In Thailand bananas are plentiful, which means that sturdy banana fibers are readily available for use as a building material. Architectkidd, a very creative architecture & design practice in Bangkok, Thailand, has fashioned these durable fibers into an architectural facade on a residential building. The team visited communities outside of Bangkok to learn traditional techniques for harvesting and processing the banana plant material, and then figured out how they could use it to create a sustainably-crafted shade screen for the building. The hand-made result is quite beautiful and natural, and it also helps keep the building cool.
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[...] Pohutukawa trees with red glass “flowers”, wraps the entire courthouse and serves as a shade screen. Made from recycled metal, the screen provides privacy for the interior offices, solar shading, [...]
[...] Green Over Grey’s living wall system consists of a frame, waterproof panels, an automatic irrigation system, and the plants. The frame is built in front of the pre-existing concrete wall with a space behind that allows for air circulation and attachment points to prevent damage to the building. Then the rigid waterproof panels are attached to the frame, which help provide support. The space behind the living wall helps the system breath, provides extra insulation and acts as a sun and rain screen. [...]