All posts by Giulio

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends, Wood

The Arbour, George Brown College’s tall wood building

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Moriyama & Teshima Architects & Acton Ostry Architects

design a 12-storey wood building at George Brown College’s Waterfront Campus in Toronto

George Brown College envisions The Arbour as a landmark, tall wood, low-carbon building that will feature ecological innovation across its entire life cycle and be a model for 21st Century smart, sustainable, green building innovation throughout Canada. To support this vision, our proposed design for The Arbour is deceptively simple, straightforward and, above all else, smart.

The design of The Arbour enhances connections to neighbouring developments and the natural spaces offered by Sherbourne Common and the Water’s Edge Promenade. The soaring solar chimney signals the sustainable systems within, while the angled apex of the Tall Wood Institute speaks to future advancement of tallwood technologies and development of low carbon building methodologies.

A triple-storey atrium and ascending seat-stairs rise alongside Martin Goodman Trail and Queens Quay East tells the story of tall wood transformed through the absence of sections of CLT, strategically revealing the secrets of a multi-layered, mass wood superstructure system

The building form has been shaped and refined to maximize access to natural light and fresh air. Two solar chimneys located on the east and west facades create natural convection, drawing air up and through the building to ensure that air flow from operable windows is continually refreshed. The solar chimneys provide the driving force to draw air through the building by absorbing the solar heat gain in wooden shade elements to create the stack effect.

The plan is organized using a tartan grid to establish three parallel bars of programmable space separated by a narrow line of circulation. The mass wood structure is laid out on a seven by nine metre grid. The outer bars house classrooms, labs and administrative offices, where an outward outlook is desirable. The large span, beamless structure, enables demising walls to expand and contract, providing flexibility of sizes for a variety of learning spaces. Over time, program uses are free to change and departments to shift.

The large span, beamless structure, enables demising walls to expand and contract, providing flexibility of sizes for a variety of learning spaces. Over time, program uses are free to change and departments to shift.

The design instills generous spaces for wellbeing and sustainability into The Arbour, whose very name evokes green growth and shelter. The architects seek to instill “Breathing Room(s)” throughout the design:

 

STRUCTURAL BREATHING ROOM: An innovative structural approach will revolutionize the future of large span tall wood institutional buildings by increasing the spanning capabilities of cross laminated timber structures.

SOCIAL BREATHING ROOM: Generous social spaces are incorporated into a compact footprint by finding room for interconnectivity, community social health and choice for the building user.

SYSTEMS BREATHING ROOM: Synergistic solar chimney systems ecologically capture and harness light and air for sustainable natural ventilation. This provides passive access to fresh air and light by allowing the building to act like a tree, a living thing that synergistically captures light and air and contributes to the earth’s ecosystem in return.

Architecture, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

The City of the Future

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UNStudio designs an integral vision to deal with future urban growth and sustainability for a test site in The Hague

UNStudio’s vision for The Hague is one of the studies made for ‘The City of the Future’, a joint initiative by BNA Research (the Royal Institute of Dutch Architects), the Delft University of Technology, the Delta Metropolis Association, the municipalities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven, the Directorates-General for Mobility and Transport, the Environment and Water, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of Interior.
The project started in January 2018, when 10 multidisciplinary design teams were tasked with investigating new ways of city-making using five test locations in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven. These teams included landscape architects, urban planners, mobility experts, experts in the field of circular economy, energy transition, future strategies, big data, smart cities etc. The teams worked on a level playing field together with municipalities, stakeholders and experts in the field of important innovations.
Socio-Technical City: a response to key transition issues for the future
UNStudio’s concept for the Socio-Technical City combines the two largest challenges facing the future of cities – urbanization and sustainability – and focuses specifically on the questions: how can an area like the CID, despite extremely high density in the future, be self-sufficient and energy-neutral? What does such an urban district look like? And how can you connect the technology that is required with the people who live and work there?

