The Global Flora project reimagines the ‘stand-alone’ typology of the greenhouse as an interlinked and synergistic set of Wet and Dry biomes that are heated and cooled using renewable resources. The design integrates a curved building form that follows the east-west sun path and engages the hillside topography.
The architecture integrates innovative passive and active sustainable systems to meet the Net Zero Water criteria of the Living Building Challenge, the most rigorous contemporary criteria for measuring sustainable design. The elegant curved form of the Conservatory follows the east-west arc of the sun to maximize solar heat gain in winter which is captured through the thermal mass of a wall. In summer, the architecture’s environmentally responsive ETFE building skin allows the biomes to be cooled entirely through natural ventilation.
An Interactive Sensor Platform integrated into the Conservatory design provides real-time air, water, soil, and energy data, expanding knowledge of natural and architectural systems, and public access to the collection for on-site and online users around the world.
The project has been selected as the 2021 Architizer A+ Awards Jury Winner for Architecture + New Technology. It has also won the prestigious Lafarge Holcim Design Award and was selected as Building of the Week by World-Architects.
Photo credit: KVA
Source: v2.com
