradition. Age-old practices, local stonemasons, and materials chosen for regional authenticity all contribute to this effect. Sat on terraced fields in an area that still relies on agriculture, overlooked by mountains that have stood here for eternity, the facility looks like it has always been here and is very much part of the scenery. And the fact projects like this are even worthy of comment raises a serious red flag about our prevailing approach to architecture.

Terraced fields at the Qingxi Culture and History Museum by UAD, Zhejiang, China

Just over eighteen hours from eastern China by plane, the Komera Leadership Center makes another great case for localism in building design and use. Providing health, education and mentorship to young women, with a flexible modular interior adaptable to different purposes, the workforce that put this address together comprised a minimum 40% women, and everyone on site lived in the area. The process of making the structure matched its purpose in directly responding to local needs, in this instance high unemployment and low access to training and education, particularly for women.

Materials such as woven eucalyptus help deliver a contemporary space with the kind of low ecological impact most associated with traditional construction practices. And, again, there’s an elephant in the room. For all the lip service paid to keeping things local — cutting emissions from transport and logistics, contributing to the nearby economy — in 2023 this method remains the exception, rather than the norm. 

Komera Leadership Center by BE_Design, Rwanda

Of course, both Qingxi and Komera’s localized approach was almost unavoidable — these are institutions set up specifically to promote, support and celebrate their locations, associated populations and indigenous cultures. To tender employment opportunities they create internationally, or even nationally, would have felt misguided and, more than likely, raised eyebrows.

But this only emphasizes the overall point — that localism is often only adopted when deemed ‘appropriate’ or even essential. Given what we know about its environmental advantages at a time when the built environment accounts for around 40% of global emissions and rising, surely it’s time we stopped thinking of this approach as novelty, brought out to hammer a message home, and instead start considering this as preferred practice.

Architizer’s 12th Annual A+Awards are officially underway! Sign up for key program updates and prepare your submission ahead of the Main Entry Deadline on  December 15th.  

Reference

Trees in Formafantasma exhibition
CategoriesSustainable News

Design trend predictions for 2024 include rush for sustainable accreditation

By Zarkon Group,

After an unsteady 2023, Dezeen’s editorial director Max Fraser considers what 2024 might hold for design.

His predictions for what we will see when it comes to design next year range from the rise of material intelligence to the rush for sustainable accreditation.

Collective material intelligence

The pace of development in material innovation continues, in particular those made from supposedly sustainable resources as well as those salvaged from waste streams, such as fabrics made from bacterial fermentation and handcrafted biotextiles.

The appetite to use such creations in projects will increase in 2024 as designers strive to create products with greater material sensitivity. This goes hand-in-hand with a drive to lower the impact of our consumption on planetary systems as we continue to sharpen our focus on the climate crisis.

Trees in Formafantasma exhibitionTrees in Formafantasma exhibition
Above: Formafantasma’s Cambio exhibition focuses on wood. Photo is by Paavo Lehtonen Photography. Top image: brick textiles by Natural Material Studio

Increasingly informed clients and customers, together with (hopefully) heightened regulations, will demand ever-more transparency around the origin of the materials, seeking justification for their implementation, as well as assurances around traceability and a low full-life impact.

An increasing number of designers will respond by shortening supply chains, opting for regionally-appropriate materials, harvested or mined closer to the place of production.

This will likely become more of a prevalent expectation in 2024, buoyed by an already enterprising surge in new biomaterials and fabrication technologies. The challenge is scaling this from narrow experimental work into more mainstream channels.

Greater appreciation of aesthetic imperfection

Product uniformity works well for items such as TVs, phones and washing machines. But when it comes to the use of natural materials in mass-production systems, the mindset of uniformity and perfection also prevails. This means that the inconsistent nuances in colour, texture or grain that are inherent in the likes of wood, wool, leather or stone become a hurdle to overcome.

There is a growing concern that stripping out the quirks of a tree, the striations of a rock or the blemishes on an animal hide just creates unnecessary waste. This was highlighted by Formafantasma’s Cambio research project when the design studio investigated the global impact of the extraction, production and distribution of wood.

Working with Finnish furniture brand Artek, one of the outcomes of the study was for the manufacturer to reassess its strict timber selection criteria. Previously only using regularly grained local birchwood without any natural marks, the brand has loosened its criteria to embrace imperfections. In 2023, characteristics such as insect borelines, knots and even bark first appeared on the iconic Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto as part of an evolving Artek collection.

