Glenn Katz- Design Inspirations
- Salesforce Park, SF
The green roof design of Salesforce Park covers the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco. Adorned with a variety of plants, this expansive roof creates a lush and visually appealing environment while serving multiple purposes in promoting sustainability, including temperature regulation, stormwater management, and enhanced energy efficiency.
In addition to the green roof, the park features beautifully landscaped gardens with diverse plantings. The meticulous landscaping contributes to a serene and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere amid the bustling urban landscape.
- Museum of Tomorrow, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The museum incorporates a variety of sustainability measures, including the use of mobile solar panels, systems for recycling rainwater, and an air conditioning system that makes use of water from Guanabara Bay. The building integrates renewable energy sources. By harnessing natural energy and light, the museum utilizes water from the bay for temperature regulation and to supply the reflecting pools. The photovoltaic solar panels, adjustable for optimal sunlight exposure, contribute to generating solar energy to power the building.
- Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China
The architects crafted the design of this skyscraper, employing three key strategies—the asymmetrical form, tapering profile, and rounded corners—to reduce wind loads, while the curtain wall is intricately designed to minimize vibrations and swaying. The tower has a double-skin façade to enhance energy efficiency and wind turbines placed near the pinnacle for generating renewable energy. Additionally, the tower is structured to collect rainwater and recycle a portion of its wastewater for internal use.
- CopenHill, Copenhagen
CopenHill transforms waste into a valuable resource, effectively minimizing its impact on the environment. Recognized as one of the world's cleanest waste-to-energy power plants, it annually converts more than 440,000 tons of waste into clean energy. With a capacity to serve 680,000 people, it manages waste from up to 300 lorries on a daily basis. The plant's steam turbine generates 63MWh of energy, and its heat exchangers play a crucial role in contributing to a district heating system.
CopenHill's rooftop serves as a unique public recreational space, showcasing the innovative "CopenHill Urban Mountain" ski slope. In addition to the ski slope, the rooftop is a versatile public area featuring green spaces, hiking trails, climbing walls, and relaxation zones.
- Big Design Ideas
- Net-Zero
Zero energy buildings employ a blend of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources to generate an amount of energy equal to or greater than their annual consumption. By generating their own renewable energy, these buildings reduce operational and maintenance expenses, contribute to environmental conservation, and enhance resilience during power outages.
- Zero-waste
The Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington, is a zero-waste design. It integrates elements like a green roof, rainwater harvesting, and photovoltaic panels, while also being specifically designed for disassembly.
Zero-waste design in buildings encompasses an approach that seeks to reduce or entirely eradicate the creation of waste across the complete life cycle of a building, spanning from construction to operation and eventual decommissioning. The strategies for achieving zero waste involve preventing waste through lean construction and optimal material use, promoting the reuse and recycling of materials and components, and facilitating recovery through designs that support disassembly and the use of easily recyclable materials. Additionally, the approach emphasizes energy efficiency achieved through passive design strategies, efficient building systems, and the integration of renewable energy sources.
- Innovative Building / System Features
- green roofs/gardens
Green roofs offer a multitude of benefits, including effective stormwater management by reducing runoff and delaying flow rates. They contribute to energy conservation by cooling roofs and providing shading, thermal mass, and insulation. Green roofs enhance biodiversity in urban areas, providing habitats for plants and animals. They help counteract the urban heat island effect by cooling cities. Green roofs also contribute to the longevity of roofs, expected to last twice as long as conventional ones. Additionally, they bring aesthetic value to buildings, enhancing the overall urban landscape.
- renewable energy
Solar and wind are the most prevalent renewable energy sources employed in buildings. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can capture solar energy for generating electricity or heating water. Wind turbines use the motion of the wind, converting it into electricity or mechanical power.
- rainwater harvesting system
By utilizing rooftops and downspouts, rainwater harvesting establishes expansive catchment areas that redirect rainwater into storage for future use. The gathered rainwater serves various purposes, including irrigation, landscaping, indoor non-potable use and, with proper treatment, domestic use. These systems play a role in water conservation, decrease reliance on conventional water sources, and offer an environmentally sustainable solution.
- greywater reuse system/ blackwater recycling system
A greywater reuse system in a building is designed to collect, treat, and reuse wastewater generated from plumbing fixtures such as sinks, showers, and laundry. Greywater undergoes filtration and treatment to eliminate contaminants, making it suitable for irrigation, toilet flushing and non-potable water use.
A blackwater recycling system in a building is designed to collect, treat, and recycle wastewater from toilets and other sources containing human waste. After undergoing several preliminary steps, the primary treatment would occur within the bio-tank. The water in the treated water tank would be return to the building to supply water closet and irrigation.
- passive daylighting systems
Passive daylighting strategies improve the quantity and uniform spread of natural light within a building by capturing and redirecting it to areas with less illumination. Architects utilize elements like windows, skylights, clear doors, clerestories, solar tubes, and light shelves to effectively capture and reflect light to specific areas within a room.