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vincent callebaut architectures: asian cairns, shenzen, china
belgian architectect vincent callebaut is renown for taking on issues of urbanity and reframing them within an ‘eco-vision.’ his recent project ‘asian cairns’ takes aim at recurring mass rural exodus and unrestrained urbanization by proposing sustainable ‘farmscrapers’ that produce more energy than they consume via food production, wind harnessing and solar power. assuming that density is inversely related to energy consumption, the towers in ‘asian cairns’ use biomorphism and bionics to make an architecture that becomes cultivable in the emerging chinese megalopolis of the pearl river delta. comprised of hong kong and shenzen, the burgeoning megacity is in a favorable position to house callebaut’s stacked, egg-like design; itself informed by structure of cairns, a residual neolithic practice of piling stones into tall markers. these conical rock piles take on a new life as megalithic modules that form six mixed-use towers serving to pile up housing, offices and leisure spaces. the buildings are the acme of three interlaced eco-spirals, implanting biodiversity and density in an expanse of public orchards and urban agriculture fields. grey water from the pod-farms will be harvested in basins and recycled using phyto-depuration, a combination of biological, physical and chemical means wherein pollutants are removed by favoring the most efficient microbial and plant sedimentation, absorption and assimilation processes. the structural framework for each tower is a central vertical boulevard, orthogonal in shape and optimized for composting and circulation. each ‘pebble’ attached to this spine is a microcosm of the eco-city. steel rings delineate space around double decking and are enclosed by a glazed skin encrusted with a field of solar cells and a forest of wind turbines. hanging gardens fill interstitial spaces and welcome a variety of urban farming programs. the architecture posits a solution to the problem of exponential growth and large-scale consumption– that cities can be viable ecosystems with city blocks mimicking forests and buildings emulating the efficiency of trees.
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