In 2004, Urban Ecosystems, an architectural company, created Air Trees. In response to a competition held by the Madrid Municipal Housing Corporation, the company won the rights to build their design in an outdoor, urban space of Vallecas, Spain, a suburb of Madrid. Working in sponsorship with the European Union Life Program, the objective was to generate social activity while providing for a bio-climatic adaptation of the outdoors. The Madrid suburb had an open space along its Eco-Boulevard with designs to convert it into a park. Understanding the 15 to 20 years needed for trees to mature into a forest, Air Trees provided a solution.
What are Air Trees?
The Air Trees are three circular, hollow centered, state-of-the-art pavilions. Not only do they serve as a four-story nursery for smaller trees, but they also provide a haven for local residents. Those attempting to escape the hot, dry air of Madrid can seek shelter in the self-cooling pavilions. Ten degrees Celsius cooler than outside the Air Tree, locals congregate in the neighborhood oasis. Completely self-sustainable, the Air Trees are powered by solar energy. The top of the structures intakes the hot air and filters it through a solar powered humidifier. Once the air cools, it sinks down several long tubes and then escapes at the center of the pavilion, cooling off locals. The excess energy that is not used is sold to the utility plant, generating revenue that is used for the maintenance of the structures. By being cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable, the Air Trees have been successful in gaining both the citizens' and government support.
Air Trees Build Community Interaction
Of the three pavilions, the Media tree is the most popular attraction. Home to a projector screen and area seating, the Tree hosts concerts, theaters, and movies. Patrons can rest on recycled benches as they gather to watch soccer matches and rugby games. During the cool evenings, musicians play long into the night. Dancers gather on the recycled floors as spectators clap their hands in amusement. Neighborhood children have a safe place to play with each other. Their parents have a spot to converse, share ideas, and interact with new and old friends. The Air Trees' purpose was not to merely create a temporary oasis; rather, it was to create a community.
Portability of Air Trees
Once the surrounding trees mature into a forest, the Air Trees will be moved to a new development site and reassembled. The trees within the nursery of the Air Trees will then be replanted in the newly vacant locations. The community that was created by the structures will continue to thrive after the Air Trees themselves have been dismantled. The construction of the Air Trees will serve as a model for the recent expansion in urban environmentalism, fostering the concept of community and family values, while incorporating sustainable development and smart growth. The success of the project from its inception in 2004 to complete operation in the summer of 2008, will ensure similar projects are begun elsewhere, not only in the European Union, but also throughout the world.
Francisco Ramos - As a young opportunist, I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me. Nearly a year since ...
