As architecture students know, structures are normally built on land that has been stripped of any environmental obstacles, such as trees, plants or rocks. However, a recent trend has architects incorporating these roadblocks of nature into their designs. For example, some professional architects have designed structures to be built around large trees, while others have surrounded their buildings with vegetated living walls.
Students pursuing architectural careers might be interested in learning about the different ways that architects are using the natural environment in their building designs. Read on for more details about this new design trend that aims to bring us all a little closer to mother earth.
4 TREEHOUSE by Lukasz Kos: A Treehouse Built for Nature
The word treehouse typically brings to mind a small wooden cabin built between the branches of a large tree. Treehouses tend to bring back childhood memories, since they are normally built for children to play in. However, students with architecture training know that treehouses today have become a perfect structure to experiment with modern and eco-friendly designs. One particularly interesting treehouse design is 4Treehouse by architect Lukasz Kos.
4 TREEHOUSE by Lukasz Kos
4Treehouse is located within the fir trees of Lake Muskoka in Ontario, Canada. This treehouse was constructed to exercise minimizing the damaging impact that building normally has on trees and nature. The house was built around the base of four trees, as opposed to stretching between them, and a swing was suspended from the four trees to form a foundation for the treehouse.
The structure is made almost entirely from slat wall panels—which graduates of CAD courses know makes the walls of this treehouse appear almost completely transparent. Some people have even said that this transparency makes the treehouse look like a Chinese lantern when light shines through the building. The structure also sways back and forth, following the swaying movement of the trees.
Architectural Technicians Recognize the Benefits of Green Walls
Graduates of architectural technician programs know that vegetated living walls have been in existence for a long time. These days, experts know that that these living walls are not only beneficial for thriving vegetation, but to the buildings and their occupants as well. Manmade surfaces and structures like roofs influence microclimate, which causes the temperatures within buildings to rise, and forces people to use air conditioning systems or fans to cool off. Experts have found that surrounding buildings with greenery and vegetation actually works to create cooler, more comfortable air temperatures.
In 2012, the Edmonton International Airport underwent renovations to install a green wall, which today incorporates over 8,000 different kinds of plants from dozens of countries around the world.
Is environmental architecture something that would interest you after earning your architectural technician diploma?
