Seoul green city has food within a 10-minute walk anywhere

Hyundai Development Company hired UNStudio in 2019 to design a green, mixed-used neighborhood in Seoul, Korea , a 10-minute city for the new digital economy. That means mixed-use spaces, green energy and digital packages for residents who are expected to live, work and play in the 504,000 square meter neighborhood. Project H1’s added technology lifestyle package is designed to go beyond traditional smart city models to serve residents in ways that free up time for leisure. Digital infrastructure also can manage energy production and consumption, communal spaces and local food production. Will it work? The plan is to create all desired amenities from a larger city, including food within a 10-minute walk of anyone’s home within the development. “For the H1 masterplan, we have aimed to create the ultimate contemporary 10-minute city , where the daily life experience of the residents is the top priority,” said Ben van Berkel of UNStudio who helped head the project. “We do this through the inclusion of a rich density of uplifting, curated on-site experiences that provide an extensive range of options for how they can spend their living, working and leisure time, thereby also saving them the time needed to travel elsewhere in the city — because with time that is saved, more time is created.” The plan proposes to achieve these goals through System Design, which focuses on flexibility, adaptability and arranging components of a neighborhood according to varying needs. “We have taken an approach of ‘flexible urban density.’ This enables the multi-functional use of public space and employs mixed-use organizational models to ensure that the residents can meet, connect and socialize, both in planned and spontaneous scenarios,” added Berkel. “The components of the masterplan not only encourage the creation of strong community bonds, the proposed digital service packages also create an unprecedented level of convenience for the residents.” + UNStudio Images via WAX & Virgin Lemon

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Seoul green city has food within a 10-minute walk anywhere

Aeon is a point between two worlds

From the steel door entrance, to the soft lines, to the stark contrast in the interior design , Aeon is all about embracing and breaking boundaries.  The two buildings that make up Aeon, a hotel and wellness center, repeatedly return to the theme of connected, yet separated. The architects at noa* network of architecture describe the balance as a place “where two worlds meet. Between past and future, between dream and reality, between inside and outside: noa* makes the invisible lines visible, which become part of the full picture and, above all, instead of a separation, a connection between two worlds.” Related: French wood house builds a connection with its environment Aeon sits nestled in the Italian countryside, surrounded by views from the Sciliar, to the Rittner Horn, to the Merano Alps and the Dolomites. The 500 year old farmhouse, inn and barn served as inspiration for the project. In honor of the site’s history, the team focused on minimal site impact with an artificially-created hill that essentially creates an underground connecting tunnel. More visible is a stone above-ground walkway between the two structures.  The layouts and exterior look of the buildings nod to the past as well. “The creation of an ambivalent tension between the centuries-old tradition of the rural complex and an exclusively modern statement was the basic principle underlying the design process,” explained Architect Christian Rottensteiner. The team emphasized the importance of keeping the green surroundings instead of consuming it with architecture. One building houses a public gathering area that includes a restaurant , bar and wellness area. The other building is a hotel with 15 guest suites and between the two is a courtyard. The primary building material was wood sourced from trees on the property. They feature gabled roofs and a striking façade design that appears different from each angle of approach. Uniquely-shaped trapezoid windows offer eye-catching visual appeal, providing natural light throughout the space. Once inside the buildings , the interior design elements take center stage with a stunning use of contrasting blue and creamy white coloring that shifts at eye level. It’s a clear defining line that offers an atmosphere of mystery yet familiarity. “The past has grown like stone, wood and nature,” said Interior Designer Patrick Gürtler about the color choices. “The future, on the other hand, is veiled, mysterious and artificial (i.e. it is intangible like the sky, the night or the ocean). In between is the moment, a sharp, unconditional break, but also a point of contact.” This idea of breaking away while staying connected is seen in the transition when the blue and cream colors flip between the wellness area and the other public spaces.  “We have carefully chosen the fabrics , woods and colors that play both with and against each other at the same time,” added Gürtler. + noa* network of architecture  Photography by Alex Filz and Andrea Dal Negro

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Aeon is a point between two worlds

