BIOM
Basic information
Project Title
BIOM
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
The team of authors presents an architectural vision of a world where most of the population lives aided by advanced technology in nearly self-sufficient cities that offer their people better living conditions and quality environment. Within this vision, part of the agriculture is transformed and displaced, along with water sourcing and energy production, into proximity of the urban population. Increasing the quality of urban life and significantly lowering transportation demands.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Czechia
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The team of authors presents an architectural vision of a world where most of the population lives aided by advanced technology in nearly self-sufficient cities that offer their people better living conditions and quality environment. Within this vision, part of the agriculture is transformed and displaced, along with water sourcing and energy production, into proximity of the urban population. Increasing the quality of urban life and significantly lowering transportation demands. Project BIOM is based on this vision, an architectural concept which makes use of contemporary technology to achieve these goals. It tackles primarily architecture, urbanism, and resource supply in these future megalopolises. The problems faced by large cities are not novel, which is why the authors lean on existing research, scientific literature, and the opinions of respected personalities. This topic is closely related to the development of civilization and arising questions that society will have to resolve.
We find ourselves in an uneasy situation where as a whole, we begin to realize the conditions under which our civilization functions. We’re concerned that we’re approaching the limits of exploiting the natural environment and would like to conserve the possibility of a prospering human society. In our opinion, the solution lies in modern technology. More change can come from applied research in revolutionary materials, alternatively new methods of construction. Integration of production processes like modern agriculture, water sourcing renewable energy together with housing and new ways of construction are some of the possibilities of our solution. All of these components are utilized in BIOM. Our aim isn’t to present a concrete solution, but rather a vision which, after connecting with experts in the related fields, could bring real solutions for urban areas and through which we can advance our image of pleasant and environmentally conscious living.
We find ourselves in an uneasy situation where as a whole, we begin to realize the conditions under which our civilization functions. We’re concerned that we’re approaching the limits of exploiting the natural environment and would like to conserve the possibility of a prospering human society. In our opinion, the solution lies in modern technology. More change can come from applied research in revolutionary materials, alternatively new methods of construction. Integration of production processes like modern agriculture, water sourcing renewable energy together with housing and new ways of construction are some of the possibilities of our solution. All of these components are utilized in BIOM. Our aim isn’t to present a concrete solution, but rather a vision which, after connecting with experts in the related fields, could bring real solutions for urban areas and through which we can advance our image of pleasant and environmentally conscious living.
Key objectives for sustainability
We find ourselves in an uneasy situation where as a whole, we begin to realize the conditions under which our civilization functions. We’re concerned that we’re approaching the limits of exploiting the natural environment and would like to conserve the possibility of a prospering human society. In our opinion, the solution lies in modern technology. More change can come from applied research in revolutionary materials, alternatively new methods of construction. Integration of production processes like modern agriculture, water sourcing renewable energy together with housing and new ways of construction are some of the possibilities of our solution. All of these components are utilized in BIOM. Our aim isn’t to present a concrete solution, but rather a vision which, after connecting with experts in the related fields, could bring real solutions for urban areas and through which we can advance our image of pleasant and environmentally conscious living.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Strengthening self-reliance and sustainability
Our goal is to minimize long-term human intervention in soil, from which nature is finding a hard recovery, despite its great ability to recover. Migration to cities for education and work has its advantages, but it brings with it numerous problems. In particular, the need for an increase in housing capacities, increased consumption of energy, water, food and a need for fundamental change in handling waste. The current system in metropolises cannot support these future demands or runs into its own limits. Therefore, we must find new forms of coexistence and organizing cities.
Vertical agriculture
Another significant point of innovation is transforming agriculture from horizontal to vertical. This way we can achieve bringing more plant-based production inside large agglomerations. Simultaneously, the vacated former agricultural land can enable the return of biodiversity.
This outdated way of acquiring resources of food for megapolises may no longer be used to such an extent because hypermodern agriculture is already in working order today and has reliable results. Hydroponics reduce the usage of drinking water and fossil fuels and increases food production per square meters.
Generating energy without fossil fuels
Today's modern technologies allow us to produce enormous amounts of cleaner energy. That means we don't fill the air with exhaust gases and toxic particles from coal, oil and natural gas, but through this we also gradually reduce the price of more sustainably produced energy.
Our goal is to minimize long-term human intervention in soil, from which nature is finding a hard recovery, despite its great ability to recover. Migration to cities for education and work has its advantages, but it brings with it numerous problems. In particular, the need for an increase in housing capacities, increased consumption of energy, water, food and a need for fundamental change in handling waste. The current system in metropolises cannot support these future demands or runs into its own limits. Therefore, we must find new forms of coexistence and organizing cities.
Vertical agriculture
Another significant point of innovation is transforming agriculture from horizontal to vertical. This way we can achieve bringing more plant-based production inside large agglomerations. Simultaneously, the vacated former agricultural land can enable the return of biodiversity.
This outdated way of acquiring resources of food for megapolises may no longer be used to such an extent because hypermodern agriculture is already in working order today and has reliable results. Hydroponics reduce the usage of drinking water and fossil fuels and increases food production per square meters.
Generating energy without fossil fuels
Today's modern technologies allow us to produce enormous amounts of cleaner energy. That means we don't fill the air with exhaust gases and toxic particles from coal, oil and natural gas, but through this we also gradually reduce the price of more sustainably produced energy.
Key objectives for inclusion
Primary goals of the BIOM architectural vision
Improving the urban environment
- Returning nature into cities
- Verticality
- Changing transportation and traffic
- Participation of residents on acquiring resources
Strengthening self-reliance and sustainability
- Renewable sourcing of water
- Vertical agriculture
- Generating energy without fossil fuels
- Supplying the urban population?
