the hyphae journal

 SEE PHOTOS AND STORY @ AIA WEBSITE

the hyphae journal

More to come!

http://www.sfmoma.org/about/press/press_news/releases/952

the hyphae journal

REFRESHED + RELIEVED: fundraiser showcasing

creative solutions for SF’s public spaces

October 8, 2012

5:30-9pm

111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco (directions)

Find more on Hyphae’s PPlanter project here.

the hyphae journal

We are doing another round of edits before the masterplan goes to mass print, but we presented to the CBD Board and the plan was officially approved!

If you want a physical copy email toilet@hyphae.net and we’ll put you on the mailing list. We will be asking for a $25-100 donation for the publication, to go towards funding the project.

If you want to give us $100k to build it, that is cool too!

Check it out online here. Edits and comments are still welcome.

the hyphae journal

So we got the first $35k…now we just need to raise another $75K to build the first toilet!

Help us make it happen!

Please e-mail if you are interested in funding the project or have leads to funding sources.

the hyphae journal

the hyphae journal

Through close collaboration with the landscape architect, green roof consultant, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, and steel fabricator, this roof is an example of the thorough integration of architecture, landscape, systems, and program, and the ultimate integration of nature and technology.

“At [Bucknum's] urging, the design team began to look at the green roof playing a functional healing role in treating on-site wastewater. “This would address the water use issue head-on. The team completed a preliminary design to treat cooling tower water with a wetland on the roof to reduce alkalinity, and then use the treated water to irrigate the on-grade gardens,” said Spurlock.

Mr Spurlock added: “Statistics show a substantial amount of potable water is used as make-up water in cooling towers. Palomar West Hospital is expected to generate approximately 5 million gallons of wastewater from the cooling towers, which would normally be disposed of as in the municipal sewer system. A great opportunity exists to offset this wastewater consumption and reuse it for landscape irrigation. However, the blow down water from the cooling tower contains high concentrations of dissolved salts due to evaporation of the makeup water by the cooling tower system. Salt concentration can be harmful to many plants and irrigation systems.

“Through close collaboration, the team first designed a closed-loop ecological water treatment system for the cooling tower water. Instead of sending wastewater to the municipal sewer system, the blow down water from cooling tower would be sent to the 60,000 sf extensive green roof over the D&T wing to support a diverse wetland planting community. The 1.5 acre green roof could treat the total 5 million gallons per year. Using principles of biofiltration and nutrient recycling, this roof would in turn remove the salt from wastewater through natural processes and return the water to the ground level for irrigation. With Rana Creek’s ability to calculate the approximate level of treatment with this process, the feasibility study demonstrated substantial savings in water use that would offset nearly 60 percent of the need for potable water for irrigation and would save the hospital significant water and sewer fees.”

Link to article

the hyphae journal

C.W. Nevius, Chronicle Columnist

Saturday, December 10, 2011

(P.S. We’re having another charrette next week. Let us know if you want to come: toilet@hyphae.net.)

the hyphae journal

Best Hybrid Design Firm

Hyphae Design Lab

The East Bay is home to many a green-minded business, but perhaps none quite like West Oakland’s Hyphae Design Lab. The five-member firm’s tagline — “bridging the gap between architecture and biology” — is intriguing enough, but takes on added meaning when you see what these folks can do. Impeccable design and engineering skills, a penchant for innovation and problem-solving, and a deep-rooted dedication to long-term sustainability inform much of their work — like the 2,500-gallon rainwater collection tank they helped design for a customer in the Berkeley hills last year. It was Berkeley’s first-ever permitted rainwater system designed for indoor use, but just another highlight for Hyphae’s portfolio. More recently, the firm has taken the lead in developing an innovative series of curbside swales designed to capture and filter storm-water runoff in West Oakland. All in a day’s work, it seems.

East Bay Express

the hyphae journal