Saturday, September 27, 2008

The NEW California Academy of Sciences


A window on the roof of the new California Academy of Sciences building in San Francisco offers a view inside. Architect Renzo Piano brings together the very different priorities of cutting-edge and green design.

A key feature of the building, located in Golden Gate Park, is its grass-covered roof. Containing nine species of native plants in its 2 1/2 acres, the roof will filter storm runoff and keep the building cool in summer and warm in winter.

Renzo Piano calls the green roof "the flying carpet." The $488-million, 410,000-square-foot academy squeezes a natural history museum, aquarium and planetarium into a single facility.

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