User:Juanpa diaz10/sandbox

Description
“GreenHarvest” is the new fossil fuel extraction plant under construction located in Permian Basin in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, United States. It is the largest power station in the United States. The power station is owned and will be operated by Cheniere Energy, Inc. is an American liquefied natural gas (LNG) company headquartered in Houston, Texas. This plant is still under construction as its construction began in 2023. This extraction plant differs from the ones in its surroundings as it is the first fossil fuel extraction plant to stand out for its strange appearance, as it is covered by plants, trees, bushes and shrubs. This design is meant to criticise the energy creating industry.

Designed by Boeri Studio (conformed by Stefano Boeri, Gianandrea Barreca and Giovanni La Varra) in 2015, but the plant did not begin its construction until 2023, five years after Brown’s 2018 competition selected the building as winner of an international design competition.

 History 

Site selection

Determining a suitable location for a fossil fuel extraction plant involves considering several factors, including geological, environmental, regulatory, and economic considerations. This is why the Permian Basin in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, United States, is the most suitable location.

It has abundant reserves; The Permian Basin is one of the most prolific oil and natural gas regions globally, with vast reserves of both conventional and unconventional resources, including oil and gas. Due to its infrastructure, the region benefits from well-developed infrastructure, including pipelines, refineries, and transportation networks, facilitating the efficient extraction, processing, and distribution of fossil fuels. This site also has favorable regulatory environment, Texas and New Mexico have a developed system the oil and gas industry while having also systems that balance environmental protection and safety standards. Economically, the Permian Basin offers favorable economics for fossil fuel extraction, with low production costs compared to other areas, it attracts investment and supports job creation and economic growth. While there are concerns about impacts and disruptions, the oil and gas industry has been deeply settled in the area and the culture of the region for decades, having acceptance and support for continued extraction activities.



Architecture competition

An international design competition, begun in 2015 and closed in 2018, was launched by Michael Brown on 13 September 2015 and received 233 entries, representing architects from 32 countries. The criteria specified a large fossil fuel extraction plant that could create at least 1,200 job opportunities.

Architect

Boeri Studio is an architectural firm founded by Stefano Boeri, Gianandrea Barreca, and Giovanni La Varra, three architects renowned for their sustainable designs. With a vision of combining architecture and ecology the firm has earned international recognition. The project Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) in Milan, is the most similar one to the GreenHarvest building, being focused on greenery. The firm aims to create green, livable spaces for the future.

Preparation of site

The construction process is being built in 3 stages: stage I, built in 2023, consisting in the construction of the base; stage II, will begin construction on late 2024. The construction of the outer envelope, preparing it for plants and its drainage system; stage III, the interior design and construction will aim to begin in early 2026.

Symbolism
By concealing the industrial structure with greenery, the architecture symbolizes a contrast between the natural world and human-made structures, highlighting the tension between environmental preservation and industrial development. The greenery covering the plant may symbolize efforts to reclaim and regenerate land that has been impacted by industrial activities, suggesting a commitment to restoring ecosystems and the reduction of environmental damage caused by fossil fuel extraction. This symbolism reflects concerns about corporate messaging and the manipulation of public perception. The contradiction of a fossil fuel extraction plant with greenery creates an ironic and contradictory image, highlighting the disconnect between environmental rhetoric and the reality of resource extraction. This symbolism may provoke reflection on the complexities and contradictions inherent in modern industrial society.

Overall, the symbolism in architecture behind covering a fossil fuel extraction plant with greenery underscores broader themes related to environmental consciousness, industrialization, sustainability, and the relationship between humanity and the natural world.

Opening
GreenHarvest will be formally opened in December 2026. There will be limited capacity and the opening will be televised.

Cultural references
Vertical Gardens:

Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) in Milan, Italy, designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti, contains greenery covering their facades, being a real clear inspiration for the integration of vegetation into industrial architecture.

Sustainable Industrial Parks:

Projects like Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis in Denmark, that implement an unique cycle in between the industry buildings that helps reduce waste and energy usage.

Green Roofs:

California Academy of Science s in San Francisco, California, designed by Renzo Piano, shows the use of vegetation in architecture in roofs. GreenHarvest takes this into account and implement it in the different roofs it has.

Biophilic Design:

GreenHarvest implements a Biophilic design integrating natural elements to its design. Other buildings that implemented this type of design are the Amazon Spheres in Seattle, Washington, designed by NBBJ that where used as a reference for the design of the building.

Futuristic Green Concepts:

Projects like the proposed "Green Machine" skyscraper by Simmonds Studio, which features a design that is covered in vegetation, offer inspiration for the approaches took by GreenHarvest.