A unique residential complex “Tree House” appeared in Singapore, which was included in the Guinness Book of Records in the nomination “The largest vertical garden in the world”. It has not only become a landmark of the city and pleases its residents with coolness and fresh air, thanks to the introduction of "green" technologies, the city saves up to 400 thousand dollars. a year only on electricity. This prompted the country's authorities to take action; soon it will be possible to see city gardens and even vegetable plantations on the roofs of almost all skyscrapers.
The world's tallest vertical garden, Tree House, was created by City Developments Limited, the largest property developer in Singapore and Asia. Thanks to the special design, tens of thousands of exotic plants' bushes, which in total have an area of about 3 thousand square meters, have been fixed on 24 floors and the adjacent territory.
Now this riot of greenery saves the residents of the residential complex from the intolerable heat, for the most part without using an air conditioner. And this significantly reduces the consumption of electricity, as it became known to the Novate. Ru editorial office, thanks to the reasonable use of the protective functions of plants, there is no need for air conditioning by 15 - 30% (it all depends on the location of the apartment). This means that 400 thousand dollars are saved annually on just one item of expenditure, not to mention the improvement of the environment and the beneficial effect of purified air saturated with oxygen on people's health.
Upon completion of construction, the "Tree House" ("House-tree") in 2014 entered the Guinness Book of Records as "the highest vertical garden", but this is not the only achievement. Since the complex was built in accordance with all the rules of "green" architecture, only environmentally friendly materials were used, and innovative air and water filtration systems were also introduced. In order for the residents of the complex to feel the advantages of electric cars in the underground parking, which looks more like a cave, free power plants were installed to charge the battery.
To service the house and maximize the autonomy of its existence, innovative developments were introduced for the purification and processing of wastewater. In order to save electricity coming from outside, 1520 square meters solar panels were installed on the roof of the complex. m (!), which produce about 219 thousand kW / h of energy annually.
To improve air quality and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, low VOC paints were used for the interior and exterior finishes during the construction of the complex. Low formaldehyde glue was also used for gluing wooden structures and elements. Even the walls have been painted green for west-facing blocks that act as structures to anchor living plants, a so-called biosecurity.
On the roof of the unique "green complex", the authors of the project competently used the sloping surface of the cover and installed a special Bioswales system as a rainwater collection system for landscape irrigation and maintaining the water level in artificial ponds.
But this is not all the progressive implementation in the development of energy-saving systems and elements of "Tree House". Other "green" innovations include the lamination of windows with a special energy-saving film, the introduction of "smart" elevator control systems, programming the standby mode and motion sensors on stairs, in corridors, in some areas of the local area, and much more.
Interesting fact: Such achievements of the developers and the aspirations of the city authorities who contributed to the creation of this project did not go unnoticed in professional circles. In addition to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Tree House project received top awards in the Best Innovative Green Building category at the 2013 MIPIM Asia Awards, celebrating outstanding real estate projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Dom-Derevo residential complex was also awarded the Green Mark Platinum from the Office of Construction and Architecture with a special award - "Best Design for Maintenance" at the Skyrise Greenery Board of the National Park for "introducing best practices in the field of environmental protection, design and performance ".
This project inspired the city authorities so much that they are already deciding the issue of greening at the legislative level. And this is no accident, because 5 years of experience in operating this kind of residential space has shown amazing results both in saving resources and in improving the environment.
Moreover, the hot climate of the country dictates its own rules and norms, with which all systems of the complex coped perfectly well. Therefore, to maximize the use of the available space at the government level, it was proposed to actively use the roofs and facades of buildings. If these are residential buildings in which people already live, they offer contractors to equip roofs so that they can plant gardens and even grow vegetables. For this, companies will receive the right to build the following facilities, and residents of the houses will be encouraged and encouraged in every way to take care of the plants themselves.
“The enhanced LUSH program will encourage more people to engage in urban landscaping and gardening near their offices and homes, while allowing developers to efficiently use façade and roof space. This will not only improve landscaping and make homes more attractive, it will help reduce both indoor and environmental temperatures,”said Minister of Social and Family Development Mr. Li.
Remarkable: The Singapore government, not on paper, but in fact, invests quite a lot in the conservation of vegetation, therefore, criminal liability is provided for the slightest violations of environmental legislation.
Singaporean architects and developers are not alone in striving to create homes with living facades. Dutch developers are not far behind, very soon in the country's megacities whole residential areas with futuristic houses will appear, which will become a haven for both people and living plants.