This approach from a reputable brand sends a signal to the rest of the furniture industry that an ‘imperfect’ aesthetic sensibility needs to be embraced if we’re to reduce processing and production waste. This is something that I suspect will become more evident in 2024, helped by the economic case that customers will want to buy into the unique characteristics of these items.

Raw and mono-material products

Designers will further endeavour to reduce the complex interplay between different kinds of materials used in production. The motivation is to create products where the component parts can be dissembled and separated more easily for repair or recyclability.

Such intentions will need to be communicated to users and the inevitable aesthetic change celebrated.

Knuckle lightKnuckle light
David Taylor’s Knuckle Light is made from aluminium

As circularity becomes expected, a ‘circular aesthetic’ will also emerge whereby products will be lauded for their efficient and singular use of materials, exposed fixings and true-to-material ‘raw’ finishes.

This was recently exemplified by the aluminium Knuckle light by David Taylor for Hem, an embodiment of raw, folded, uncoated aluminium and the winner of the lighting design of the year in the Dezeen Awards 2023.

Fifty shades of sustainable

For several years now, overuse of the word ‘sustainable’ across all areas of society has reached the point where its very meaning has become opaque. Take a trip to any trade fair or design week and you’ll leave with sustainability fatigue, so much is the word oversaid, overheard and overprinted.

Many smart brands recognise this and are eager to communicate the great lengths they go to to reduce their planetary burden, ensure reputable supply chains, create healthy work environments for all and deliver economic returns that benefit their communities as well as their shareholders. To that end, the B Corp rush is on.

B Corp Certification is one of the most rigorous and reputable certification schemes for any aspiring business, thoroughly assessing all of the aforementioned criteria and more. As one manufacturer joked to me, “It’s a tough process. Everything is opened, assessed and scored. It’s like letting a stranger look through your underwear.”

Manufacturers like Modus in the UK, Fredericia and Astep in Denmark and Andreu World in Spain all crossed the line in 2023 and I predict many more will pass the test in 2024: credibility from accreditation.

Trade fairs – a make-or-break year

It’s been another bumpy year for trade fairs, which have struggled to rebound to pre-pandemic glory. The considerable cost and enormous effort of exhibiting has brands questioning how often they can commit. The returns that fairs are expected to deliver for these exhibitors – namely via marketing, footfall and ultimately orders – is an increasing pressure when attendees have also become more discerning about which shows they choose to visit.

Alcova Miami hotelAlcova Miami hotel
Milan’s Alcova showed in Miami this year. Photo by Piergiorgio Sorgetti

The excessive waste generated by stand construction continues to be a challenge to overcome. I’ve become so distracted by the endless use of virgin materials to construct brand-ego-sized displays that I barely notice the product anymore. I call for greater brand humility and am hoping the previously-mentioned circular aesthetic will find its place on stand design as fairs continue to evolve.

It remains a struggle to make rather grim exhibition centres pleasurable, while reducing the environmental burden. Smaller, more nimble shows like Alcova and Material Matters will likely gather pace, able to better attain the sweet spot between quality content and distinct experience. Those that succeed will need to marry timely inspiration with responsible aspiration.

AI – will it deliver on the hype?

While hype, speculation and doom-mongering around the impact of generative artificial intelligence continues across multiple industries and at government-level, I expect the dust will settle somewhat in 2024.

For all of the wonders that AI promises, including analyzing data to inform design decisions, automating repetitive tasks, and simulating and testing designs, maybe there will be more skepticism as to whether or not it will live up to the fanfare we’ve witnessed this year.

Manah Bhata AI designManah Bhata AI design
AI-designed projects created controversy. Image by Manah Bhata

One of the leading voices in AI, Gary Marcus, believes there are “many serious, unsolved problems” with the technology that could limit its usefulness. However, Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky reckons designers should embrace AI otherwise the world “will be designed without them” as he stated in an interview with Dezeen in November. He added, “But, I am also wary of fetishization of technology” and, sharing this sentiment, I would caution the hype.

In off-the-record chats, I encounter plenty of individuals who are nonchalant about AI, so I would question the assumption that we must all want and need to use it. Within design, I wonder if we’ll see a revolution from artificial intelligence in 2024 – or perhaps its offerings will just become casually subsumed into the designer’s toolbox.