China plans to build nearly 300 new eco-cities

China broke ground on a 40,000-tree-filled Forest City earlier this summer – but apparently one isn’t enough. The country, infamous for their environmental pollution , plans to construct 285 eco-cities , according to Forbes. But what exactly an eco-city constitutes – and the standards to which it will be held – is still in question. Individual buildings can be held up against LEED standards, or even China’s Three Star system. But Forbes pointed out there’s no such criteria for entire cities . The publication quoted Austin Williams, Jiaotong-Liverpool University professor and author of a book on eco-cities, who said, “There is no definition of an eco-city, which makes them incredibly easy to invent.” Related: China plans its first “Forest City” to fight air pollution The country has urbanized more rapidly than any other country in history. In the last 30 years, more people than America’s entire population have moved to urban areas of China. The country has prioritized development over the environment in many cases, with dangerous air quality found in 90 percent of cities. According to Forbes, as the public has become educated about the pollution, environmental conditions in the country could pose the largest destabilizing force to the Communist Party. Will China’s eco-cities recycle , be powered by renewable energy , produce less carbon emissions , and be built with energy-efficient structures – a few hallmarks we might expect in an eco-city? Williams said, “In the West, eco-cities are supposed to save the world; in China they are simply meant to provide a decent quality of urban environment…China’s eco-cities are simply intended to be much-needed urban improvements and infrastructural development with an eco-prefix.” 80 percent of prefectural-level cities are estimated to have at least one eco-city in the works. One estimate suggests in the near future, more than 50 percent of new urban developments in China will be labeled green, smart, low-carbon, or eco. It remains to be seen whether these eco-cities will genuinely benefit China’s environment – and the people who live in them. Via Forbes Images via Stefano Boeri Architetti

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China plans to build nearly 300 new eco-cities

Zipline drones deliver life-saving medical supplies in under an hour

83% of rural Africans lack access to critical healthcare services – and delivering emergency supplies is often difficult or impossible due to ailing infrastructure. Zipline is changing that with the world’s first commercial medical delivery drones . A single drone can deliver up to 500 life-saving packages of medical supplies to remote areas in 24 hours. The project, which was just awarded a 2017 INDEX: Award , is a collaboration between Zipline and the Rwandan Government. The service is designed to deliver medical products to any area of Rwanda within 15-35 minutes – no matter how remote. Related: 5 brilliant designs that will change the world in 2017 To activate the system, health workers only need to text an order, which goes to a centralized distribution center. Once the order is put in motion, a drone is dispatched to the area, dropping the ordered items by parachute with a high degree of precision. According to the startup’s website, a single Zipline drone can carry up to 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds) for up to 150 kilometers (93 miles), making up to 500 deliveries in one day – even in extreme weather conditions. In early 2017 Zipline began delivering blood to over 20 blood transfusion facilities in western Rwanda, and the project is set to begin service in Tanzania with 120 drones and more than 1,000 clinics. + Fly Zipline + INDEX: AWARD 2017

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Zipline drones deliver life-saving medical supplies in under an hour

Scientists develop tiny robots that drill into cancer cells to kill them

Tiny new robots are proving to be life-saving tools in the fight against cancer. As first reported in the journal Nature , scientists at Durham University in England, in collaboration with researchers at Rice and North Carolina Universities in the United States, have developed nanomachines that are capable of drilling into cancer cells, killing them within minutes. These light-activated nanobots, the size of a molecule, move so rapidly that they can burrow through cell linings of cancer. The researchers found that in order for the nanomachines to function effectively, they need to spin two to three million times per second in order to not be inhibited by objects (or what is known as Brownian motion, or the erratic movement of tiny particles in fluid.) When triggered by ultraviolet light, the nanobots begin to spin, allowing them to cut through cancer cells either to destroy the cell or create space for the delivery of beneficial drugs. “These nanomachines are so small that we could park 50,000 of them across the diameter of a human hair, yet they have the targeting and actuating components combined in that diminutive package to make molecular machines a reality for treating disease,” said Dr. James Tour of Rice University. “For many years I never had envisioned the nanomachines being used medically, I though they were way too small, because they are much much smaller than a cell, but now this work has really changed my thoughts.” Related: Nanotech Robots Travel Through Blood to Turn Off Tumor Cells According to Dr. Robert Pal of Durham University, these micro cancer slayers may be well suited to target those cancers that are resistant to existing chemotherapy. “Once developed, this approach could provide a potential step change in non-invasive cancer treatment and greatly improve survival rates and patient welfare globally,” said Pal. After initial experiments on microorganisms and small fish are completed, the team will advance to rodent subjects, then eventually clinical trials on humans if prior results are positive. Via Yahoo News Images via Dr. Robert Pal/Durham University and Tour Group/Rice University

