Comments on: EDEN FALLS: Skyscraper Zoo Topped With a Waterfall

By: Foster + Partners Unveils Beautiful Bank With Undulating Roof | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:04:57 +0000

[...] yet another competition-winning design – this time for a beautiful bank headquarters in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The energy-efficient building will echo the landscaping of the nearby park on its [...]

By: Nico B.A.

Nico B.A. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:30:45 +0000

Energy self-sufficiency is not possible for this building as described. It takes more energy to pump the water to the top of the building than it can be generated from the waterfall by turbines or any other devices. The mechanical efficiency of pumps and turbines is less than 1, and there would be also friction and other losses.
Then, there would be other power consumers within the building (e.g. lighting, heating, air conditioning, elevators, etc.)
They say they will SELL energy to neighbors? This is a stupid idea.
Unless, of course, they have thought of solar panels (some square km of them) or wind turbines or geo-thermal energy, or nuclear reactors…
PS. I live in Buenos Aires and wouldn’t like to have such a FUGLY building in my city.

By: link

link — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:55:30 +0000

Animals shouldn’t be put in a zoo in the first place. And neither should children for that matter. Public Schools Prisons are zoo for our children. Animals and humans should be free from “institutionalization” of all sorts. NO MORE WALLS!!! No More Management Class!!! No More Coercive Organization!!!

By: Fruit Inspector

Fruit Inspector — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:29:23 +0000

P.S.
The wildlife living in the river would appreciate keeping the river’s water there.

By: Fruit Inspector

Fruit Inspector — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:28:25 +0000

In addition to the other criticisms that are right on, clearly the designers have never kept animals.
mold? humidity? disease? parasites?
lighting, energy…
let’s work on the concept of “enough”.

By: bicycle.ring.ring

bicycle.ring.ring — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:34:20 +0000

yeah…it looks amzing but the idea of it being sustainable is quite suspicious.

By: OceanMon

OceanMon — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:40:16 +0000

This idea is stupid.

Not only is the idea of a zoo abhorent, but pumping so much water is a waste of energy.

By: Justin_

Justin_ — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:04:58 +0000

Brilliant!

By: ekscrypto

ekscrypto — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:03:48 +0000

It takes a tremendous amount of energy to displace that much water; how can they even hope to be energy self-sufficient AND sell energy to neighbors?

Sure, the water falling down can be used to spin off some turbines, but it takes as much energy to bring it back up plus the the turbines nor the pumps will run at 100% efficiency.

I’ll put that in the doubtfull suggestion pile.

By: Shaaban

Shaaban — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:52:41 +0000

Great idea, looks amazing!