The building is like another form of habitat for human beings, providing safety, comfortable space, and necessary functions for living. Hence, the building ventilation system is like our lungs (shown below picture), providing constant fresh air. By expanding this idea, we can imagine the building can be a green plant. Humans are small residents, such as birds, squirrels, insects, etc. The “tree” provides a safe shield, and we can also get “supplies” from the plant (electricity, fresh air, temperature, light, and necessary utility).
Figure 1. Building “Lungs”
Some green cities encourage construction companies to build sustainable buildings to mimic the function of plants in the forest (shown below picture), supplying fresh air and habitat. Rather than the boring concrete and steel structure acting as a shell (only providing safety, like a sea snail sticking on rock and only taking resources).
Figure 2. Combination of green vegetation and building to release fresh air In addition, we also know that plants need to release fresh air through photosynthesis. Therefore, in order to transform the building into a “plant”, we combined the PV panels with the building to make it sustainable. The solar panel acts like the leaf of a plant.
Figure 3. Mimic the “photosynthesis” A more interesting idea is the rainwater collection building system. It elevates the plant idea, and the building can actually take the water into its own “biological process”. The rainwater will be collected to irrigate plants embedded into buildings or stored for resident use.
Figure 4. The building needs to “drink” water