Abstract:
The disclosure describes novel eco-friendly buildings and methods of building eco-friendly structures. Buildings constructed above land permit vegetation to grow below. Buildings which incorporate greenhouses are also described.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 11/484,515 filed Jul. 11, 2006. The contents of U.S. Ser. No. 11/484,515 are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    This invention relates generally to the field of construction and specifically to the field of eco-friendly building construction. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0008]    In the related art, buildings have been constructed on foundations, such as in-ground basements, or other foundations which cover the ground surface and obliterate vegetation. Because of urbanization, especially since the 20 th  century, the construction of architectural structures on ground has caused substantial environmental and ecological damage. Construction of buildings on land, i.e., buildings having “ground floors”, in urban and suburban areas is responsible for other detrimental effects, such as creation of vast regions of urbanization so aesthetically unpleasant that quality of life for the inhabitants is severely impacted. Methods have been practiced to allow improved coexistence of buildings and vegetation in urban as well as suburban areas; the methods include construction of rooftop gardens and garden areas located at various stories within high-rise buildings. None of these approaches can preserve or restore the land upon which buildings are constructed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention is concerned with building houses above land in order to minimize environmental impact of building construction in urban and suburban areas. For the purpose of clarity, the term “urban” is defined and used according to the US Census 2000 Urban and Rural Classification. Several embodiments are disclosed. Some of these embodiments include a house built on high columns above land and vegetation, a house built above a greenhouse, a split-level above land design wherein the house is supported by low and high columns, and an elevated A-frame house supported by beams. Both the split-level and A-frame houses can be built above greenhouses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0010]    The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplifying embodiments thereof illustrated in drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are a perspective view and a side view of a building above land with high columns supporting it above short vegetation. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1C ,  1 D, and  1 E are perspective views of three high supporting structures developed from high columns. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a building above land with low columns supporting it for tall vegetation to grow over it (tall vegetation is not shown). 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a back view of the building above land illustrated in  FIG. 2A  under the branches of tall vegetation. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a low supporting structure developed from low columns. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of a building above land, part under the branches of tall vegetation and part above short vegetation, with low columns and high columns supporting it. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of the building above land shown in  FIG. 3A , part under the branches of tall vegetation and part above short vegetation. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of a supporting structure that is a combination of a low supporting structure and a high supporting structure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3D  is a side view of a building above land, part under the branches of extra tall vegetation and part above short vegetation, with low columns and high columns supporting it. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3E  is a top view of the building above land shown in  FIG. 3D , part under the branches of extra tall vegetation and part above short vegetation. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3F  is a side view of a building, part on land and part above land for vegetation with the support of high columns. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a building above land with a supporting-greenhouse supporting it. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a supporting greenhouse. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4C  is a top view of closable screen vents installed on the sunny side and sunless side between the building and the supporting-greenhouse illustrated in  FIG. 4A . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4D  is a side view of a building above land with low columns and a supporting-greenhouse supporting it for tall vegetation and short vegetation. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4E  is a side view of a building above land with low columns and a supporting-greenhouse supporting it for extra tall vegetation and short vegetation. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a section of a road above land with footers, low piers, and beams supporting it. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the section of the road shown in  FIG. 5A  under the branches of tall vegetation. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5C  is a top view of the section of the road illustrated in  FIG. 5A  under the branches of tall vegetation. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of a section of a road above land with footers, high piers, and beams supporting it for short vegetation. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a building above land with the support of a supporting-greenhouse developed from a beam structure. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           12  land 
