Green Ribbon Design: Heping Park

Here is really compelling project by Perkins+Will for the Heping Park in Tianjin, China, provides elevated ribbons of vegetation defining the roof zones.


:: image via Perkins+Will

Covered in World Architecture Network, the project description is punctuated by 3 large towers, as well as parking and green spaces creating a vegetated canopy that is engaging from street level as well as from above. Daylighting is allowed through circular penetrations in the roof plane:


:: image via WAN

From WAN: "The neighborhood's redevelopment plan includes new high-rise residential construction that will emphasize a higher quality of life through the integration of public green spaces and parklands... The ample green space was achieved by submerging two garage levels below the main park that begins at grade at the west end of the site. Ribbons of green space undulate across the site, admitting light, access and ventilation to the parking below. The green ribbons rise to form a green roof over the three pavilions that form the community center at the eastern end of the site... Various grass textures accentuate the patterns formed by the folds in the park. A variety of paths provide access through the site, emphasizing the pedestrian network at grade."

:: images via WAN

The concept diagrams remind of the vocabulary used in the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle (with the zig-zag form of pedestrian circulation) specifically when seen in the diagrams below. It is unclear how interactive these vegetated spaces will be, as well as the nature of vegetation:

:: images via WAN

The form is interesting, providing a way of articulating a horizontal plane with artificial topography, allowing for building forms to occupy the folds. Hope to see more in the future.

Tagging

Not an urban graffiti post, but a virtual tag from The Where, via Pruned, via Passages and on, and on... some of my favorite blogs, so sure, I can play along:

:: The rules of the tagging game are as follows:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

The book is a good one, Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection, by Stephen R. Kellert. I've been picking away at it for a week or so, and had not made it to p. 123.


:: image via Stout Books

Page 123 opens the fascinating chapter on Biophilic Design...
"Reducing the adverse effects of modern development is arguably the first and more basic priority of restorative environmental design, but we must go beyond this limited objective to also identify how buildings and landscapes can foster human lives of meaning and satisfaction by celebrating our dependence on nature as an irreplaceable core of intellectual creativity and emotional capacity. The label 'positive environmental impact' or, preferably, 'biophilic' design describes this second dimension of a comprehensive approach to restorative environmental design. The fundamental objective of biophilic design is to elicit a positive, valued experience of nature in the human built environment."

Ok, now for the tagging (ya'll are it):

1. Something About Maryman
2. Jetson Green,
3. Sustainable Stormwater
4. Synchronicity
5. architecture.MNP

Tree/House

There's a few posts out showing off a variety of actual treehouses, but what fun is that. I thought a sampling of projects of the theme would be much more informative. Just for kicks, here's my favorite, a more refined method for the discerning tree-sitter, from Web Urbanist:

:: image via Web Urbanist

For spotting that perfect species and crook in which to hang your hat (or home) a new book on trees, with a simple yet effective title: 'Trees: A Visual Guide'. From the publisher: "Beautifully illustrated and designed, this gorgeous reference book explores the world of trees from every perspective--from the world's great forests to the lifespan of a single leaf."

:: image via Amazon

A form of interior landscapes from Dezeen, or just a couple of ways of inflicting cruelty to some poor plant. A coat-rack by Swedish designers Form us With Love use branches to form the 'Prosthes hanger'. From Dezeen: "In medicine, a prosthesis is an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part. In this hanger, the prosthesis are what you have at home, may it be a hockey stick, a broom or a spare branch." I'm sorry, but you just don't have a 'spare' branch around - uh, you have to cut something off or down for that to happen.

:: image via Dezeen

And a set of lights using dried leaves by Israeli designer Tomer Sapir bridging the span between life and death. These are really nice:

:: image via Dezeen

This overgrown monster, yikes! is a restaurant in Japan, in the 'form of...' a banyan tree. Wonder twins, power, activate! I don't know what's more funny, the project itself or the random writeup in The Design Blog.

:: image via The Design Blog