Polarising approaches to production will broaden

When it comes to fully scrutinising every action and proceeding with self-initiated care and integrity, many brands will find their mojo in 2024, particularly more nimble family-owned businesses with a clear eye on their legacy.

But I fear most won’t, as the pressures of increasing costs, stubborn inflation, volatile supply chains, debt repayments, shareholder expectations and hesitant citizen consumption trigger an urgent scramble to carve out new market segments. All of these touchpoints are and will continue to be directly or indirectly exacerbated by the desperate human conflicts and environmental disasters that we’ve witnessed globally in 2023.

Changing business models to circumnavigate these disruptions requires long-term vision and stability, two things seemingly in short supply right now. Those willing to evolve their enterprises deserve to succeed, however, I suspect many businesses will choose not to rock the boat.

Add to this the ongoing lacklustre governmental approaches to the climate crisis and it’s hard to envisage a world that can muster much excitement at the release of another new yet non-essential product. The time for the design industry to broaden its collaboration with other industries is now. The opportunities to work on game-changing solutions to some of our existential challenges are ripe for the picking.

Reference

Jackson West Medical Center Doral Campus by Perkins&Will
CategoriesArchitecture

7 Formidable Sustainable Firms Dynamically Disrupting the Architectural Status Quo

By Zarkon Group,

The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.  

Sustainability has become something of a buzzword in the industry. It’s a term that’s gained momentum as the climate crisis has come to a head, yet its popularity has also diluted its meaning. In some instances, sustainability is employed as a marketing tool, reinforced by superficial practices with little environmental benefit. This kind of greenwashing can make it difficult to discern which firms are making genuine efforts to build a better future.

Recognized within the Best Sustainable Firm category at the 11th A+Awards, the following practices are committed to instigating real change among architects and design professionals. From reducing waste and water consumption, embracing passive design strategies and utilizing reclaimed materials to considering the entire life cycle of a building and giving new life to our inherited structures, here are the sustainable firms disrupting the status quo in 2024 and beyond…

Perkins&Will

Jury Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

Jackson West Medical Center Doral Campus by Perkins&Will Architect’s Office by Perkins&WillFirm Location: Chicago, Illinois (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)

Pictured Projects: Jackson West Medical Center Doral Campus, Doral, Florida ; Architect’s Office, Washington, DC

Perkins&Will has a long history of delivering design excellence. In more recent decades, the practice has also become a leading light in efforts to make the industry more environmentally conscious. Its ethos champions the integration of sustainable practices at each stage of the design process, incorporating non-toxic materials, energy-efficient systems and biophilic approaches. The team has even pledged to eliminate embodied carbon from every commercial interior space they design by 2030.

Encompassing a wide array of typologies, from sports stadiums to offices and laboratories, the firm’s body of work epitomizes its mission to create beautiful spaces that enrich the lives of users and the wider planet. Perkins&Will also advocates for equity across the built landscape. Lauded for its work in promoting social justice, the studio has a program that offers free architectural services to nonprofits, supporting affordable housing, childcare, healthcare and education initiatives.

SUP Atelier of THAD

Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

History museum of Qifeng Village by SUP Atelier of THAD INBAR Pavillion by SUP Atelier of THADFirm Location: Beijing, China

Pictured Projects: History museum of Qifeng Village, Anhui, China ; INBAR Pavillion, Yangzhou, China

Innovative firm SUP Atelier of THAD looks to regional materials and construction traditions to guide its sensitive approach to sustainability. The Beijing-based firm views each project through a highly contextual lens, ensuring its work invigorates both the natural environment and the surrounding community. Fusing state-of-the-art technology with the wisdom of vernacular architecture, the studio shapes new structures that harmonize with the local ecosystem and revives old structures by imparting fresh purpose.

Notable spaces in the team’s impressive portfolio include a remarkable exhibition hall in Yangzhou with an intricate bamboo frame inspired by the form of a fish, and a dilapidated building in a mountain village, restored with historic techniques and salvaged materials into a bustling public hub.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Finalist, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

Urban Sequoia by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) Wellesley College Science Complex by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)Firm Location: New York, New York (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)

Pictured Projects: Urban Sequoia, Concept ; Wellesley College Science Complex, Wellesley, Massachusetts

After becoming a carbon-neutral business in 2022, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has its sights set higher, aiming for all of its active projects to produce net zero operational carbon by 2030. The minds behind some of the world’s most environmentally advanced buildings, the practice’s holistic philosophy utilizes sustainable engineering principles to create spaces that prioritize social well-being and environmental health.