           16 A tall vegetation 
           16 B short vegetation 
           16 C extra tall vegetation 
           18 A building above land and vegetation 
           18 B building above land and under the branches of vegetation 
           18 C building above land, part above shorter vegetation and part under the branches of taller vegetation 
           18 D building above land, part above shorter vegetation and part under the branches of extra tall vegetation 
           18 E building partially above land 
           18 F building above land supported with a beam structure 
           20  window 
           22  skylight 
           23 A stairs 
           23 B steps 
           24 A road above land with low supports 
           24 B road above land with high supports 
           26 A high column having pile foundation  26 B low column having pile foundation 
           26 C high column 
           26 D high pier 
           26 E low pier 
           30  footing 
           30 ′ footer for low pier 
           30 ″ footer for high pier 
           31  foundation 
           32  slab 
           34  beam 
           34 ″ beam having underground portion  34 ″ beam for road 
           46  window frame 
           48  glass 
           49  floor of building 
           50 A closeable screen vent on sunny side 
           50 B closeable screen vent on sunless side 
           52 A shed-shaped high supporting structure 
           52 B frame-shaped high supporting structure 
           52 C low supporting structure 
           52 D a combination of a low supporting structure and a high supporting structure 
           53  opening for stairs 
           54 A supporting-greenhouse developed from high columns 
           54 B supporting-greenhouse supporting a higher part of a building above land 
           54 C supporting-greenhouse supporting a part of a building 
           54 D supporting-greenhouse developed for beams 
           55  underground part of a building 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0074]    Several embodiments are disclosed herein. Every embodiment features supports, such as columns or beams which support buildings elevated above ground thereby permitting growth of vegetation below the buildings. Supports can be constructed from steel-reinforced molded concrete which are preferred. Alternatively timber or other suitable materials can be used. The terms elevated and elevation refer to the distance above ground that a building is raised. A section of a building elevated to a certain height therefore refers to a section of a building or a part of the building elevated above ground such that exterior space of the same height is below the floor level of the section. In this context, for example, an elevated section cannot refer to the second story of a two story building. A building with two sections elevated to different heights therefore describes a building with a low part and a high part as in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 D, and  3 F. The terms elevated and elevation can also refer to a distance above ground of a building constructed above a greenhouse as in  FIG. 6 . Sections of a building elevated to certain respective heights above ground can also refer to a to sections of a building or a parts of a building elevated above a greenhouse as in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 D, and  4 E. 
         [0075]    An embodiment of the building-above-land is depicted in  FIG. 1A . (perspective view) and  FIG. 1B  (side view). The building is supported by high columns  26 A which are vertically driven into land  12  in certain depth for foundation. Normally, columns  26 A and columns used in similar embodiments are driven deeply to refusal or resistance. Because the drawings are not to scale, they do not accurately show the depths to which the columns are driven. The height of elevation above ground is limited by the length of the portions of the columns  26 A which remain above ground. The building should be elevated to a height sufficient to permit adequate sunlight to support growth of the vegetation below the building. Low fruit trees, vegetables, and bushes are some of the plants that may be selected for cultivation. Nevertheless, the building can be constructed to accommodate even tall trees growing below, though frequent trimming may be necessary. 
         [0076]    The number and size of high columns  26 A can vary depending upon the dimensions of the building, building codes, elevation height, and other factors. Horizontal dimensions of the building can be configured to ensure adequate sunlight for vegetation below the building without requiring the building to be elevated to an unreasonable height. In order to ensure adequate year-round sunlight for vegetation, a rectangular building with length oriented along an east-west direction requires higher elevation than a similarly configured building aligned in a north-south direction. The stairs  23 A should be positioned to maximize exposure of vegetation to sunlight. 
         [0077]    If the building is a family house or small building, windows  20  may be installed only on the eastern side and the most sunlight exposed side (sunny side). Skylights  22  can improve ventilation when there are no windows installed on the western side and sunless side. In this manner windows of adjacent buildings need not face each other for the benefit of privacy of the occupants. Building  18 A can be constructed as a multi-storey or high-rise building. 
         [0078]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of four high columns  26 A that support building  18 A illustrated in  FIG. 1A . Columns can be developed into various supporting structures. 
