Gooqle Search: March 2010

Friday, March 5, 2010

Oasis Tower is a Spiraling Vertical Farm for Dubai

Dubai is quickly emerging from the desert sands and more people are moving into the famed city. With limited land available for agriculture already, Dubai may soon be in need of an alternative solution for growing food for its residents. One solution could be this Oasis Tower vertical farm designed by Rahul Surin. Covered in ETFE and powered by renewable energy, this farm could grow enough food to feed up to 40,000 people while providing housing for some Dubai residents.

vertical farm, vertical garden, vertical farming, sustainable agriculture, dubai, oasis tower, zabeel park, sustainable design, green design, green building

Located in close proximity to the center of Dubai, the Oasis Tower would have clear views of the Burj Khalifa. Surrounding the tower are extensive grounds as well as a lake and a number of ponds at the base of the tower. The skyscraper itself is composed of three towers spiraling around a central core. The exterior is covered in ETFE cushions, which provides both structure and insulation for the interior. A solar coating would be painted onto the exterior of the ETFE to generate power.

The tower would also be powered by vertical axis wind turbines placed in between the floors of the central tower. Grey water would be treated and reused, and a methane digester utilizes the waste created on-site to generate even more power. Inside, the tower would be mainly designated for food crops, but some of the floors would be available for housing units. Surin estimates that a vertical farm like this would be able to feed 40,000 people and help divert a food shortage crisis.

Amazing House Built From 6 Million Beer Bottles

eco design, sustainable design, eco design, green design, quilmes, tito ingeniero, house made of 6 million bottles, bottle house, recycled bottle house, green architecture, eco architecture

If you read Inhabitat, chances are you’re a pretty avid recycler – but we’re pretty sure that you’re no match for Tito Ingenieri, who takes his recycling a bit further than your average sorting between paper, glass and plastic. He’s spent the last 19 years building a giant house in Quilmes, Buenos Aires out of over 6 million beer bottles! We can only hope he had a frat house nearby to help him source materials.

University Of North Texas to Build a LEED College Football Stadium

sustainable design, green design, leed certified stadium, green building, first leed college football stadium, university of north texas

Inhabitat reader Erin tells us that the University of North Texas is in the midst of building another LEED certified college football stadium. The first LEED certified college football stadium opened in September 2009 at the University of Minnesota with their TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. After The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved UNT’s proposal back in October the university held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the special occasion. The new stadium will replace the 57-year-old Fouts Field, and is one of many green projects happening on campus as part of the UNT “We Mean Green” initiative.

Italian Architecture on the court side

eco design, green design, sustainable design, prefab housing, prefabricated housing, salam centre, sudan, tam architects, shipping container, container houses, shipping container architecture

Designed by Italian firm, Tam Architecture, the idea for the complex was conceived when the architects noticed the leftover containers lying around the construction site and wanted to reuse them. Using them to provide the international staff of the cardiac center with a place to stay seemed like the perfect opportunity. The housing units are 20 sqm and consist of a bedroom, a bathroom and a small veranda on the court side. There is also a cafeteria which is made out of smaller 7 ft x 40 ft containers.

In addition to being fabricated out of shipping containers that were already at the site (no extra fuel costs or shipping emissions!), Tam took extra measures to make the complex energy-efficient. The containers are insulated with a layer system: 5 cm insulating panels on the inside and a second insulated roof and a bamboo brise soleil panel system on the outside, meaning that the sun’s rays never make contact with the containers. Solar panels supply hot water for the compound and an air conditioning system that utilizes photovoltaic panels and chilling machines has been tested for the complex.

Stacked Shipping Container Medical Complex in Sudan

You know how much we love shipping container architecture here at Inhabitat, and we get especially excited about buildings that contribute to the greater good of an area or community. Well, we couldn't have found a more shining example of that than this beautiful medical complex in Soba, Sudan. The breezy complex sits right near the Nile river around a courtyard of mango trees, and is constructed of discarded 90 ft x 20 ft containers taken right from the construction site of the adjacent Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery.

Zendome: Gorgeous Geodesic Domes Create Flexible Green Spaces

Berlin-based company Zendome develops these innovative, flexible, and stylish dome-like spaces. Thanks to their non-hierarchical geometry, the structures can be set up in a snap in virtually any location. Available in sizes ranging from 30 m2 to 300 m2, Zendomes can be erected in 10% of the construction time of conventional architecture, which makes them perfect for all kinds of indoor and outdoor events.

Maldives To Fight Rising Sea Levels With Floating Islands

The tiny island nation of the Maldives is under serious threat from rising sea levels caused by climate change. No part of the 1200 islands which make up the Maldives is more than six feet above sea level, so as sea-levels rise (as they will if rampant climate change is not stopped), the entire nation will be under water. Because of this, the Maldives government is pulling out all the stops in the fight against climate change. Not only has the entire country gone carbon neutral, educated all of their children in environmental science and furiously built retaining walls around every island, but the government is buying up land in nearby nations as a place to retreat to when the Maldives disappears. Now it appears that the intrepid Maldivians have come up with a new strategy to fight the rising tide: creating mini floating islands!

