BUILDING WITH INTEGRATED NATURAL SYSTEMS

• US 20110214364A1
• Filed: 03/04/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Fuller Architects, PC
• Original Assignee: Michael Fuller Architects, PC
• Inventors: Fuller, Michael B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,371,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/173.3
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/0053 Buildings characterised by their shape or layout grid
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 17/00 Vertical ducts; Channels, e.g. for drainage pipes in general F16L; pipe-line systems F17D ; drainage devices in floors E03F5/04; roof drainage E04D13/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/04 Apartment houses arranged in two or more levels
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 14/00 Buildings for combinations of different purposes not covered by any single one of main groups E04H1/00-E04H13/00 of this subclass, e.g. for double purpose E04H3/02, E04H9/06 take precedence; Buildings of the drive-in type

Abstract

A building is provided with integrated natural systems that reduce dependency on external resources to operate and maintain the building. A source of electricity is provided through an extensive set of solar panels that may be incorporated on louvers mounted to the exterior of the building. The building has a double insulative layer to include an outer airtight membrane or cover, and an internal building structure that defines habitable space within the structure. Rainwater may be collected and stored within a subsurface well. The space between the internal structure and outer membrane may support the growth of vegetation in a greenhouse environment. A flow of temperature regulated air is provided through the structure by a set of underground pipes in which the air is circulated through a central core of the building, into the habitable space, and then outward into the greenhouse space.

Claims

1. A building comprising:

an exterior covering formed of an impermeable skin or membrane, said covering being made of one of a substantially translucent or clear material enabling passage of sunlight therethrough;

an interior structure disposed in an open area covered by said exterior covering;

a plurality of louvers secured to said covering, said louvers being arranged in a plurality of rows and said rows being spaced vertically along said covering;

at least one of said louvers having photovoltaic cells incorporated thereon for production of electricity;

a first subsurface passageway for carrying air from an environment outside of said covering to the open area within the covering;

a second subsurface passageway for carrying water from a water source collected outside of said covering and for transporting the water to a water storage element within the interior structure; and

said interior structure comprising an enclosing wall and a plurality of floors, habitable space in the interior structure being formed by space within the interior structure between said floors and said enclosing wall, and said interior structure further comprising a central core separating said enclosing wall and said floors, said central core communicating with said first and second subsurface passageways for receiving the water and air.

2. A building as claimed in claim 1 further including:

means for actuating the louvers to selectively place the louvers in a desired position to best capture sunlight or to transmit sunlight into the open area within the covering.

3. A building, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a plurality of planters incorporated in the floors for growing vegetation.

4. A building, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

an arboretum located on a most upper floor of said interior structure for growing vegetation.

5. A building, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a gap located between said interior structure and said exterior covering form a greenhouse space.

6. A building, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said enclosing wall comprises a plurality of windows for facilitating transfer of sunlight into the interior of said interior structure.

7. A building as claimed in claim 1, for:

said louvers are rotatable for selective position for about at least one point of rotation.

8. A building, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said louvers are selectively positionable about two points of rotation.

9. A building, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a truss support secured to said exterior covering.

10. A building, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said exterior covering comprises a plurality of curved exterior sections, and each of the curved exterior sections includes a pair of symmetrical extensions joined along a corresponding ridgeline.

11. A building, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said curved exterior sections are arranged in two groups interconnected by a pair of facing curved exterior sections.

12. A building, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

each of said exterior sections forms shapes that have an apex constituting a most upper portion of the exterior sections.

13. A building, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

each of the ridgelines have one end that intersects with an apex, and the ridgelines extend downwardly and outwardly forming a generally convex curved-shape.

14. A building, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said central core comprises a cylindrical-shaped tower having a plurality of ports enabling users to travel between said floors located on opposite sides of the core.

15. A building, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a water treatment system for treating water for reuse within the building, said water treatment system including;

a solids settling tank, a dosing tank, a treatment station, and a storage tank, treated water being held in said storage tank and transported for reuse within said building.

16. A building, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

an interior water collection and humidity control system including a condensing line for condensing water vapor for collection,

a chiller for cooling fluid passing through said condensing line, and

a cooling fan for cooling the fluid after being heated by exposure within said condensing line.

