Hila Davidpu, Tal Gazit, Eli Gotman, and Hofi Harari recently shared their “ECO-CLIFF” proposal for the Buenos Aires Vertical Zoo Competition. The “ECO-CLIFF” is a revolutionary tower that will serve as a nesting ground for thousands of migrating birds as well as an ecological habitat for the different animals and species of the “Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve Zoo”.
Wrapped around a rigid structure, a system of nets and steel cables of varying densities covers the different functions, while maintaining, from a distance, the tower’s image of an organic cliff.
The perforated skin of the tower will allow the controlled penetration of natural light and fresh air as well as rain water, in preferred areas, along with a system of green vegetation ingrained in the netting system, thus creating a small eco-system within the buildings boundary.
In order to minimize the damage to the reserve by motored vehicles and the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions in the city, the Eco-Cliff’s main entrance is via a cable-way which connects to a public transportation system. As an option, we suggest to re-use the old mill silos at Puerto Madero as a possible gateway station, therefore connecting the Av. De Mayo urban axis and subway station to the Costanera Sur Reserve.
As one of its primary functions, the Eco-Cliff will accommodate a variety of migrating birds which pass the Costanera Sur Reserve each year. The migrating birds nesting areas would accompany the human visitors along their ascending path throughout the varied elements of the tower, including the different animal spaces and the observation decks.
The cliff- like tower seeks to be self-sustained with the help of photovoltaic cell system along with an ecological recycling and water treatment facilities.
By taking a unique eco-educational point of view, the Eco-Cliff would create an unforgettable educating experience to the visitor on board as well as a spectacular landmark for the Costanera Sur Reserve and the city of Buenos Aires skyline.
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- Courtesy of Eli Gotman
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- Courtesy of Eli Gotman
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- Courtesy of Eli Gotman
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- Courtesy of Eli Gotman
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- Courtesy of Eli Gotman
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- Courtesy of Eli Gotman
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- Courtesy of Eli Gotman
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- Courtesy of Eli Gotman
I love all these designs with mixed nature and park in a high-rise. Heck I would even move into one.
One thing no one talks about: bird poop.
I’ve always loved the idea of designing a zoo… as I kid I was so freakin’ obsessed with them… and as an adult… I think things are still the same :D
I really love the idea of the rock outcropping and everything… but the problem is… I wish the image of the rock was more clear. It seems kinda like a birds nest mixed with a basket mixed with some kinda tower of babel image… at the bottom there…
And their concept was to make it look like a natural rock outcropping… I kinda just see a blob… with… nets around it or something… and some photoshopped moss… And seriously… there is like… every pigeon in the world in that rendering… I think there’s fewer pigeons in London… than that has been rendered here. (cool it with the swarms of birds… it’s kinda creeply/freaky)
why not the central circulation vertical is not a little organic too?
I like it… very original. Animals in renders needs to happen more i think
Looks very natural and conected with nature and the earth.
We will appreciate if you just don’t invade our habitat instead of making unnecesary towers there.
“The birds from Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve”
i think animals should have more space to move around.
a vertical building its not compatible with the zoo programs and use. like cleaning animal crap and such.
Buenos Aires could use a positive gesture towards animal life. But with the present political and financial situation in Argentina I doubt this structure could be realised. There are schools in central BA that lack heating or sanitary facilities. The Riachuelo, a river crossing BA was to have been cleaned of pollution and funds have been reserved many times for the work. This promise was made by every politician during the past 10 years. To date nothing has happened. I could go on for a while.. but vertical zoos is more a thing for cities that do have funds and lack the crippling corruption seen here.
And as a bird I´d rather nest far, far away from the pollution and mayhem of this city.
This was definitely one of the cooler entries to this competition, an interesting concept. The winner was really great, too. You can see all of the entries here: http://www.arquitectum.com/index.php. Just click into the student competitions, and go back to 2009 Buenos Aires.
a very nice project and a very original idea as well
one of the best israeli designed projects in my opinion
well done
a very nice porject indeed but i wonder who will clean all the birds feces from that white floor
just nice previews,catchy i can say, but rewind the idea.
its says: lets make bird nest more!
? u want to eat them?
“Wrapped around a rigid structure, a system of nets and steel cables of varying densities covers the different functions, while maintaining, from a distance, the tower’s image of an organic cliff.”
enough said.
just another IMAGE of organic architecture.
p.s. why they wanted birds to nest more? to eat them??!
for further more information please contact us at hofofo@hotmail.com
thank you for all the comments,
the “Eco-Cliff” group
It is nice to think to extreme sometimes but not for everything.
a vertical zoo would be disaster, animals used to live in nature not in stacked blocks.
I don’t like it
Putting animails in a cage. Wow that’s really eco-friendly!