Gateways: Catalysts for encounter and innovation
With the elevated urban layer covering the existing railway tracks, UNStudio’s urban vision distinguishes a number of technical ‘domains’, which refer to the major transition issues of our time: energy, circularity, mobility, climate adaptation / water management and food production. These domains are then each envisioned as ‘gateways’: physical architectural interventions that offer practical solutions to the problems as well as functioning as attractive symbols for the specific themes – a geothermal power station as an icon for energy transition, a (Hyperloop) station as a landmark for mobility, a Biopolus water treatment plant as a symbol for circularity.
In this way, the Socio-Technical City bridges the gap between infrastructure and technology on the one hand, and quality of life and social well-being on the other. The model of the gateways is based on the idea that interaction is a requirement for innovation. The gateways form catalysts for meeting; they connect neighbourhoods and people and thus form breeding grounds for innovation.
Gateway Mobility: the Metropolitan Superhub
The concept for the gateways is inspired by the location itself. The existence of three intercity stations within walking distance of each other presents an unprecedented opportunity to transform this area into one Metropolitan Superhub; a system of closely linked terminals, comparable in size to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. It also provides an opportunity to create space for new forms of sustainable mobility such as the Hyperloop, with a free floating system of electric scooters, and possibly self-driving pods, interlinking the different modes of public transport.

Following the construction of the elevated urban layer, the Metropolitan Superhub can gradually become a city centre. The city grows all around it and connects to this layer, while creating a level of density that is unprecedented in the Netherlands.
Gateway Geothermal Energy Plant: an energy cathedral, city bridge, winter garden and co-working space for start-ups
The geothermal energy plant is the central location of the energy supply and as such is an important gateway for the CID. Research shows that the use of heat pumps, Heat & Cold storage systems, optimum insulation and solar panels are not enough to fully supply a compact area such as this. In order to make the district self-sufficient and energy-neutral, a solution was found by way of a system of ‘energy exchange’ with the surrounding districts. The geothermal energy plant draws energy from a hot water reservoir that is 2.5 kilometers below ground and supplies it to the surrounding low-rise districts. In return, the low-rise districts generate a surplus of energy via roof-mounted solar panels that can be delivered to the new high-rise buildings.

The energy gateway is not only a geothermal power plant, but also a bridge that connects neighbourhoods, a winter garden and co-working space for start-ups. But above all it is a symbol for energy transition: an energy cathedral.
Gateway the Biopolus: urban irrigation system with wadis, water squares, canals and waterfalls
In Socio-Technical City the Biopolus forms another gateway, a circular system that provides local food and water supplies. The Biopolus ensures that the waste water from the new part of the city is purified and the nutrients that are released are used for the cultivation of crops. Waste water is pumped through tubes to the highest level, after which it flows to the lowest level via various purification processes, producing drinking quality water which then enters the system again. The localized cycle is complete.
The Biopolus is however not merely a water purification plant, it is also an urban farm, a vertical park and an emblem of the circular economy.

Gateway Climate Adaptation: Water plazas
Climate change presents significant risk factors for the area, such as flooding and overheating. Where currently rainwater, waste water and grey water are all disposed of through one drainage system, in the Socio-Technical City this is separated into different systems. Waste water is drained through underground pipes, however the relatively clean rain water is re-used and made visible in the form of water features in public spaces: an irrigation system of canals, water plazas and waterfalls.

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Zaha Hadid Architects

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Zaha Hadid Architects selected to build

Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye smart city west of Moscow

Render by Flying Architecture

Zaha Hadid Architects working with TPO Pride Architects (Russia) have been selected as one of the consortiums to build the new Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye neighbourhood.

The jury of the invited competition also selected two further consortiums to develop the project: Nikken Sekkei (Japan) with UNK Project (Russia); and Archea Associati (Italy) with ABD Architects (Russia).

Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye will include new homes for 66,500 residents in addition to new schools, medical clinics, transport infrastructure and shopping districts, as well as new civic and cultural institutions. The neighbourhood will also accommodate 800,000 square metres of office space for Moscow’s growing financial, consulting, legal and auditing sectors.

