As a designer, it is essential to use your surroundings to find inspiration. One can only look inside for so long before needing to expand upon their creative potential. In recent years environmentally sustainable design has become a major focus, requiring designers of all types to look to the natural world for ideas that convey beauty with sustainability and functionality. An outstanding example of this is the design of the California Academy of Sciences located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA. The main design was conceived by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.
The museum incorporates many sustainable elements such as a natural cooling system, solar power, natural lighting, and insulation made from recycled blue jeans. However, the most standout part of the museum rests right on top. The 197,000 sq ft. roof is covered by several hills emulating the San Francisco topography. These hills also conceal the large structures within the building including a planetarium, a four story rainforest, an aquarium, and a natural history museum. The roof also incorporates1.7 million native plant species chosen specifically for the region. Piano said of the design that "it was meant to look as if it had grown out from under Golden Gate Park”. The roof design is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also serves several sustainable purposes. Having a roof made of soil and plants vs. asphalt, reduces the heat within the building by 10 degrees. The roof also captures rain water to be reused, converts carbon dioxide into oxygen, and reduces the overall amount of energy needed to heat and cool the building.
This design is truly fascinating, as well as a perfect example of seamlessly combining a museum with the natural park environment. Piano and his team were able to realize a truly innovative way of combing nature with architectural design. This combination shows the major influence that the designer had to pull from the environment, thus finding creativity from without.
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