I do remember reading about the hanging gardens of Babylon as one of the splendors of the ancient world. Maybe I should say that they were one of the wonders of the ancient world. The point here is that, they were considered as an architectural wonders several centuries back. So here is someone whose design and innovation in no way match the splendor or the green magic of the hanging gardens and yet they are considered a modern day creative brilliance! I’m sorry to say this but if this idea got an award, then maybe I should have nominated my mom long back for ‘The best green architect of the year’ long back.
A young and budding designer from Tokyo has decided that there were too many empty beams that were too clean and not useful, in the city of Tokyo. So he decided to go and grow some moss on them (A very clean idea indeed). Then this young ‘architect’ named Taketo Shimohigoshi went o to win 2007 AR Award for Emerging Architecture for what is called ‘innovative genius of his design’. Now I’m not someone who is an architect and neither am I trying to show down a very young creative mind. The idea is good, but to hail it as something awesome would be truly an insult to our intelligence.
This whole plan of growing moss on empty beams in air is nothing new. I have plenty of poles, wires and beams in my own apartment that are covered by creepers and the creepers look a lot better than just moss. Moreover there are plenty of buildings in the developing and under-developed world where beams are covered by moss even if you don’t put them there intentionally.
I look at the picture of his model and I can myself think of plenty of other plants that would happily dwell on it and give more shade and a better look. My mom has been putting little plants on top of every little things where there is light since years. Okay, maybe the moss is cost effective. I’ll give him that credit, but beyond it; tell me something I don’t know.
Via: Inhabitat