         [0079]      FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of high supporting structure  52 A which is developed from high columns  26 A shown in  FIG. 1C  with slab  32  horizontally connected to their tops. The horizontal dimensions of slab  32  can be longer or shorter than their corresponding dimensions of a building located on it as long as building codes are obeyed and vegetation can get sufficient sunlight to grow on land  12  under slab  32 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 1E  is a perspective view of another high supporting structure  52 B. High columns  26 C have replaced high columns  26 A illustrated in  FIGS. 1C and 1D . High columns  26 C are different from high columns  26 A and based on foundation  31  and footing  30  constructed underground on land  12 . High columns  26 C and four horizontal beams  34  that have replaced slab  32  illustrated in  FIG. 1D  constitute frame-shaped high supporting structure  52 B. Different from conventional foundations, foundation  31  and footing  30  retain the soil of land  12  for vegetation. The soil of land  12  can be deepened and improved to compensate for the portion of land  12  used for foundation  31  and footing  30 . 
         [0081]    Space under footing  30  and foundation  31  is available for constructing basement as long as the top layer of land  12  is deep enough for the roots of vegetation. 
         [0082]    Supporting structures are not limited to these three embodiments. The foundations of columns and supporting structures can be designed variously as long as sufficient soil is reserved for vegetation and building codes are obeyed. The above ground structures of columns and supporting structures can also be designed differently as long as sufficient space and sunlight are ensured to vegetation and building codes are obeyed. A supporting structure can also be designed to support a number of buildings and other architectural structures as long as building codes are obeyed and the land under the supporting structure is reserved for vegetation. 
         [0083]    One critical function of land is its vegetation nurturing function. One critical function of vegetation is its solar-energy-transforming function. The most critical function of building-above-land is retaining the critical functions of both land and vegetation. All vegetation growing on the surface of the earth composes the solar system of the earth, the root of human life. Building-above-land of this invention is to protect the root of human life. 
         [0084]    Columns play a key role in building-above-land of this invention to support a building above a plot of land and reserve the land for vegetation and the solar system of earth. Columns can be developed into various supporting structures and supporting-greenhouses. Substitutes such as piles, piers, and beams are also available. Supporting-greenhouses can be developed from high columns, high supporting structures, and other high supports. 
         [0085]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , the underground portions of high columns  26 A work as piles and retain soil for vegetation. The above ground portions of high columns  26 A directly support building  18 A above land  12  and ensure space and sunlight to low vegetation  16 B. Building  18 A provides horizontal reinforcement to sustain high columns  26 A against the horizontal forces such as wind and seismic forces. This kind of pile foundation can protect and reserve land  12  well for vegetation. However, the cost is high. [0126] As shown in  FIG. 1D , land  12  supports high columns  26 A, and high columns  26 A support slab  32 . Slab  32  provides horizontal reinforcement to supporting structure  52 A and will directly carries a building above land  12 . One horizontal dimension of slab  32  can be adjusted to certain length to reduce the height of supporting structure  52 A. The other horizontal dimension of slab  32  can be extended to increase square feet. 
         [0086]    A building located on slab  32  is separated from moisture in land  12 . Also access to the bottom of the building becomes easy. So, maintenance, update, remodel, and relocation of the building above land become easy. That will be helpful for people to update and remodel their buildings at their locations instead of moving away for new models and increasing commuting distances. 
         [0087]    As shown in  FIG. 1E , foundation  31  and underground portions of columns  26 C join together to provide a support to the above ground part of structure  52 B and retain soil for vegetation. Footing  30  disperses the weight of supporting structure  52 B and its load. Foundation  31  also protects the soil surrounded by foundation  31 . In cold areas and cold season, foundation  31  can help to keep the soil at a necessary temperature with supporting-greenhouse which will be discussed later. Beams  34  provide horizontal reinforcement against the horizontal forces and will directly carry a building above land  12 . Supporting structure  52 B uses more land than supporting structure  52 A shown in  FIG. 1D . Fortunately, deepening and improving the soil of land  12  can compensate for the portion of land  12  for foundation  31  and footing  30 . One advantage is that foundation  31  and footing  30  cost less than the foundation of supporting structure  52 A shown in  FIG. 1D . 
