More than 8 billion people on Earth. As it grows, so does the consumption of electricity and land resources. The environment is changing rapidly, and nature has a strong influence on the appearance of cities around the world. To solve a number of environmental problems, innovative changes are needed in the field of architecture and building technologies, which make the future more beautiful, clean and, most importantly, livable.
# Bamboo Cities
We are used to looking at bamboo as a decorative material. In fact, it is an amazing building resource. Bamboo grows quickly, it is more resistant than cement and stronger than steel. That is why Penda, an architectural studio from Beijing, wants to use bamboo as the main resource for the construction of an entire city.
This city will be sustainable, environmentally friendly and budget-friendly. The buildings will be made up of ropes-linked bamboo branches. Using simple technology, Penda plans to build a city for 200,000 people by 2023.
# Diamond Nanothreads
As far as we know, diamond is the strongest mineral found in nature on Earth. This makes diamonds one of the most fertile building materials when applied appropriately.
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States have created innovative diamond nanowires, which, according to them, are 20,000 times thinner than human hair. At the same time, filaments are considered the strongest on Earth (and possibly in the universe). In addition to being thin and strong, they are also incredibly light.
These nanofilaments are unlikely to be used in mass construction anytime soon, but in more ambitious and capital-intensive projects such as the creation of a space lift for sure.
# Road Printer
Road construction is time-consuming. On average, a worker can build 100 square meters per day using traditional methods. Road printers such as Tiger Stone can shorten this process by printing up to 300 square meters per day. Another similar mechanism can build up to 500 square meters per day.
These printers run on electricity and do not contain many moving parts, making them easy to use and maintain. In addition, they do not create noise, especially compared to traditional methods.
# Sun paint
One of the most common complaints about solar panels is that they are very bulky and not powerful enough. To tackle this problem, researchers at the University of Alberta have created solar panels that are so small and flexible that they can be painted on a surface. In fact, these are solar elements in the form of a spray with nanoparticles of zinc and phosphorus.
If every homeowner paints his roof with solar paint, it will be possible to produce more energy for the home than enough. In addition, solar paint is cheaper to produce compared to solar panels.
# Vertical cities
According to UN forecasts, by 2050 there will be more than 9.6 billion people on Earth, 75% of the population will live in large cities, which will further develop the problems with free spaces in them.
One way to solve this problem is to build vertical cities. For example, the Italian firm luca Curci Architect intends to build a 189-storey building in the UAE that will accommodate 25,000 people with living quarters, shops and offices.
Megabuildings will be self-sustaining and green. Solar panels can be located over their entire area, they will use geothermal energy and collect rainwater.
# Smart baton
In large cities, one of the main problems is flooding, due to the lack of soil for rainwater to drain. The British company Tarmac has proposed a solution to the problem – asphalt, which allows the passage of 36,000 milliliters per hour, compared to the usual one – 300 milliliters per hour.
This innovation allows streets to be dry and safe, in addition, it is possible to channel water to tanks for use for other uses.
# Smart Bricks
Do you notice that this development of Smart Bricks can be easily likened to Lego bricks. Smart bricks are held in place using rebar and vary in shape and color. Bricks have also been developed for various applications – for the construction of floors and roofs. The core of the brick is hollow, if necessary, it can be filled with insulation, pipes and cables for electricity.
Such bricks can improve heat control, manufacturing flexibility, and reduce production cost by 50%.
[:]
