Specifically in the United States, a real mobilization in favor of the climate began some time ago; let’s talk about the whole movement born in 2019 with the famous “Climate Mobilization Law” (CMA), also called the “Green New Deal of New York”.
Under Law 97, many of the city’s large buildings are currently required to comply with the stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission limits starting from 2024, with the mandatory goal of reducing overall emissions by at least 40% by 2030, through the progressive renovation of buildings.
In support of the new changes also from a design point of view, Vincent Callebaut Architectures, based in Paris, is distinguishing itself internationally, proposing the concept of “vertical villages sensitive to the climate”. These green buildings will be constructed with ultra-low-carbon and bio-based materials, integrating renewable energy, biodiversity and urban agriculture to present an eco-responsible lifestyle.
Obviously the lifts will be no exception and will be redesigned in an “eco” key.
These new constructions would prioritize natural building materials such as glulam, straw, hemp concrete and terracotta and would move away from mechanical climate control, relying instead on natural ventilation, passive cooling, heat input recovery and thermal inertia. With permaculture in mind, this team of architects envision plants and trees on every balcony, along with greenhouses and rooftop orchards.
Some of these groundbreaking ideas from this architectural firm are still on paper but they promise a real green revolution. If one thinks, for example, that in the past the same working group had focused on housing units …undersea. Therefore, although it may take some time for these ideas to materialize, sustainability in buildings (and all elements connected to it) remains an important topic of discussion globally.
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