In total, 4 million square metres of new buildings will be developed in Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye over 460 hectares to the west of Moscow. A third of the neighbourhood will be parklands and forest bordering the Moscow River with a  30-hectare lake at its centre.

With Moscow’s population increasing by more than 3 million people (over 30%) to 12.4 million in the past 20 years, Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye is integral to accommodating the Russian capital’s continued growth without increasing congestion in the centre of the city.

As an important new residential, employment, civic and cultural hub to the west of Moscow, a new 19km metro line is scheduled to begin construction in 2020 to connect Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye with the Shelepikha interchange station of Moscow’s Metro system.

Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye will be a global benchmark for smart, sustainable cities. Supported by the EDF Group’s platform for 3D simulations of energy and urban scenarios, the project will optimise the consumption and production of sustainable local energy sources while integrating electric mobility, new technologies, services and infrastructure to increase connectivity and efficiencies.

Zaha Hadid Architects’ proposal for Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye is a phased development designed to enhance residents’ interactions with each other, with nature and with new technologies.

Founded on research and studies that conclude people’s well-being and happiness increases from greater interaction with their local community, the design creates a diverse ecology of spaces for living, working, education or leisure that encourage engagement and communication.

 

Smart technologies are embedded within the urban fabric of Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye. Its design also enables residents and visitors to unwind with their families, friends and the natural world that permeates through the heart of the city; creating an urban environment of ecological technology that seamlessly integrates natural and human-made systems.

Christos Passas, project director at Zaha Hadid Architects, explained: “Working with specialist teams in Russia and Europe, we developed a people-centric design for a smart interconnected city that brings people together not only through innovative technology but also through organising the public realm; building a community that integrates the natural aspects of the site with principles of openness and inclusivity in high quality architecture suited for the 21st century.”

 

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

HOWLAND GREEN – Beyond Net Zero

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With Howland Green Homes, buildings produce more energy than they consume

For Dave de Sylva and Howland Green Homes, the future is now.

What that means, really, is being aware of ongoing world-wide energy consumption, its global impact, and then doing something to combat the “addiction” to carbon-based choices.

To that end, Howland Green practises a Beyond Net Zero (BNZ) program, whereby its global carbon footprints can be reduced to beyond zero – essentially a negative reading – positive to our environment. Its mission: to build positive energy developments, which are zero carbon energy homes, building and communities that are so efficient that they produce more energy than they consume on a global basis.

“We can reduce our consumption greatly and it’s relatively easy to accomplish,” says de Sylva, P. Eng., President of Howland Green Homes. “We need to use much less energy, in general, and start using ‘today’s’ energy, such as wind and solar, rather than carbon-based energy.

“At Howland Green, for example, we can reduce operational energy usage by about 82 per cent, compared to normally-built buildings; and that’s just through the use of simple building choices.”

The benefit of BNZ, explains de Sylva, is that the concept raises the bar when it comes to homes and buildings that have a cleaner ecological footprint. Not only do those buildings save owners thousands of dollars, by producing more energy than they consume, but they also reduce the carbon footprint and make the world’s atmosphere measurably better.

As founder of Howland Green Homes, de Sylva has been instrumental in building some of the most efficient and advanced net zero projects in the GTA. Those include Green Life Delridge communities in Markham and Milton.

Now Howland Green is poised to raise the bar by introducing the first net positive energy residential condominium building in Canada, in Milton, Ontario, with Bronte West Condominiums. Bronte West will produce more energy on site and remotely than it uses on an operational basis, creating a zero carbon footprint, says de Sylva. According to a company statement, Bronte West will be the embodiment of construction innovation and the very definition of net positive. Powered by sun and geothermal energy, Bronte West will serve as the perfect combination of ecology, economy and technological advancement.

Complementing that project will be the Howland Green Business Centre in Markham, which will feature an impressive collection of net positive energy condo office spaces, says de Sylva.

