The American Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter (AIA San Francisco) and the Center for Architecture + Design Gallery have organized Vertical Gardens, a new exhibition which be open February 18 – April 30, 2010.
AIA San Francisco writes: “The past decade has seen a greater emergence of green roofs and vertical gardens created by artists, designers, architects and urban gardeners to combat the lack of flora in the city. Buildings around the world—from the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco—have embraced green walls or roofs for all their economical, environmental, and aesthetic values. Vertical farms and gardens are also being envisioned as new ways to feed local and organic foods to city dwellers. Largely based on the principles of hydro-ponics, vertical gardens are mostly self-sustaining because they capture large amounts of natural sunlight and water, and use wind as an energy source. In a country where cities are suffocated by high rises, cement and industrial materials, where can green space exist? As this exhibition demonstrates, one possible answer is ‘up.’”
The exhibition will feature more than two dozen concepts and actual projects, including works by Rael San Fratello Architects (Virginia San Fratello and Ronald Rael), Min Day, Boor Bridges Architecture, GLS Landscape | Architecture, environmental designer Lisa Lee Benjamin, and local nursery Flora Grubb Gardens. Additional pieces are contributed by Abruzzo Bodziak Architects; ATOPIA with The Harrison Studio; Bob Bingham and Claire Hoch; Patrick Blanc; Bohn & Viljoen Architects; Dickson Despommier, Eric Ellingsen, SOA Architects, Blake Kurasek; Evo Design with Mica Gross and Rogers Design Group; Todd Haiman; Haus-Rucker-Inc.; Edmundo Ortega and Dianne Rohrer (Co-Founders, Mundo Verde Ortega); Claude Boullevraye de Passillé; Oda Projesi;; Naomi Reis; Roomservices (Evren Uzer and Otto Von Busch); and SITE (Denise MC Lee, Sara Stracey and James Wines).
There will be lots of photos as well. “Photographic documentation of existing buildings containing vertical farms, gardens or green roofs will also be showcased by Hundertwasser; Renzo Piano with Chong Partners and Stantec; Emilio Ambasz & Associates; Humpert Wolnitzek; Chad Oppenheim Architecture and Design; Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership, Downs/Archambault & Partners, LMN Architects; Scandinavian Green Roof Institute; Conservation Design Forum of Chicago and Atelier Dreieitl of Germany; Enrique Browne and Borja Huidobro with Ricardo Judson and Rodrigo Iturriaga; and others.”
Mundo Verde Ortega and Rael San Fratello Architects have also created two “interpretive” green walls for the exibition.
Learn more about the exhibition on view February 18 – April 30, 2010 in the AIA San Francisco / Center for Architecture + Design Gallery. The exhibition is free.
Image credit: Deconarch blog