         [0088]    All embodiments of supporting structure discussed above have two basic functions: supporting a building above land and reserving the land for vegetation. The land can keep its natural function to nurture vegetation, and vegetation can work on the land to transform solar energy and produce fresh air, vegetables, fruits, crops, and flowers for us. Therefore, related shopping, trading, packaging, transportation, refrigeration, energy consumption and pollution can be reduced. Vegetation also absorbs heat, reduces global warming, adjusts climate, cleans atmosphere, reduces pollution, conserves water and provides healthy natural surroundings that are good for health, work, living, exercise, hobby, leisure time, education and peace. A healthy and pleasant natural environment at home let residents, especially children to access and love land, vegetation, fresh air, wild life, and other products of nature and/or god. 
         [0089]    Columns can cost no more than a conventional foundation of a building on land and supporting structures are also financially affordable. What they protect is the solar system of earth, the root of human life, and the design of Mother Nature. These embodiments of this invention illustrate how to apply existing architectural technology to embody the values and retain the functions of the products of Mother Nature. When natural environment, nice buildings, and peaceful neighborhood are available in cities, people do not need to live out of town and tolerate long commuting distances. Consequently, reduced traffic will reduce pollution, health problems, global warming, traffic accidents, energy problems, budget, and waste of time. When land keeps nurturing vegetation and sufficient vegetation can work for us, jobs violating the design of Mother Nature can be reduced and leisure time will increase. Enjoyable and significant jobs in line with the design of Mother Nature can also increase. On the contrary, when less and less land and vegetation work for us, and the solar system of the earth is damaged, endless environmental problems, health problems, social problems, and unnecessary painful and destructive jobs inevitably drive us crazy, since we violate the design and reject the blessing of Mother Nature. 
       FIGS.  2 A- 4 C 
     Alternative Embodiments 
       [0090]    Another embodiment of building-above-land of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 2A  (perspective view without vegetation) and  FIG. 2B  (back view including vegetation). The underground portions of low columns  26 B are vertically driven into land  12  in certain depth for foundation. The portions of low columns  26 B remaining on land  12  are low to position building  18 B above land  12  but under the branches of tall vegetation  16 A. Reasonable trim applied to tall vegetation  16 A can increase space for building  18 B and help the growth of tall vegetation  16 A. Some weak and unhealthy vegetation can be removed from crowded forests for spaces of building  18 B and health of tall vegetation  16 A. The premise is that the branches of tall vegetation  16 A are sufficient to cover building  18 B and transform sunlight shinning down on land  12 . Low columns  26 B and steps  23 B also provide as easy access to building  18 B as to a building on land. Fences can be installed between low columns  26 B for security purpose. [0132] One horizontal dimension of building  18 B can be limited to certain acceptable length for the branches of tall vegetation  16 A to cover building  18 B. Another horizontal dimension of building  18 B can be used to increase the square feet of building  18 B. Building  18 B cannot be very high since its height is limited by tall vegetation  16 A. However, for most family houses, spaces under the branches of tall vegetation are high enough. Extra tall vegetation provides more spaces than tall vegetation and the portions of low columns  26 B remaining on land  12  can be high enough for low vegetation such as mushrooms and grass to grow on land  12  under building  18 B. 
         [0091]      FIG. 2C  shows low supporting structure  52 C that can be used to support building  18 B illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . All high supporting structures have their corresponding low supporting structures. Different from high columns, high supporting structures, and supporting-greenhouses, low columns and low supporting structures are mainly used to reserve land for tall and extra tall vegetation and forests. Low columns and low supporting structures also provide easy access to buildings above land. 
         [0092]    Another alternative embodiment of building-above-land of this invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3A  (side view). A combination of low columns  26 B and high columns  26 A supports building  18   e . Low columns  26 B position the low part of building  18 C under the branches of tall vegetation  16 A, and high columns  26 A support the high part of building  18 C for low vegetation  16 B to get sufficient sunlight and space to grow under the high part of building  18   e . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the branches of tall vegetation  16 A cover the low part of building  18 C and low vegetation  16 B grows under the high part of building  18   e . Therefore, land  12  is well covered by vegetation and solar energy on land  12  can be well used by vegetation  16 B and  16 A, while building  18 C can get good shine and be easy of access.  FIG. 3C  shows supporting structure  52 D that is a combination of a low supporting structure and a high supporting structure to support a building like building  18 C shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . A number of supporting structures can also be combined together as long as they are not in the way of each other for sunlight. 
