International architects and designers are increasingly uniting around concepts for buildings with minimal or zero environmental footprint. And the realization of the almost insurmountable environmental catastrophe provoked many to choose a sustainable existence. This, in turn, provokes professionals to respond to the demand by weaving it in an impressive way into the aesthetics of their architectural works. This year we observe that the topic of environmental problems is becoming a leading motif of more and more art installations and design projects.
Art installation: Oki Naganode, Julia Lohmann; Courtesy of la Triennale di Milano, Photo by Gianluca di Ioia
An example of this is Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival, part of the 22nd edition of the Milan Trianale. As implied by the theme itself – the project emphasizes the power of design to provide solutions to crisis problems for our era, exploring the architecture and design of objects and concepts in all scales and in all forms of matter. Raising this issue in an established forum of this magnitude gives clear signals that it is time for human existence to be transformed.
Source – www.repubblica.it
The Trinale takes as its task through Broken Nature to promote the importance of creative practices in exploring the relationship between people and complex natural systems and does so in an accessible and attractive way – in the form of exhibitions and art installations. A meaningful step towards restoring this original connection is trusting in contemporary design and engineering for the creation of objects, concepts and new systems in order to achieve it successfully.
Source – www.repubblica.it
Passive houses – eco-friendly and economical
Thanks to innovative technologies, it is no longer insane to talk about ecology and construction at the same time. “Passive houses” have positively confirmed that the impact of our cozy home on the environment can be drastically reduced.
What are they in their essence? Buildings that do not need to build in an additional system and cooling or heating devices, but actually regulate the internal temperature themselves , are called passive.
Photo: Gabrielle Morehead
Visually, you wouldn’t recognize a passive house, but its unique design is in its energy efficiency. The fact is that many architects opt for a futuristic exterior, but the basis of the model is good insulation and a cleverly designed system for regulation and air movement. One thing is for sure – by choosing a passive house as your home, you reduce not only the level of carbon emissions, but also the air conditioning bills of the home.
Sourse: www.passivehousesplus.ie
Active Houses – Sustainability to the Next Level
At first glance, it sounds like the absolute opposite of a Passive House, but on the contrary – the construction of an Active House is the next step towards a solution to live completely energy independent. The essence of active houses overlaps with that of passive houses, but with the addition that they produce enough energy to power the entire household.
Source: www.variotherm.com
Climate change is a scientific fact, and if political and world leaders turn their backs on it, then let us not forget that individual decisions are the first step towards conscious collective action. Choosing contemporary design is a chance we give nature and a way to reconnect with it. [:]