“Because of our planet’s addiction to carbon-based energy, we suffer warmer sea temperatures, we pollute our skies with carbon-based gases,” he says. “So we are seeing shifts in weather patterns that create more deserts, or floods, or other rapid unpredictablilty in events and frequency.”

To combat those negative situations, de Sylva says Howland Green will do its part.

“It’s important to understand the global problem of climate change and the absolute need, in everything we do, even beyond the building process.”

He points out that sustainability is the term used to define the ability to endure. And at the rate the world is building today, it’s imperative to change how that process is done. If we don’t change, that points to an outcome of ‘non-survival.’

So while Howland Green understands that concentrating on energy reduction itself is one goal, the switch to a capture of ‘today’s’ energy sources of wind and sun is seemingly paramount.

“The impact of fossil fuel addiction has been proven, with negative atmospheric consequences in both carbon-filled air and particulate matter,” de Sylva says. “The goal of going beyond net zero to BNZ implies that the impact of our developments measures a reduction in overall global carbon footprinting.

“While some of our projects achieve this on the physical site itself, others – through the Howland Green Footprint Program – will see reductions in nearby locations or, perhaps, in foreign locales. We are faced with a global issue and, luckily, what we actually do is more important than where we do it. We all share the same atmosphere, so everything makes a difference.”

Some of the features found in Howland Green buildings include:

  • Enhanced insulated concrete form construction;
  • R80 roof insulation;
  • State of the art geothermal heating and cooling throughout;
  • Full coverage solar power arrays;
  • Load-sharing capabilities within structures;
  • Electric potential energy storage;
  • Pneumatic energy storage;
  • Rainwater capture for toilet usage;
  • Groundwater capture for irrigation;
  • All ramps to underground parking entirely closed from the elements;
  • High-efficiency dual level LED lighting systems;
  • Low E Argon thermal pane insulated windows and sliding doors with fibreglass frames;
  • Decant recapture of inversion and transformation systems;
  • And high-efficiency geothermal hot water delivery with additional thermal tank wrapping.

To illustrate his point about the need to rely on ‘today’s’ energy, de Sylva uses an example where he looks at the big picture.

“The start with, we need to understand that the earth receives about 174 petawatts of energy per year, which converts to about 174,000,000 gigawatts,” he says. “Globally, we use 1 ½ per cent of 1% of that total, but only 12% of that amount is from wind and solar. The rest, or majority, comes from decayed animals and plants that release carbon into the atmosphere. So it’s pretty obvious that we need to use ‘today’s’ energy and stop the pollution. Solar or wind, it does not matter.

“We need to look at whatever we do as a global issue. Whether we capture more solar energy than we use – as is the case with Howland Green Business Centre – or we generate excess energy off-site in wind farms or other rooftops, the effect on the global footprint is negative.

“In effect, we create a benefit to the global atmosphere as a result of our building. This can also be accomplished by reducing other footprints around us, such as retrofitting existing buildings with modern lighting, geothermal systems or new insulation. By measuring the results, we can measure how we have reduced the global footprint as a result of our building effort … the Beyond Net Zero effect.

“And we should never underestimate how important BNZ is to our future and how we can reach our much-needed goals.”

Web / howlandgreen.com

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Bloomberg HQ in London wins RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture

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Bloomberg’s new European headquarters is respectful of its location in the heart of the City of London, close to the Bank of England, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the church of St. Stephen’s Walbrook. In its form, massing and materials, the new building is uniquely of their place and time – a natural extension of the City that will endure and improve the surrounding public realm. It is a true exemplar of sustainable development, with a BREEAM Outstanding rating – the highest design-stage score ever achieved by any major office development.

Occupying a full city block, the 3.2-acre site comprises two buildings united by bridges that span over a pedestrian arcade that reinstates Watling Street, an ancient Roman road that ran through the site. Bloomberg Arcade is now a key route for people moving around the City, with restaurants and cafes at ground level, set back behind an undulating façade under a covered colonnade. Three public plazas, located at each end of the arcade and in front of the building’s entrance, provide new civic spaces in the heart of the Square Mile.