This commitment to overhauling the industry’s practices is seen across every scale of the firm’s work, from macro projects such as expansive masterplans to micro projects like furniture design. One of its most ambitious concepts to date is Urban Sequoia. The futuristic vision fuses high-rise buildings with the functionality of trees, imagining a skyline that can absorb carbon at unprecedented rates.

COOKFOX Architects

Finalist, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

Terminal Warehouse by COOKFOX Architects CITY TOWER by COOKFOX ArchitectsFirm Location: New York, New York

Pictured Projects: Terminal Warehouse, New York, New York ; CITY TOWER, New York, New York

New York-based practice COOKFOX Architecture sees itself as a steward of the world’s natural resources. The firm’s dynamic work across the urban landscape, from private homes and multi-unit housing to offices and retail spaces, reimagines the way spatial users interact with buildings and the organic environment. By drawing on biophilic architecture, its projects place people and nature in direct communion in even the most developed of cityscapes.

Dedicated to contextually responsive design in all its forms, the studio embarks on each brief with intensive research into a site’s cultural, historical and locational facets. The team engages with these different layers of identity, preserving the past and rearticulating it in a modern, regenerative design language.

EHDD

Finalist, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

Lisa & Douglas Goldman Tennis Center (with HGA) by EHDD Millikan Laboratory and Andrew Science Hall at Pomona College by EHDDFirm Location: San Francisco, California (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)

Pictured Projects: Lisa & Douglas Goldman Tennis Center (with HGA), San Francisco, California ; Millikan Laboratory and Andrew Science Hall at Pomona College, Claremont, California

Since Joseph Esherick founded the firm in 1946, EHDD has been a pioneer of sustainable design, striving to reduce the impact its work has on the Earth. The practice’s Net Zero Energy concept was introduced more than fifteen years ago and it continues to advocate for a more environmentally conscious industry. A proponent of clean electricity, the studio is also endeavoring to reduce structure-based emissions, embracing alternatives including mass timber and ultra-low cement concrete, while undertaking its own research into new, cutting-edge solutions.

While the firm historically made a name for itself in residential and aquarium typologies, it also has expertise in designing libraries, science facilities, educational spaces, museums and zoos. Alongside its focus on sustainability, the team ensures its projects promote equity and inclusivity, shaping environments where users thrive.

Stantec

Special Mention, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

SUNY Upstate University Hospital Nappi Wellness Institute by Stantec The Charles Library at Temple University by StantecFirm Location: Edmonton, Canada (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)

Pictured Projects: SUNY Upstate University Hospital Nappi Wellness Institute, Syracuse, New York ; The Charles Library at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Comprising designers, engineers and project managers, Stantec is a research-led firm headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. The studio envisions a future where the organic and built spheres exist symbiotically, development is responsible, biodiversity is abundant and renewable energy is accessible to all. The firm’s aspirations for the future are articulated through its extensive catalog of work, ranging from residential, municipal, educational and commercial spaces to hospitality and infrastructure.

Stantec works closely with its clients to explore the potential of their projects, incorporating opportunities for carbon reduction and energy efficiency. The practice’s architectural toolkit champions passive and net zero design, in line with the LEED framework and WELL Building standards. By combining sustainable practices with creativity and a considerate, community-minded perspective, the firm’s projects help to elevate their users’ quality of life.

Lemay

Special Mention, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

Odea by Lemay Théâtre de Verdure by LemayFirm Location: Montreal, Canada (Headquarters, with offices elsewhere)

Pictured Projects: Odea, Montreal, Canada ; Théâtre de Verdure, Montreal, Canada

Founded back in 1957, Lemay is an interdisciplinary practice driven by innovation. Its team of more than 400 architects, designers and industry experts work across a wide array of scales, covering masterplans, transportation and commercial briefs, as well as residential and office environments.

The firm’s work is rooted in its net positive philosophy, which strives to create sustainable, socially aware spaces that will continue to benefit future generations. This scalable approach seeks to harmonize the built world and the natural environment on three levels: neighborhoods, buildings and interiors. Present in each of these layers of Lemay’s work, practical design measures, responsibly sourced materials and state-of-the-art renewable technologies ensure the delivery of meaningful projects that benefit the planet.

The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.  

Reference