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Copyright Ecohaven Project 2010 |
Location: New Delhi, India
Project Submission: Econnect by Ecohaven Project with Love Motel for Insects by Brandon Ballengée
Status: Completed exhibition - April 2011
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Copyright Ecohaven Project 2010 |
Econnect – (lotus flower concept, design + structure) Jennifer Hoffman + Geoff Hoffman
Collaboration: Love Motel for Insects - Brandon Ballengée
Ecohaven Project’s design process began with research of New Delhi and India. We wanted to create a structure + space that related to + celebrated the culture in a beautiful + inspiring way. Inspiration for the design of the Econnect structure is based on the lotus flower. The lotus flower is the national flower of India + symbolizes divinity, fertility, wealth, knowledge + enlightenment. Econnect provides connection to the local environment including graphic design concepts that support the educational components of the interior spaces while fostering the opportunity to reflect + be with nature in an otherwise fast-paced city life.
The Econnect lotus flower structure, in collaboration with the Love Motel for Insects concept, supports a 24-hour habitat: By day, the plants provide a habitat + food source for butterflies. By night, the exterior of the Econnectstructure supports the Love Motel for Insects concept by incorporating the use of ultraviolet light to provide a nocturnal habitat for moths. The collaboration support’s the main project concepts of Connection, Education + Sustainability.
Econnect’s sustainable design strategies include:
- Designing in a way that minimizes the overall use of materials.
- Constructing with local materials + specifying environmentally preferable products to reduce the negative impact on the planet.
- Use of indigenous vegetation reduces water usage, maintenance costs + water run-off. Utilizing white surfaces with a high solar reflectance reduces heat islands.