         [0093]    Another alternative embodiment of building-above-land of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3D  (side view) and  FIG. 3E  (top view). This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . The difference is that building  18 D has more square feet than building  18 C shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  since extra tall vegetation  16 C provides more spaces under the branches than tall vegetation  16 A. 
         [0094]      FIG. 3F  shows an embodiment that building  18 E has only a part supported above land  12  with columns  26 A and land  12  has only a part reserved for vegetation  16 C and the solar system of the earth. The underground part  55  of building  18 E takes a part of land  12  away from vegetation  16   e . When a building cannot be totally built above land for certain reasons, this embodiment can be used. The principle of this invention is that the more percentage of a plot of land is reserved for vegetation, the more solar energy can be transformed and deposited by the solar system of the earth, and a little piece of the land reserved for vegetation is better than nothing reserved for vegetation. This embodiment plays the role and reserves a percentage of a plot of land for vegetation and the solar system of the earth. 
         [0095]      FIG. 4A  shows another alternative embodiment of building-above-land of this invention. Building  18 A is based on supporting-greenhouse  54 A that is developed from high columns  26 A illustrated in  FIG. 1   e . High columns, high supporting structures, other high supports can be developed into supporting-greenhouses. Four beams  34  are connected to four high columns  26 A one by one on or a little under the surface of land  12 . Window frames  46  are installed between high columns  26 A and between beams  34  and building  18 A. Large pieces of glass  48  are installed on window frames  46 . Other transparent materials can also be used to substitute for glass  48 . Frames  46  can be turned open during hot weather. Between building  18 A and supporting-greenhouse  54 A, closeable screen vents on sunny side  50 A and closeable screen vents on sunless side SOB are installed. Deck can be built inside supporting-greenhouse  54 A as long as it is not in the way of sunlight for vegetation. 
         [0096]    In cold areas, good insulating glass is recommended for Glass  48 . Supporting-greenhouse can be developed from high support structure  52 B shown in  FIG. 1E , which has foundation. If necessary, foundation slab can be constructed under the foundation. Foundation and foundation slab can keep the soil inside a supporting-greenhouse at certain temperature. Irrigation and drainage systems are installed in supporting-greenhouse  54 A. Irrigation and drainage systems can also be installed to other embodiments of this invention. Water used in building  18 A can be used to irrigate vegetation growing on land  12  to reduce waste of water. When attention is paid to the water for irrigating own vegetable and fruits, water pollution can be reduced. 
         [0097]    In addition to supporting building  18 A above land  12  and protecting land  12  for vegetation, supporting-greenhouse  54 A increase privacy and make a building above land look like a building on land. That makes building-above-land easy to be accepted by the public. Supporting-greenhouse  54 A also brings about an indoor ecosystem and provides oxygen, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. 
         [0098]    Supporting-greenhouse  54 A works like a special solar energy heater providing warm fresh air and disposing of carbon dioxide. Air inside supporting-greenhouse  54 A can be freshened by vegetation and warmed up by sunlight through glass  48 . With good insulating glass and building materials, warm fresh air in supporting-greenhouse  54 A can be well kept inside and automatically rise up into building  18 A through closable screen vents on sunny side  50 A. Carbon dioxide in building  18 A can sink down into supporting-greenhouse  54 A by itself through closable screen vents on sunless side SOB. This way keeps inside warm and fresh, and reduces energy consumption and heating cost. This way can also simplify ventilation, especially for small buildings such as family houses. During night and cold weather, vents  50 A and SOB can be closed to keep warm air inside building  18 A if vegetation in supporting-greenhouse  54 A can accept low temperature. Supporting-greenhouses  54 A and other supporting-greenhouses of this invention contribute to the removal of the historical separation between dwellers and natural environment caused by a conventional building on land. 
