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Harmonia 57 is a truly 'green' building — it's got self-watered plants all over it
In São Paulo, Brazil, there's an office building called Harmonia 57 that has a façade covered by plants. They got there because of pores built into the concrete, where foliage can be planted and grow out until it covers the outside of a building. Since it's all part of the design, the architects at Triptyque also included a way to get the plants plenty of water, by way of a misting system that sprays the façade.
It sure does look pretty, though we've seen some greener setups. Still, that mist would be nice to walk under in the summer, I bet. Triptyque is using Harmonia 57 as a prototype for it's plant-covered-building concept.
Check out the gallery below for more of the Harmonia 57.
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By fartboyslim at 10:48 AM ON 09/01/08
And how can that be "green" (other than the colour) if it wastes so much water? efficient is something else ...
By bolerano at 11:20 AM ON 09/03/08
The building is green because once those plants grow in and fill the surface of the building it will significantly reduce the thermal gain from the sun on the surface of the building. That would lower the air conditioning cost and perhaps sequester a small bit of carbon as well.
By Haekon at 8:04 AM ON 09/04/08
The CNPC building in the Olympic green in Beijing was completely covered in grass. They didn't a fancy watering method but it did look very easy on the eye in the midst of a sea of concrete.
Check out the URL for a pic
By arc at 9:04 AM ON 09/06/08
all the water of the building is from reuse system. (rain and drain)
By John at 2:01 AM ON 09/21/08
Won't the roots from the plants eventually break down the concrete?