Manufactured Landscapes & Sustainability

     The Lee Hall III, at the Clemson University School of Architecture represents the shift toward sustainable practices in educational facilities.  The building achieves a 50% lower energy use than specified in ASHRAE 90.1-2007 and is the most energy efficient building on campus.  The performance is achieved through an integration of several sustainable design methods into the construction.  A geothermal system drives the heat pump and radiant heating/cooling system in the floor, an automated system operates the natural ventilation, and daylighting control, and a green roof reduces the heat island effect and energy costs toward the goal of becoming a net zero energy building.

     Several development projects in Dubai UAE highlight the themes in Jennifer Baichwall’s documentary Manufactured Landscapes in which the extent of the scale of the human impact from the built environment has left permanent damage to the fabric of the natural ecosystem.  One example, known as “The World”, is a body of artificial islands of 5-20 acres arranged like the globe, created for the homes and resorts of the wealthy elite.  The project has managed to destroy a vast ecological habitat by introducing millions of tons of foreign rock and debris which crushes and chokes the natural coral reef foundations which support the marine ecology.  In addition, due to public scrutiny the developer plans to create an artificial reef out of sunken ships and planes, however this has been known to introduce foreign species rather than support native marine life.  The islands, built for development  have been surveyed and are sinking into the sea, so the developer plans to continue the process indefinetly.  

     The 800M 162 Story high skyscraper the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE represents the size and scale of the impact which we have on the natural environment and it’s resources that was evident as a focus of Jennifer Baichwall’s documentary Manufactured Landscapes.  As the world’s tallest building (533.33M), with 57 elevators, the Burj Khalifa can be seen from 95km away.  The construction created a worldwide steel shortage as 35,7000 metric tons of steel were used, enough to stretch ¼ of the way around the globe, resulting in a construction workforce shortage in Asia.  The $1.5 billion dollar project undertaken during the world economic crisis, seemed unnecessary amid a 45% vacancy rate in Dubai.   Although 3,331,100 sq ft of additional real estate was unnecessary, the project was funded by sister city Abu Dhabi, as Dubai (30% owner) accepted several billion dollar bailouts during the construction.  The building remained largely unoccupied although the global economic recession, and although the developer reports 80% occupancy, much of the units remain vacant, owned by real estate speculators.