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
Great Solutions | Apr 5, 2018
IAQ monitoring for all
San Francisco startup Bitfinder debuts a commercial-grade version of its air quality monitoring system.
Great Solutions | Mar 9, 2018
Forget the wall thermostat: Wear one on your wrist instead
The Embr Wave Wristband acts like a personal thermostat and could become a user-friendly component in building energy-saving strategies.
Great Solutions | Feb 8, 2018
Stackable steel modules speed building core construction
With this patented, steel-and-concrete hybrid system, the service core will no longer be the schedule bottleneck on new construction projects.
Great Solutions | Jan 10, 2018
Blue lagoon technology brings the beach anywhere in the world
From coastal resorts to inner cities, these large-scale clear-water lagoons offer a slice of paradise.
Great Solutions | Oct 17, 2017
Loop NYC would reclaim 24 miles of park space from Manhattan’s street grid
A new proposal leverages driverless cars to free up almost all of Manhattan’s Park Avenue and Broadway for pedestrian paths.
Great Solutions | Sep 14, 2017
Hydraulic underground boardwalk and gangway system reunites the public with the coastline in Istanbul
The bespoke system is part of a master plan by Dror and Gensler that creates the world’s first underground cruise operation.
Great Solutions | Aug 14, 2017
Transmogrifying ‘E ink,’ energy-harvesting paint remove the ‘fiction’ from ‘science fiction’
These materials can turn an ordinary wall into dynamic real estate.
Great Solutions | Jul 12, 2017
The writing on the wall: Maker spaces encourage students to take an active role
Maker spaces, dry-erase walls, and flexible furniture highlight Kinkaid’s new Learning Center.
Great Solutions | Jun 6, 2017
Good vibrations: Portable tuned mass damper provides lightweight, cost-effective way to reduce structural vibrations
Developed by a team at Virginia Tech, the PTMD has been shown to reduce vibrations by as much as 75%.
Great Solutions | May 5, 2017
No nails necessary: Framing system comes together with steel zip ties and screws
Clemson University’s School of Architecture develops a patent-pending construction method that is gaining attention for its potential use in rapid, low-tech sustainable housing.
