Urban Seedscapes:
In the vibrant heart of Detroit, a city synonymous with resilience and rebirth, Urban Seedscapes (our vision for the Zero Waste Education Center (ZWEC)) emerges not just as a building, but a manifesto for re-imagining community empowerment. It is a catalyst for transformation, designed to instigate a profound shift in our relationship with the planet.
Urban Seedscapes goes beyond sustainability ; it’s a promise to the future, a commitment to turn every scrap into a resource, every moment into a lesson of regeneration. We draw our inspiration from the natural world, where nothing is wasted, and everything serves a purpose. Just like a forest that thrives on mutual support and endless cycles of growth, this concept will stand as a Living Building and testament to the power of community, creativity, and circular thinking.
Urban Seedscapes is an invitation to all of Detroit to embark on a journey of discovery and action. More than a fleeting sense of inspiration that fades with time; it’s about sparking a movement, a collective awakening to the urgency of now. Through immersive experiences and hands-on learning, we aim to instigate not just thought, but action. To make every visitor an active participant in cultivating a regenerative future that’s accessible to all.
In this place of convergence, where art meets science and tradition meets innovation, This concept is more than a zero-waste education center—it is a source of relentless optimism and a mycorrhizal network connecting the present to a future where waste is an outdated concept.
NET-POSITIVE ENERGY:
1. Rooftop PV Array (salvaged PV panels)
2. Rooftop Solar Thermal (constructed from salvaged parts) (part sculpture)
3. Passive Solar Design
4. Ground-source Geothermal
5. Internal Thermal Mass Storage Wall
6. Natural Ventilation
NET-POSITIVE WASTE:
1. Retain 73% of EXISTING Building
2. Found Object Library
3. NEW Art + Sculpture
4. Salvaged Industrial Glazing
5. Reclaimed Urban Wood
6. Salvaged Structure
7. Reclaimed Solid Waste as Materials
8. Salvaged Industrial Lighting
The Existing Buildings (1) will largely be maintained. We propose thoughtful deconstruction of various existing elements to allow for a playful meander through space. Deconstructed elements will not be thrown away, however. They will be the initial “deposit” of the “found object library” (2) that will wrap and surround the
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BUILDING AS CANVAS:
This is a place of convergence, where art meets science and tradition meets innovation. This concept is more than a zero-waste education center—it is a source of relentless optimism and represents a mycorrhizal network connecting the present to a future where waste is an outdated concept.