Its striking façade is defined by a structural sandstone frame, with a series of large-scale bronze fins that shade the floor-to-ceiling glazing. The fins give the building a visual hierarchy and rhythm as they vary in scale, pitch and density across each façade according to orientation and solar exposure, while being an integral part of the building’s natural ventilation system.

Art plays a central role in the project, with major site-specific commissions in and around the building. Cristina Iglesias’ water sculpture in three parts, ‘Forgotten Streams’ – a homage to the ancient Walbrook River that once flowed through the site – defines the public spaces at each end of Bloomberg Arcade. The new Bloomberg building also returns the archaeological remains of the Roman Temple of Mithras to the site of their original discovery, with a new interpretation centre and cultural hub designed to give visitors an immersive experience of the temple and bring the history of the site to life.

 

The main entrance to Bloomberg is defined by a substantial porte-cochère, where the building forms two sides of a new formal city square. Arriving at the main entrance, everyone passes through the reception lobby before being drawn into the Vortex – a dramatic double-height space created by three inclined, curving timber shells. From here, high-speed fully-glazed lifts with a unique concealed mechanism – another innovation developed specifically for the building – carry everyone directly to the sixth floor.

Central to Bloomberg’s ethos, the double-height ‘pantry’ on the sixth floor is the heart of the building, reflecting the importance of sharing and collaboration at the company. Everyone passes through this animated space, increasing the likelihood of chance meetings and informal discussions.

A distinctive hypotrochoid stepped ramp, characterised by its smooth continuous three-dimensional loop, flows through the full height of the building, adding to the drama of the space. Clad in bronze, the ramp is designed and proportioned as a place of meeting and connection, allowing people to hold brief impromptu conversations with colleagues, whilst not impeding the flow of people.

The notion of teamwork and collaboration flows into the desking systems and layout of each floor. Bespoke height-adjustable, radial desks are laid out in clusters and pods for up to six people, allowing for privacy, personalisation, wellbeing and collaborative working. The ceiling is another unique and innovative element developed for the building, inspired by the pressed metal ceilings of New York. Its distinctive polished aluminium panels of ‘petals’ perform multiple roles – ceiling finish, light reflectors, cooling elements and acoustic attenuation – combining various elements of a typical office ceiling into an energy-saving integrated system.

Sustainability

• Breathable walls, to bring outdoor air through the building in a natural ventilation system

• Integrated chilled ceiling

• Roof louvre mounted solar panels

• Rainwater collection and re-use plus vacuum drainage will enable net zero water usage

• Cutting edge exterior core layout will allow an expansive floor plate, meaning we can make the large floors as wide open as possible

• First-of-a-kind, external facing glass elevators engineered to offer visitors, customers and employees unparalleled views of the City as they enter the building

BREEAM rating

Outstanding

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Europe’s tallest skyscraper main construction and installation works are completed

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The RMJM-designed Lakhta Centre in St Petersburgis Russia and Europe’s tallest building – standing 462 metres high. The twisted supertall skyscraper, is the 13th tallest building in the world. Developers Gazprom, a Russian gas company that will occupy most of the building, also claim it to be the “northernmost skyscraper in the world”.

The project of a business center with a high-rise landmark and base buildings was selected as a result of an international architectural contest conducted by the investor in 2006. The winner of the contest was RMJM company (Tony Kettle Design Director) which proposed a project complying with the requested functions of the future headquarters of a large energy company and concordant with the architectural traditions of Petersburg.

The architect’s task was to implement the project of a new ultramodern skyscraper in the city with a rich cultural and historical context, the historical centre of which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Tony Kettle, the author of the architectural concept of the Lakhta Center: “The flowing forms of water, the glinting spires of the Peter and Paul cathedral, the size of the sky canvas above the horizontal grain. My sense was very much to create something that was as light and elegant as the historical forms, capturing the changes in daylight in a similar way to that of the golden domes and spires.”