The Maldives government and Dutch Docklands/Dutch Watervalley just signed an agreement today to develop several floating facilities for the islands, including a convention center and golf courses. Designed by architect Koen Olthuis of Waterstudio.NL, the people who brought you the Citadel floating apartment complex and these amazing floating homes, the renderings for the amphibious mini-cities appear depict star-shaped, tiered islands with indoor spaces hidden under lush green-roof terraces, complete with interior pools and beaches.

Ideabox’s Fortino Prefab House Debuts in Portland

Last weekend, Ideabox debuted their newest prefab home at the Portland Home and Garden Show. The Fortino is meant for an urban lot and packs a lot in a small punch. The two bedroom house easily fits into a 50 x 100 foot space, with plenty of room around it for a yard and landscaping. For the exhibit at the Portland Home and Garden Show, Ideabox set up their model home, called in several landscapers to deck out the exterior and had Crate & Barrel decorate the interior.

OFIS Unveils Earthquake-Proof Solar Powered Volcano Towers

At a time when earthquakes dominate the headlines, we think it’s more important than ever to highlight architecture that keeps potential quakes in mind. So it goes with OFIS Architecture’s All-Seasons Tent Tower, a concept project that features two solar powered, cylindrical towers filled with restaurants, apartments, shops, a business center, spa, pool, bar and garage.

Mech Quest

Customize your own mechs, train at the academy, complete missions and battle other players in this futuristic sci-fi RPG.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://www.mechquest.com/

MegaTen

Customize your character, level up, buy clothes and weapons, train demons, and meet new friends, in this epic RPG. Originating from the hit PS2 Series: Shin Megami Tensei, the game is called Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine. MegaTen for Short.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://megaten.aeriagames.com

Metin 2

An action-packed RPG with an emphasis on battle. Join guild, develop your character and morph into animal forms to gain their abilities.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://metin2.subagames.com/http://www.metin2.us/marketingpic/100_100.jpg

Martial Heroes

Martial Heroes is a 3D online martial arts game with an Asian theme. You can create your own character, choosing from four different classes Warrior, Assassin, Mage and Monk.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://www.martialheroes.com/main.php

Minions of Mirth

MMORPG that can be played online or offline and is fully modable. Windows and Mac compatible. Three realms, Good, Evil, and Monster. Ability to multiclass up to three professions. Custom chat features even when playing offline.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://www.prairiegames.com/

MixMaster

Develop the strongest monster possible by mixing any combination of the game's 350 creatures. Fight other players to become the world's best MixMaster!

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://www.mixmaster.com.au/

Monster and Me

"You and your treasured pets are about to begin an amazing journey into the mystical Eastern land, filled with danger, excitement and fun." 3D fantasy oriental adventure.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://www.monsterandme.com/

Mount&Blade

Mount&Blade places you in a realistic dynamic world alive with action and detail. NPC groups in this world are continuously active, journeying, looking for enemies and engaging in battles with each other.

Free trial period, then pay to continue playing.

http://www.taleworlds.com/

MU Online

A massively multiplayer online RPG with stunning graphics. MU has over 100,000 combinations of armors, weapons and defensive tools. Therefore, as you slowly and lovingly build your character, you will be amazed and overwhelmed by the majesty of your efforts.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://www.muonline.com

Myth War II

MMORPG With nice graphics and smooth gameplay. Four classes of mythical-type characters to choose from. Over 100 Different types of pets to aid you in battle. Friendly enviroment and plenty of events.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://mw2.igg.com/

Naruto-Arena

Anime/rpg game from the anime series Naruto. Choose your village and set forth on adventures.

Free to play indefinitely.

http://www.naruto-arena.com/

Nostale

What makes this RPG unique is that the monsters you fight can also be captured and kept as pets to train and fight alongside you.

Free to play indefinitely.

http://www.nostale.co.uk/

Nowhere Else and Beyond

An RPG known for its active and friendly players. Create your own items or your own personal island.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://www.nowhere-else.org/rpg/

Oberin

"Oberin is an online fantasy role-playing game and virtual community, available exclusively for Macintosh. Oberin takes place in a persistent, ever evolving world -- your character may come and go, but the world continuously runs."

Free to play indefinitely.

http://www.oberin.com/

Ogre Island

"Do you have what it takes to stand against fierce monsters? To explore winding, trap filled dungeons? To journey from the mountains to the sea and through the vast wastelands?"

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://www.ogreisland.com/

Outwar

An urban adventure RPG. Join a crew and defeat your enemies to gain power in Diamond City.

Free to play indefinitely.

http://www.outwar.com/

Oz World

Oz World is a virtual social scene where you level up and earn gold to buy stuff. You can make friends, buy a house, fish, and more. Several different towns to visit.

Free, with option to pay for additional features.

http://oz.ongameport.com/

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