FORREST FULTON ARCHITECTURE DESIGNS A LIVING MOUNTAIN STRUCTURE FOR ARMENIA
Aditi Justa
The Design Blog
lton-architecture-designs-a-living-mountain-struct ure-for-armenia/
May 6 2010
Seeking to combine performance, function and sustainability within a
new kind of mixed-use complex, Forrest Fulton Architecture proposes
a unique architecture that focuses on creating an urbanistic landscape.
The Alabama-based firm has designed an 85,000 square meter biomorphic
spatial surface for Yerevan, Armenia that connects the adjacent city
and the landscape. This huge man-made hill is draped with in native
plants irrigated with a recycled gray water system. Dubbed the "Lace
Hill," the hill that incorporates retail and restaurants on the bottom
floor, office space on the north side, and a hotel and apartments on
the south side has viewing seats for the Yerevan and Mt. Ararat.
The large interior voids provide shaded and naturally ventilated
spaces, while geothermal heat pumps along with radiant floors
provide heating and cooling for the rooms. It incorporates completely
underground parking. Boasting a "holistic, ultra-green lifestyle,"
the Lace Hill is one gigantic man made building that is quite close
to a hill.