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Scientists develop tiny robots that drill into cancer cells to kill them

This urban tree cleans as much polluted air as an entire forest

Air pollution might be invisible, but it results in 7 million premature deaths each year. Fortunately, there’s a solution – the CityTree is a high-tech green wall that scrubs the air of harmful particulates – and it has as much air-purifying power as 275 urban trees. As you might have guessed, the CityTree isn’t really a tree . Instead, it’s a moss culture. Zhengliang Wu, co-founder of Green City Solutions said: “Moss cultures have a much larger leaf surface area than any other plant. That means we can capture more pollutants .” The CityTree is under 4 meters tall, approximately 3 meters wide and 2.19 meters deep. Two versions are available – one with or without a bench – and a display is included for information or advertising. Due to the huge surface area of moss installed, each tree can remove dust, nitrogen dioxide and ozone gases from the air. Additionally, the installations are fully autonomous, as solar panels provide electricity and collected rainwater is filtered into a reservoir where it is pumped into the soil. Related: Air pollution is the leading environmental cause of death worldwide The invention also has WiFi sensors which measure the soil humidity, temperature and water quality. “We also have pollution sensors inside the installation, which help monitor the local air quality and tell us how efficient the tree is.” said Wu. Every day, a CityTree can absorb around 250 grams of particulate matter. Over the length of an entire year, the invention can remove 240 metric tons of C02. Green City Solutions seeks to one day install CityTrees in major cities around the world – but they presently faces bureaucratic challenges. Said Wu, “We were installing them (the CityTrees) in Modena, Italy, and everything was planned and arranged, but now the city is hesitant about the places we can install because of security reasons.” Regardless, the company will persist and already has plans to introduce the invention to India , where air pollution has reached dangerous levels in certain locations. So far, 20 CityTrees have been successfully installed in major cities around the world – including Oslo, Paris, Brussels and Hong Kong. Costing about $25,000 each, they are a big investment – but one deemed to be worthwhile as they clean the air of harmful contaminants. + Green City Solutions Via CNN Images via Green City Solutions

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This urban tree cleans as much polluted air as an entire forest

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 of the most energy-efficient cities around the world

Cities are fantastic hubs of innovation and culture, but they also consume a lot of natural resources. Luckily, some urban centers are working hard to reduce their environmental footprint and are setting an example for greener, more energy-efficient living. HalfPrice.com.au rounds up 10 of the world’s most energy-efficient cities as well as each city’s innovative green initiatives and future plans. From Reykjavik’s use of renewable hydropower and geothermal energy to San Francisco’s impressive recycling strategies, this infographic is packed with inspiring trivia about some of the top metropolises from around the globe. Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: 10 of the most energy-efficient cities around the world

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INFOGRAPHIC: 10 of the most energy-efficient cities around the world

Seattle will embarrass and fine residents who don’t compost

In Seattle, there is now a big difference between trash and food. A new city law makes it illegal to toss out your leftovers and food scraps with the rest of your garbage. Effective this July, city residents will be penalized with a fine if they fail to separate their trash. City officials enacted the law on January 1 but Seattle residents won’t be fined for the offense until July 1. That doesn’t mean they won’t have an incentive to change their ways in the meantime. Until the fine goes into effect, sanitation workers will place a giant red tag on any garbage bags that appear to contain food waste . This is intended in part to remind folks of the new rules, but if residents feel a little embarrassment at the same time, all the better. Read the rest of Seattle will embarrass and fine residents who don’t compost Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Climate Change , compost , composting , fine , food waste , garbage , global warming , green , green city , greenhouse gas , landfill , law , laws , methane , recycling , Seattle , trash , washington , waste collection

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Seattle will embarrass and fine residents who don’t compost

Cisco and Amsterdam’s plan to make a green city smart

What happens when one of the world’s greener, smarter cities meets the hyper-connected world? We’re about to find out.

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Cisco and Amsterdam’s plan to make a green city smart

Dubai’s Sustainable City Will be Powered by 600,000 Square Feet of Solar Cells

Read the rest of Dubai’s Sustainable City Will be Powered by 600,000 Square Feet of Solar Cells Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: architecture competition , Baharash Architecture , city master plan , dubai , Dubai Architecture , Dubai Sustainable City , green city , Stringa Planning Studio , sustainable city , sustainable city development        

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Dubai’s Sustainable City Will be Powered by 600,000 Square Feet of Solar Cells

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