“The tower was designed as a simple organic spire with asymmetrical movement in its skin, to be seen as a singular landmark at city scale. Underlying the simple elegance of its exterior there are actually five individual twisting towers, each with its own glazed skin. These come together and taper around a diminishing circular core, enveloped by a further insulating skin.”

The main architectural motives of Petersburg are reflected in the concept of a business center. It is a theme of a lonely spire in the horizontal landscape, and leaning base buildings symbolizing the ship hull, and maritime theme of wave-like bearing structures. An organic form of the building symbolizes the power of water, the flow of space, openness and lightness. The effect of free fall and maximum blending of the future complex with the environment will be emphasized by the glass of a special type, owning to this glass the tower will change its colors creating a feeling of a living being.

Lakhta Center incorporates a number of innovative energy-saving technologies into its design. A double-glazed façade increases the level of thermal insulation, leading to a reduction in heating and air-conditioning costs. An airy space between the façade skins will provide both thermal insulation and natural ventilation. In winter it allows keeping warmth and in summer coolness inside the building. An additional saving of power energy will be achieved by substituting conventional heating devices to infra-red radiators and applying the solution which allow re-using the heat emitted by technical and household devices in order to supply heating to the building. Similarly, the premises will be heated using excess heat generated from working technical equipment.

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Starbucks Greener Stores built from recycled containers

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Starbucks Taiwan opened its first store in Asia Pacific built from recycled shipping containers. The new Starbucks is the first retailer to open a storefront in the yet-to-be opened Hualien Bay Mall, which is located in a tourist destination known for its cuisine and beautiful landscape facing the Pacific Ocean.

This drive thru location is built to meet customer needs, both today and in the long-term. It offers the convenience of Starbucks drive thru for customers on-the-go on Nanbin Road, but also continues Starbucks 30-year history of sustainability by recycling 29 used shipping containers to form the store’s structure. It’s 320 square meters and two stories tall.

This unique exterior design was envisioned and brought to life by the famed Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma, who has also built Starbucks Japan’s Fukuoka store and is the exterior architect for the upcoming Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo. This is the first time Kuma has used shipping containers for his designs and was inspired by the foliage of coffee trees combined with the traditional Chinese bucket arch. The stacking of the shipping containers created a much taller space and provides natural sunlight through the various skylights found throughout the structure.

Inside the geometric space, customers find a tribute to the cultural vitality of Hualien. The brightly coloured wall mural represents the aboriginal Amis peoples with deep heritage in the City.

The store is designed to help bring people together over coffee. Inside, the containers feature create warm and comfortable seating areas for customers. From one end of the container, customers can enjoy views of the beautiful mountain range. The other end is decorated with graphics that tell coffee stories.

Starbucks is committed to building sustainable stores and recently announced the “Starbucks Greener Stores” initiative which will be a framework to design, build and operate sustainable stores around the world. Today, this store joins a suite of Starbucks locations built from shipping containers. In the US, Starbucks has opened 45 of these pre-fabricated modular stores, built off-site prior to delivery and installation, creating an opportunity for the company to extend into sites not designed for traditional store locations while minimizing the environmental footprint generally associated with new buildings. Through these store formats, Starbucks is able to reuse reclaimed materials throughout the design.

Source: Starbucks

Electric cars, Ideas, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Karma Revero is a South Californian luxurious grand tourer like no other

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In the last couple of years, electric cars have seen a major breakthrough thanks to major manufacturers introducing their zero emission cars. The green trend prompted boutique and smaller car manufacturers to enter the market segment of the imminent future. We’re currently seeing Tesla shaping the electric cars as we know them, and more companies have equally intriguing offerings in segments which are still not explored by big names in the industry. There are full-fledged electric hypercars like Rimac C_TWO and NIO EP9 which showcase many capabilities of instant power delivery, giving us a unique insight into the future of performance cars. Naturally, green, comfortable and silent luxury transport will also be quite a thing. Apart from Tesla which currently rules the segment, California-based startup Lucid plans to put its supersedan Air on the market in 2020, and their efforts have been recognized by a royal Saudi Arabian fund which invested whooping one billion dollars into the company.


