rainforest guardian skyscraper protects the amazon from fire
rainforest guardian skyscraper protects the amazon from fire
all images by jie huang, jin wei, qiaowan tang, yiwei yu, zhe hao (china) / courtesy of eVolo
proposed by chinese designers jie huang, jin wei, qiaowan tang, yiwei yu and zhe hao, the ‘rainforest guardian skyscraper’ towers over the amazonian landscape, protecting the region from the constant threat of fire and drought. the lotus-shaped design, which received an honorable mention as part of eVolo‘s 2014 skyscraper competition, primarily functions as a water tower, but is also a weather station, scientific research center and an educational laboratory.
according to NASA, fires have destroyed 3% of the amazon rainforest over the last 12 years. these outbreaks are hard to predict and even more difficult to control. the ‘guardian’ serves as a device capable of preventing, monitoring and combating fire.
the proposal directly captures rainwater that is subsequently filtered and stored within ancillary reservoirs. aerial roots with a distinct sponge-structure absorb liquid without disturbing the region’s delicately balanced ecosystem. in the case of flames, firefighters fly to the scene and extinguish the inferno with the previously collected water. research labs enable scientists to monitor climate change and the stability of the environment. these spaces also act as exhibition galleries for tourists promoting environmental awareness.
the design primarily functions a water tower, but is also a weather station and scientific research center
the scheme directly captures rainwater that is subsequently filtered and stored within ancillary reservoirs
sectional drawing indicating spatial arrangement
rainwater collection system
the ‘aerial root’
the extinguishment process
the water-cycle regulating process
the ‘rainforest firefighters’
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Call me naïve but having seen what construction sites look like for major projects, recognising the need for very deep piling for such a structure ( going through any aquafiers or other subterranean eco systems ) the need for roads, invasion of the wilderness by thousands of people to build it with associated pollution and the need for road access for the initial phases which needs must destroy flora and fauna…………doesn’t this seem a little like amputating the head of the patient to save her life?
the clearing of the forest to get materials in and create footprints for these buildings will destroy more rain forest than that small %3 the fires destroy… at least with the fires the vegetation will grow back. Cool renders though…
Wow what a terrible idea this is. building a structure that large would destroy the surrounding area that is intended to protect. Whoever designed this had no understanding of basic construction practices and impact.
fire is part of the cycle of life. fires that are started by people… thats another problem and there are better ways of dealing with those.
As a brazilian, with deep roots in the Amazon, I have to laugh on all that…
Overall it’s a nice concept – The drone firefighter is a great idea to reach remote fire source. But implementation would ‘destroy’ rather then ‘preserve’. The footprint of the tower may be ‘slender’ but ecologically devastating – considering the other infrastructres needed to power the tower. Cool rendition though, kind of evoke the image of an episode of star wars on planet Endor.