         [0099]    Another important function is that supporting-greenhouse  54 A can be built in barren areas and tough climate to increase arable land, vegetation and livable areas on earth. That will extend the solar system of the earth and increase the working season and time of vegetation. That will reduce the pressure of population in many aspects. 
         [0100]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of supporting-greenhouse  54 A that supports building  18 A illustrated in  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4C  is a top view of closable screen vents on sunny side  50 A and closable screen vents on sunless side SOB installed between supporting-greenhouse  54 A and building  18 A illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . When building  18 A is a high building, supporting-greenhouse  54 A should be correspondingly enlarged in order to increase warm fresh air supply and dispose of increased carbon dioxide. Otherwise, supporting greenhouse  54 A can only exchange air with some rooms of building  18 A. When building  18 A is a high building, supporting-greenhouse  54 A can supply warm fresh air and dispose of carbon dioxide through ventilation system if necessary. 
         [0101]      FIG. 4E  shows another embodiment that is developed from the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3D . This embodiment is similar to the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4D . Tall vegetation is more than extra tall vegetation and embodiment in  FIG. 4D  is more practical than the embodiment in  FIG. 4E . That is the reason why I select the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4D  as the preferred embodiment of this invention. Furthermore, extra tall vegetation is growing up from tall vegetation. When tall vegetation grows, building  18 C illustrated in  FIG. 4D  can be built up first; when tall vegetation grows up into extra tall vegetation, more rooms can be added and building  18 C illustrated in  FIG. 4D  can be developed into building  18 D shown in  FIG. 4E . This way can reduce financial pressure on young people when they have no children or have young children. 
       FIG.  4 D 
     Preferred Embodiment 
       [0102]      FIG. 4D  shows the preferred embodiment of this invention that is developed from the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A . High columns  26 A in  FIG. 3A  have been developed into supporting-greenhouse  54 B that has the similar functions of  54 A illustrated in  FIG. 4A . Closable screen vents on sunless side SOB are installed on a position lower than closable screen vents on sunny side  50 A. If necessary, supporting-greenhouse  54 B can be enlarged to cover more space, supply more warm and fresh air, and dispose of more carbon dioxide. 
       FIGS. SA,  5 B,  5 C,  5 D,  6   
     Additional Embodiments 
       [0103]    Roads and most other architectural structures can also been constructed above ground to reserve land, space, and sunlight for vegetation. Though the cost is high, roads above land are necessary in urban areas to increase vegetation and reduce pollution in cities. The more crowded a city is the more roads, buildings, and other architectural structures need to be constructed above land to increase vegetation and natural environment in cities. 
         [0104]    Conventional road materials and construction techniques can be used to construct roads above ground to reserve land, space, sunlight for vegetation. Size and number of footers, piers, beams and other supporting components depend on building codes. When a road above land is constructed under the branches of tall vegetation, the width of a road or a lane should allow the branches of tall vegetation to cover the road or the lane. However, tall vegetation should not bother the view of driving. Highways and other roads for high speed traffic should be constructed above low vegetation for safety purpose and ensure sufficient sunlight to the low vegetation. As long as land can be well reserved for vegetation and roads can be supported above land safely, supporting structures and roads can be designed variously. 
         [0105]    Referring now to  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of building  18 F on supporting-greenhouse  54 D that is developed from a beam supporting structure instead of columns. Building  18 F can be designed variously as long as it can be supported above land  12  safely for vegetation to get sufficient space and sunlight to grow on land  12  inside and outside supporting-greenhouse  54 D. Two vertical A-shaped beam frames are parallel to each other and linked with three horizontal beams  34 . Beams  34 ″ of the two A-shaped beam structures have underground portions in land  12  for foundation. This embodiment shows an example of some other kinds of supports. Supports for buildings above land are not limited to these embodiments as long as they can support a building above land safely and reserve land for vegetation. 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0106]    Accordingly, the reader will see that building-above-land of this invention can change the conventional building-on-land and protect the solar system of the earth based on the following possibilities: (a) space and sunlight on the surface of the earth are enough for both buildings and vegetation; (b) buildings are not necessary to be built on land while land is necessary and possible to be reserved for vegetation; (c) a plurality of columns can cost no more than a conventional foundation of a building on land; (d) buildings above land can keep all facilities and conveniences of conventional buildings on land; (e) buildings above land are as easy of access as conventional buildings on land; (f) rooms of buildings above land can get good sunshine; (g) supporting-greenhouses make buildings above land look like buildings on land and easy to be accepted by the public; (h) supporting-greenhouses retain privacy and provide indoor ecosystems for families and working places. 