Another strong contender in the upscale electric sedan market is produced by Karma Automotive, and it’s Karma Revero, a dynamic grand touring luxury EV with quite a familiar look. You might recognize this car as Fisker Karma, a hybrid sedan produced from 2011 to 2012. The Southern Californian company founded by well-known Henrik Fisker already flirted with green power by equipping their hybrid Karma with a solar roof panel, but the revamped Karma Revero is going one step beyond, offering a plug-in rage extended hybrid variant of the original sedan.
Interestingly enough, the Karma Revero looks like a regular car, with nothing giving away its predominant zero emission drivetrain. While most manufacturers choose to close the front grille since there’s no need for engine cooling, Karma Revero has kept its signature front fascia, as well as other design cues from the initial look, both inside and out. With that in mind, the unique wide grille is still there to differentiate the Karma Revero from every other car on the road. The decision to keep the Karma virtually intact was intentional since the car has a truly everlasting appeal, and a graceful silhouette that has aged well. As a testament to that, the Karma Revero has received two important accolades, one for being the “Eco Luxury Car of the Year” by Modern Luxury, and one being “Luxury Green Car of the Year” by the editors of Green Car Journal.


As you would expect from a premium sedan, the Revero packs various creature comforts to make the driving experience as convenient as it can be. First of all, there are hand painted hood ornaments which give each Revero a truly unique finish. After that, there are six interior finishes with wood or carbon fiber accents, eight exterior finishes inspired by South Californian breathtaking outdoors, and a selection of 21” and 22” rims. Inside, the driver has an intuitive infotainment system keeping them constantly informed and a multifunctional steering wheel. Occupants can enjoy heated seats, dual-zone climate control, 275 W eight-speaker premium audio and more. LATCH is there for quick and convenient child seat mounting, making the Revero comfortable for all generations.


The biggest changes come under the beautifully sculpted sheet metal and aluminum spaceframe. The battery pack is centrally mounted, providing perfect weight distribution and low center of gravity, which translates to fantastic driving dynamics and exceptional road holding enhanced by intelligent self-leveling suspension. The electric motors have 981 ft-lbs of torque and 403 horsepower, while the backup generator is enough for formidable 235 horses. The power is transferred to rear wheels, with 5.4 sec 0-60 time and 125 mph electronically limited top speed, and all that while keeping minimal environmental footprint. The all-electric radius is up to 50 miles, whereas the 300-mile range is available in combined driving mode.


Despite ownership changes and revamped drivetrain, solar power is still there as a signature element of the original design. The 200W solar roof charges both the 12V and high voltage batteries, a pioneering feature in the industry. Another green feature of the Revero are its brakes. The monobloc six-piston front calipers not only ensure efficient stopping, but also recharge the high voltage battery with every braking. Rear brakes have four pistons, and the braking system is equipped with panic brake assist for balanced braking in extreme situations.
When it comes to safety, the Revero is equipped with numerous active and passive systems. Driving aids include electronic stability control, traction control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, rear back-up camera, tire pressure monitoring, park distance monitoring, audible external pedestrian sound up to 28 mph. In case of collision, the Revero is equipped with eight airbags: two-stage driver and passenger airbags, knee airbags, full-length side-curtain airbags and seat-side airbags. Vehicle Event Case (VEC) is another innovative system that offers remotely diagnoses issues before or as they happen


With all in mind, the Karma Revero is a unique proposal in the market segment where all expectations are set on the highest level. Both industry leaders and boutique companies offer superb products with sublime performance and utmost comfort and prestige, and without any doubt, the Revero is ready to battle the giants for its place on the market. Be it for sleek and sophisticated design, formidable performance, or just good karma, the Karma Revero will surely be remembered as a daring car and one of the pioneers of green luxury.