- Decreasing waste production
Lowering the human usage and occupation of soil
- Allowing the return of wildlife
- Migration into cities for a better life
- Traditional agriculture
- Landscape recovery
Strengthening self-reliance and sustainability
Renewable sourcing of water
Our goal is to minimize long-term human intervention in soil, from which nature is finding a hard recovery, despite its great ability to recover. Migration to cities for education and work has its advantages, but it brings with it numerous problems.
Vertical agriculture
Another significant point of innovation is transforming agriculture from horizontal to vertical. This way we can achieve bringing more plant-based production inside large agglomerations. Simultaneously, the vacated former agricultural land can enable the return of biodiversity.
Traditional large agglomerations are mostly dependent on imported food and energy for their populations. One of the consequences being the occupation of more land in developing nations for food export and excessive production of carbon and sulphur based fossil fuels for transporting these commodities. This outdated way of acquiring resources for megapolises may no longer be used to such an extent because hypermodern agriculture is already in working order today and has reliable results.
Generating energy without fossil fuels
Today's modern technologies allow us to produce enormous amounts of cleaner energy.
Improving the urban environment
- Returning nature into cities
- Verticality
- Changing transportation and traffic
- Participation of residents on acquiring resources
Strengthening self-reliance and sustainability
- Renewable sourcing of water
- Vertical agriculture
- Generating energy without fossil fuels
- Supplying the urban population?
- Decreasing waste production
Lowering the human usage and occupation of soil
- Allowing the return of wildlife
- Migration into cities for a better life
- Traditional agriculture
- Landscape recovery
Strengthening self-reliance and sustainability
Renewable sourcing of water
Our goal is to minimize long-term human intervention in soil, from which nature is finding a hard recovery, despite its great ability to recover. Migration to cities for education and work has its advantages, but it brings with it numerous problems.
Vertical agriculture
Another significant point of innovation is transforming agriculture from horizontal to vertical. This way we can achieve bringing more plant-based production inside large agglomerations. Simultaneously, the vacated former agricultural land can enable the return of biodiversity.
Traditional large agglomerations are mostly dependent on imported food and energy for their populations. One of the consequences being the occupation of more land in developing nations for food export and excessive production of carbon and sulphur based fossil fuels for transporting these commodities. This outdated way of acquiring resources for megapolises may no longer be used to such an extent because hypermodern agriculture is already in working order today and has reliable results.
Generating energy without fossil fuels
Today's modern technologies allow us to produce enormous amounts of cleaner energy.
How Citizens benefit
In the twentieth century, the sociologist Norbert Elias hypothesizes and draws attention to "civilizational processes", which according to him significantly changed the behavior of Europeans since the Middle Ages. The movement of people from the countryside to the cities has resulted in people becoming more polite and considerate. We already have enough statistical data on this paradoxical fact. We already have enough statistical data to prove this paradox. For these reasons, the authors are trying to work with life in cities, to improve the quality of housing and then move more people into these centers.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
Traditional architecture is a sinkhole of resources from construction, operation to demolition. Our approach is innovative and revolutionary in that we try not to take up a lot of the earth's surface by building, and in addition it gives its surroundings the resources that our conurbations are so lacking. In our basic research, we have tried to sketch out the possible shape of future cities and we have not modeled our construction from relevant scientific research. This building integrates agriculture food and energy production. According to basic predictions, it should be able to supply these resources to urban centres. The building is made of revolutionary materials that should be fully self-sufficient and sustainable. In our basic research we have also outlined the form of such buildings from 100 - 800 meters.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The fields of architecture, civil engineering, biology were included in the design of the project. We all collaborated on the project and the BIOM vision is a good example of this. We have written up the basic research into a book and this is in the conceptual stage and we want to publish it next year for the general and expert public.
Methodology used
Today's relevant research shows that people will be moving to cities and by 2100 this will be up to 70% of the population. The associated population growth. According to today's scientific research, the best option is to make the most of modern technology and try to change social habits. For these reasons, as a basic research we wanted to make a book that will be introduced to the society and then continue with applied research and use the latest technology in applied operation.
At an early stage of the project we identified the area we wanted to address. This was large cities of 10 million inhabitants. We defined the basic problems of these agglomerations. These were the lack of local water, energy, food and housing resources. At the same time, there was a big waste problem.
We further verified whether there are already known technologies for these problems, and in our opinion there are. We tried to combine all the knowledge into one architectural vision with a low BIOM.
At an early stage of the project we identified the area we wanted to address. This was large cities of 10 million inhabitants. We defined the basic problems of these agglomerations. These were the lack of local water, energy, food and housing resources. At the same time, there was a big waste problem.
We further verified whether there are already known technologies for these problems, and in our opinion there are. We tried to combine all the knowledge into one architectural vision with a low BIOM.
How stakeholders are engaged
We are in the basic research phase and cooperation with other stakeholders is at an early stage.
Global challenges
As already mentioned, the project addresses the problems of today's megapolises.
- migration problems, social problems
- the problem of local food, water and energy resources
- the problem of transport, where we propose a shift to modern means of transport as a solution
- the free land in the city will be left to nature
- migration problems, social problems
- the problem of local food, water and energy resources
- the problem of transport, where we propose a shift to modern means of transport as a solution
- the free land in the city will be left to nature
Learning transferred to other parties
The entire methodology of our basic research is transferable to building renovations, from housing to urban structures. We see renewable water, energy and food facilities as having great transferable potential.
Keywords
Cities
Architecture
Sustainable
Local sources
Biodiverstiy