         [0107]    Building-above-land of this invention is a flexible way to share land and space with all species of vegetation with different heights. Columns, supporting structures, and other supports can position buildings: (a) above land and vegetation to protect farmland and short vegetation; (b) under branches of tall and extra tall vegetation to protect forests and tall and extra tall vegetation; (c) part above short vegetation and part under the branches of tall and extra tall vegetation. Farmland and forests can remain in their state during construction and reserved in cities. Various plants of different heights can grow on land naturally instead of on walls or on roofs artificially and expensively. 
         [0108]    Building-above-land of this invention can reserve land for vegetation on a large scale with great speed. When millions and millions of people and thousands and thousands of builders realize the benefits and possibilities of building-above-land for vegetation, the conventional destructive building-on-land can stop and building-above-land for vegetation can restore vegetation worldwide. 
         [0109]    Building-above-land for vegetation also makes maintaining, remodeling, updating, and relocating a building easy. People do not need to move far away and tolerate long commuting distances for new models and natural environment. Supporting-greenhouses also further provide indoor ecosystem and remove the conventional separation between dwellers and natural environment. 
         [0110]    Building-above-land of this invention provides a new way to use land and develop a city. Groups of columns, piers, supporting structures, and supporting-greenhouses can be constructed and pre-located in certain areas according to plans for buildings and roads built on them later. Those columns, piers, supporting structures, and supporting-greenhouses themselves can present new and beautiful landscapes with different architectural designs. 
         [0111]    Land has been occupied and sealed by buildings and roads in urban areas can also been restored to vegetation. The above embodiments can be referred to for restoring land under buildings and roads to vegetation and the solar system of the earth. No downtown areas should be deserted and keep taking land away from vegetation and the solar system of the earth. Farmland, gardens, forests, and natural environment can be well reserved in cities. 
         [0112]    The reader can see that building-above-land of this invention is economical, practical, and significant, and millions and millions of acres of land can be reserved for the solar system of the earth to reduce global warming. Mankind can enjoy the design and blessing of Mother Nature in a right way. 
         [0113]    There are a multitude of advantages that derive from building above land, including but not limited to the following: 
         [0114]    It provides a solution to the historical conflict between buildings and vegetation. 
         [0115]    It protects the root of human life, vegetation and the solar system of the earth that do so many great things for us: (a) supplying energy, oxygen, and natural environment; (b) absorbing heat, reducing global warming, and adjusting climate; (c) cleaning the atmosphere, reducing pollution, and conserving water. 
         [0116]    It provides a way to produce fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers under a building, and reduce shopping, trading, packaging, transportation, refrigeration, energy consumption, and pollution. 
         [0117]    It provides a way to reserve and increase natural surroundings for work, living, exercise, hobby, leisure time, and health. 
         [0118]    It provides a way to develop cities and keep natural environment in cities. 
         [0119]    It provides a way to reduce temperature in cities and cut expenditure on air conditioning. 
         [0120]    It provides convenience for people to maintain, remodel, update and even relocate houses and buildings. 
         [0121]    It increases arable land, vegetation and livable areas in barren areas. 
         [0122]    It provides supporting-greenhouses which improve indoor air quality and reduce indoor heating costs. 
         [0123]    It provides a way to reduce natural disasters. 
         [0124]    The embodiments described above illustrate many aspects of the invention. These embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely illustrations which are within the scope of the invention. It thus will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous alternative arrangements that, while not shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and thus are within its spirit and scope.