Oscillating fans and sun umbrellas aren’t effective for cooling in hot and humid climates. Considering that, CallisonRTKL is developing Xylem, a self-sustained outdoor cooling system that can lower temperatures roughly 9°F when compared to shaded areas.
The martini-glass-shaped pods have a canopy with PV panels and a green roof, which blocks the sun and cools the air above through evaporation. The stem allows natural air movement and radiant cooling, as air emanates from both the insulated stem and the porous ceramic flooring.
The project’s genesis comes from “xylem,” the transport tissue in plants that moves water from roots to shoots and leaves. For the pods, cooled water circulates from the base through its structural core and conductive cladding.
“It works like a tree, but in many ways, it augments the qualities of a tree,” says Pablo La Roche, an Associate VP with CallisonRTKL and Xylem’s creator.
A single Xylem pod will provide comfort for individuals, but clustering them will be more effective. A strategy involving multiple Xylems and trees, green roofs, cool roofs, and cool pavements will reduce sun-exposed pavement and lessen the effects of a heat island.
“If we had many of these Xylems, combined with all sorts of different strategies, you can reduce the temperature of the air around the city by maybe 1.5°F to 2°F,” says La Roche.
The pods come in heights between 11 and 23 feet and are suited for markets, playgrounds, beaches, and other community spaces.
The first Xylem prototype will be tested at the end of August in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Read about more innovations from BD+C's 2016 Great Solutions Report
Related Stories
Sustainability | Feb 20, 2019
Studio NAB’s Superfarm project creates an entire ecosystem in an urban environment
The Superfarm will go beyond what vertical farms typically produce.
Great Solutions | Feb 7, 2019
An apiary for the sanctuary
A Seattle events venue, The Sanctuary, has a roof that is literally a hive of sustainability.
Great Solutions | Jan 2, 2019
Net zero construction trailer brings health and wellness to the jobsite
As AEC firms scramble to upgrade their offices to maximize occupant wellness and productivity, Pepper Construction asks, What about the jobsite office?
Great Solutions | Dec 12, 2018
A modular, scalable mobile hospital can quickly respond to natural disasters and crises
CallisonRTKL’s design combines artificial intelligence, electric vehicle technology, and the latest in medical equipment.
Great Solutions | Nov 8, 2018
Public canopy system can be reconfigured by drones on the fly
The installation combines cyber-physical building materials constructed from lightweight carbon fiber filament with a collection of autonomous drones.
Great Solutions | Sep 28, 2018
When pigs fly? How about when cows float?
Merwehaven Harbor in Rotterdam will be home to the world’s first floating farm.
Great Solutions | Sep 17, 2018
Curtain walls go circadian
Catering to our natural circadian rhythm is a task designers are taking to heart.
Great Solutions | Aug 8, 2018
Warehouses rise up to serve downtown
Multistory industrial buildings provide the best chance at keeping up with the rapid growth of e-commerce in North America.
Great Solutions | Jul 13, 2018
Fungus may be the key to colonizing mars
A Cleveland-based architect and a NASA Ames researcher have a novel idea for building on Mars.
Great Solutions | May 14, 2018
It’s not Ripley’s loader, but this industrial exoskeleton makes physical labor a breeze
SuitX modules can be used separately or combined to form a full-body exoskeleton.
