going green eco centre
This project is a European Union funded Environmental Education Centre, situated near Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Dodeca was one of the five appointed winning Architects that were commissioned to design the fifteen buildings that comprise the centre. The Centre is designed as an educational sustainable building showcase, in terms of design and execution.
Dodeca’s designs all use “cob” as the wall material and all use Dodeca’s “leaf” roofs, expressing the receiving of rain as opposed to the shedding of rain. These are integrated with earth roofs, all directed to a rainwater harvesting system. Solar water heating is used as under floor heating. Passive energy, optimizing light and ventilation through the use of low level air intakes and high level clerestory windows has been used. All materials used are environment friendly and non toxic.
Dodeca designed three buildings, the Entrance building, comprising a shop, restaurant & tea garden and small offices. The other two buildings are the management accommodation and two guest http://dodeca.co.za/what-we-do/accommodation units.
Various interactive energy devices and alternative energy producing devices are also incorporated into the pathways, where children and adults can participate in testing these devices.
