Architecture

Sri Lankan apartment block to be world's tallest vertical garden

Sri Lankan apartment block to be world's tallest vertical garden
Clearpoint Residencies in Sri Lanka will be the tallest vertical garden in the world when complete
Clearpoint Residencies in Sri Lanka will be the tallest vertical garden in the world when complete
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Clearpoint Residencies in Sri Lanka will be the tallest vertical garden in the world when complete
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Clearpoint Residencies in Sri Lanka will be the tallest vertical garden in the world when complete
Based just outside Colombo, Clearpoint Residencies will be the first sustainable high-rise apartment complex in Sri Lanka
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Based just outside Colombo, Clearpoint Residencies will be the first sustainable high-rise apartment complex in Sri Lanka
The apartments will feature solar panels for electricity generation, a waste water recycling system and planted facades
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The apartments will feature solar panels for electricity generation, a waste water recycling system and planted facades
The completed construction will be 46 stories tall
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The completed construction will be 46 stories tall
It is expected to be 186 m (610 ft) high when complete
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It is expected to be 186 m (610 ft) high when complete
Clearpoint will contain 164 apartments
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Clearpoint will contain 164 apartments
The planted terraces for each apartment will help to absorb sound, provide shade and cleanse the air by absorbing carbon dioxide
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The planted terraces for each apartment will help to absorb sound, provide shade and cleanse the air by absorbing carbon dioxide
Each apartment will have 2300 square-feet (213.68 sq m) of floor space
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Each apartment will have 2300 square-feet (213.68 sq m) of floor space
Heat gain will be minimized by keeping windows out of direct sunlight
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Heat gain will be minimized by keeping windows out of direct sunlight
Clearpoint will contain 164 spacious apartments
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Clearpoint will contain 164 spacious apartments
The apartments are designed to give the residents a sense of ground-level living, as well as privacy and tranquility despite being located in a bustling city
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The apartments are designed to give the residents a sense of ground-level living, as well as privacy and tranquility despite being located in a bustling city
All of the apartments are cross-ventilated to provide further cooling
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All of the apartments are cross-ventilated to provide further cooling
Heat gain will be minimized by keeping windows out of direct sunlight
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Heat gain will be minimized by keeping windows out of direct sunlight
The apartments are designed to give the residents a sense of ground-level living, as well as privacy and tranquility despite being located in a bustling city
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The apartments are designed to give the residents a sense of ground-level living, as well as privacy and tranquility despite being located in a bustling city
Building is expected to be completed in 2016
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Building is expected to be completed in 2016
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Clearpoint Residencies, based in Kotte just outside Colombo, will be the first sustainable high-rise apartment complex in the country, with solar panels for electricity generation, a waste water recycling system and planted facades. Building began last year and is expected to be complete by 2016, at which time it is claimed that the building will be, "the tallest residential vertical garden in the world, with planted terraces circling the entire structure."

The completed construction will rise to 46 stories and a planned height of 186 m (610 ft), although Clearpoint Residencies told Gizmag that the final height may yet be increased. Either way, it will surpass that of One Central Park in Sydney when it is complete.

Clearpoint will contain 164 apartments, each with 2300 square-feet (213.68 sq m) of floor space. The apartments are designed to give the residents a sense of ground-level living, as well as privacy and tranquility despite being located in a bustling city.

Clearpoint will contain 164 apartments
Clearpoint will contain 164 apartments

The planted terraces for each apartment will help to absorb sound, provide shade and cleanse the air by absorbing carbon dioxide. They will be automatically watered using a drip-irrigation system. The water used for the irrigation will be harvested rainwater, recycled bathroom sink and shower water. It will also be used for toilet flushing. These methods of ensuring water usage efficiency will help to reduce intake from the national water supply by an estimated 45 percent.

By increasing the size of the covered terraces and using plants for extra shade, it has been possible to ensure that none of the building's windows will be exposed to direct sunlight, which would have been one of the main causes of heat gain. This means that the size and energy requirements of the air conditioning units are reduced. All of the apartments are also cross-ventilated to provide further cooling.

Heat gain will be minimized by keeping windows out of direct sunlight
Heat gain will be minimized by keeping windows out of direct sunlight

Solar panels will be installed on the roof of the building and are expected to provide enough energy to power the shared facilities, such as lobby lighting, elevators, the water recycling system and an on-site sewage recycling/treatment system. Any excess electricity that is generated will be sold to the national grid.

"Ultimately, the aim is to create a living space where you can not only feel at one with the environment, but actively contribute towards safeguarding and sustainable use of its resources," says architect Milroy Perera. "The main focus of the apartment will be to provide an atmosphere and sentiment of ground level living."

Source: Clearpoint Residencies

View gallery - 15 images
8 comments
8 comments
asdf
This! Wow. Super cool. The stuff minecrafters dream of. Love it!
Clinton Wong
If they're using drip-irrigation system to water the plants, why not add hydro-power systems as well to produce extra energy. If the whole building uses LED lighting inclusive of the lights within each unit, then both solar & hyrdo energy generation systems combines might help tenants cut electricity bills making it more attractive to live in.
Slowburn
@ Clinton Wong Not enough water flow.
Sheldon Cooper
Yes, you would need a waterfall!
Brian M
Large plants and buildings might not always be a safe combination. Plants can have a disastrous effect on a building if they get out of control by sending roots into the building's fabric - causing cracks and structural failure. Guess if well maintained etc. should be fine - but that doesn't always happen!
Asoka Indrasoma
...it's in my neighborhood! :-) Waiting to see it completed. Like Brian I also think that large trees as shown in the concept might not be viable...
Steven Senatori
hopefully they figure out how to keep insects at bay without pesticides...
Ian Gardner
All very meritorious and apparently well intentioned but if the building is of concrete the pollution caused by the manufacture of the concrete may outweigh any benefits from the other aspects.