Please follow our experiences, challenges, and opportunities from the front lines of green real estate development.
Progress on Election Day
At REthink we are proud to witness Cherokee Lofts pull above grade and nearly reach its full height of four (4) stories. Our development team actively participates in shaping the future of Hollywood through Cherokee’s building design and fidelity to native culture. One could say we are proud “to vote” for contextual development.
The context of Cherokee’s development means we must pencil out not only ecologically responsible development, but socially responsible development as well. We have talked in the past that the ‘proof is in the pour.’ The second floor canopy is now complete. 148.7 cubic feet have been poured to shape the canopy that will hold the framing for the residential units above. Of the 76 tons of rebar and 4,015 lbs of cement utilized for the canopy, 98% of the steel is recycled and 602 lbs of fly ash spared the use of new concrete.
Our team also thinks of Cherokee as our best foot forward in the community. REthink wants a hip project. But, Cherokee must be a project that is both in keeping with its swinging Hollywood neighborhood and a steward within the community. In other words, Cherokee Lofts represents our brand of development, which is as unique as it is innovative.
At REthink, our team views development as a participatory process. Wherever your politics may stand, we hope that you voted this election cycle. REthink campaigns to solve unprecedented design problems to bring the greatest value in development to our communities. Because of the participation of a diverse design team and concern for both the ecological and social impact of our building design, our projects are all the richer. We hope to learn more from you so that we can bring to our communities more projects that are swinging in Hollywood, surfing in Venice’s Dog Town or at the movies in Culver City’s back lots. Until then, we will continue to let you know how you can learn more about REthink Development and our latest projects.
Nature has had millions of years to solve the complex design problems presented by unforgiving environments. In order to thrive, plants and animals have evolved to be imminently resource efficient. They create some of the strongest, most durable, and most useful materials known using very little energy without toxic chemicals and very little waste. Using nature as an inpiration or even copying processes and stratgegies directly can lead to tremendous advances in human technology.
This building in Harare, Zimbabwe mimics the strategies used by termites. Termites keep their termite mounds at a constant 82 degrees year round in desert conditions in which the temperature swings from over 104 degrees in the day to 35 degrees F at night. The building uses similar techniques to keep its internal temperature around 68 degrees year round without the use of standard air conditioning or heating equipment. The building saves 90% of the traditional heating and cooling energy use as compared to a similar building while saving $3.5 million on up front costs.
The Gemsbok survives in the heat of the desert with little water under the harshest conditions imaginable. It has evolved advanced water conservation and temperature regulation strategies. What can we apply in our buildings in hot dry climates from the strategies of this animal?
More; http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/12/10/building-modelled-on-termites-eastgate-centre-in-zimbabwe/
http://www.arup.com/feature.cfm?pageid=292