Project: Biophilic Breathe

Type: Mixed Use - International Competition

Date: 2015

Location: Hamburg, Germany 

Designer: Mekano Studio 

Team Design Leaders: Karim elnabawy - Mohamed Khamis

Design Team: Salma Nagy - Nader Aziz - Basma Beshr

Our Endeavor is to integrate Biophilic Design Approach with minimalism colorful architecture to focus on human meditation, sense of place and interaction with Eco-systems providing Ecological breathe for the whole community for social engagements and recreational activities using pre-fabricated modular housing units and panels cut-to-size to support sustainable practices in both design and construction.

Versatile green - Sustainable housing - Livable Community

Project design will support a strongly connected and livable community, sustainable housing and self-sustaining Eco system through green building approach strategies:

Orientation: The building is designed to harvest and retain the sun’s energy through the form orientation, a slope was introduced to allow more daylight exposure to lower residential units.

Green Roof: designed to lower heat island effect and collect rain water to be used in water systems.

Green Terraces: Supporting the concept of biophilia, green teracces were introduced to all of the units to add value and sense of place to the occupants, while also raising the environmental benefits.

Site Attributes: the use of renewable energy through the already existed district heating networks driven by combined heat and power generation which will aid in energy efficiency and demand strategies.

Waste Management: Pre-fabricated units and pre-fabricated panels are used in order to limit the waste through source reduction strategy, all materials are cut-to-size to fit into its location.

Future Expansion: All residential units are on a module of 5 meters widths to enable for easier extension.

Materials: The use of local materials and recycled content materials both pre-consumed and post-consumed in Bio-skin, covering the whole envelope of the form, aiding environmental materials strategy.