17. A building, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

an exterior rainwater collection system, said exterior rainwater collection system including a plurality of rainwater diverters secured to said louvers to create respective channels for collecting rainwater that strikes said louvers, at least one rainwater collection receptacle for receiving the collected rainwater from said respective channels, at least one filter element in said receptacle for filtering the collected rainwater, and a storage tank for storing the rainwater from said receptacle.

18. A building, as claimed in claim 17, when:

said rainwater collection system further includes a plurality of gutters disposed on the exterior covering, said gutters for receiving water collected from said rainwater diverters and for transporting the collected rainwater to said rainwater collection receptacle.

19. A method of providing operational functions for a building through incorporation of natural systems, said method comprising:

providing;

(i) an exterior covering formed of an impermeable skin or membrane, said covering being made of one of a substantially translucent or clear material enabling passage of sunlight therethrough;

(ii) an interior structure disposed in an open area covered by said exterior covering;

(iii) a plurality of louvers secured to said covering, said louvers being arranged in a plurality of rows and said rows being spaced vertically along said covering;

(iv) at least one of said louvers having photovoltaic cells incorporated thereon for production of electricity;

(v) a first subsurface passageway for carrying air from an environment outside of said covering to the open area within the covering;

(vi) a second subsurface passageway for carrying water from a water source collected outside of said covering and for transporting the water to a water storage element within the interior structure;

(vii) said interior structure comprising an enclosing wall and a plurality of floors, habitable space in the interior structure being formed by space within the interior structure between said floors and said enclosing wall, and said interior structure further comprising a central core separating said enclosing wall and said floors, said central core communicating with said first and second subsurface passageways for receiving the water and air;

generating electric power from sunlight striking said photovoltaic cells on said louvers;

controlling air temperature within the open area covered by the covering by heat exchange between the ground and the air passing through the first subsurface passageway;

controlling humidity within the open area by contact of said air with water contained in a water storage element located within the interior structure.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 19, further including:

means for actuating the louvers to selectively place the louvers in a desired position to best capture sunlight or to transmit sunlight into the open area within the covering.

21. A method, as claimed in claim 19, further including:

a plurality of planters incorporated in the floors for growing vegetation.

22. A method, as claimed in claim 19, further including:

an arboretum located on a most upper floor of said interior structure for growing vegetation.

23. A method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

a gap located between said interior structure and said exterior covering form a greenhouse space.

24. A method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said enclosing wall comprises a plurality of windows for facilitating transfer of sunlight into the interior of said interior structure.

25. A method, as claimed in claim 19, for:

said louvers are rotatable for selective position for about at least one point of rotation.

26. A method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said louvers are selectively positionable about two points of rotation.

27. A method, as claimed in claim 19, further including:

a truss support secured to said exterior covering.

28. A method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said exterior covering comprises a plurality of curved exterior sections, and each of the curved exterior sections includes a pair of symmetrical extensions joined along a corresponding ridgeline.

29. A method, as claimed in claim 19, further including:

providing;

(i) an interior water collection and humidity control system including a condensing line for condensing water vapor for collection,

(ii) a chiller for cooling fluid passing through said condensing line, and

(iii) a cooling fan for cooling the fluid after being heated by exposure within said condensing line; and

condensing water vapor by the condensing line being exposed to the air within said building.

30. A method, as claimed in claim 19, further including:

providing an exterior rainwater collection system, said exterior rainwater collection system including (i) a plurality of rainwater diverters secured to said louvers to create respective channels for collecting rainwater that strikes said louvers, (ii) at least one rainwater collection receptacle for receiving the collected rainwater from said respective channels, (iii) at least one filter element in said receptacle for filtering the collected rainwater, and a storage tank for storing the rainwater from said receptacle; and

collecting rainwater in said respective channels, filtering the collected rainwater, and storing the collected rainwater.

31. A method, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said rainwater collection system further includes a plurality of gutters disposed on the exterior covering, said gutters for receiving water collected from said rainwater diverters and for transporting the collected rainwater to said rainwater collection receptacle.