UC Irvine’s Humanities Gateway Building Awarded LEED Platinum Certification

Designed by Fentress Architects, the new signature gateway to the School of Humanities at UC Irvine is a spectacular and sustainable construction that recently achieved LEED Platinum certification. A number of energy efficient strategies were included, such as three-story light wells for daylighting, high performance mechanical systems, and occupancy sensors. The building is at once playful and creative while paying respect the tradition of the existing architecture of the campus.

UC Irvine asked Fentress Architects “for a building that captured the complex, multi-disciplinary character of a humanities education — a place to create a sense of unforeseen possibilities.” The firm took inspiration from Janus, the two-faced god of mythological literature with the gift of vision into both past and future, and gave the building a split persona.On one side, the building is completely traditional to match the existing architecture of the campus, while the other side is organic and evokes a sense of delight with its curvy, glass facade.

The modern ribbons of glass panels rise four stories tall and floods the interior with daylight and helps to minimize energy consumption. Taking advantage of the southern California climate, a number of outdoor areas provide space to study or meet.

Fentress Architect, builder Hensel Phelps Construction Company, and UC Irvine were recently awarded with a LEED Platinum certification earning 57 points as a result of their sustainable strategies. Three story light wells penetrate the building pulling daylight into the inner recesses of the building and high performing mechanical systems ensure a comfortable climate while minimizing energy use. Additionally, the Humanities Gateway makes use of the campus-wide chilled water plant for cooling along with efficient steam turbines. Regional materials were sourced for 40% of the building and occupancy and lighting sensors control the HVAC and lighting systems depending on if people are in the room.

The 76,000 sq ft facility was completed in 2009 and underwent a full commissioning service to ensure the building runs optimally.

36 Reclaimed Windows Transformed Into a Rustic Guest House in Sweden

Swedish architect Karin Matz’ Blocket Mini house is a beautiful waterfront cottage made from cinder blocks and 36 reclaimed windows. The daylit building is minimally furnished with recycled materials, and it sits along the shore next to a quiet pier in Sweden where it serves as a lovely rustic guest house.

Developed as Matz’ senior diploma project at architecture school, the Blocket Mini house sits on the edge of a lush property behind a main house. Set beneath the thick canopy of a tree, the structure stands on a pier-like platform that protects it from flooding. The project’s elevated floor is made from the same natural beams as the dock, creating a visual continuation of the pier. The floor inside has been treated with a darker stain than the attached patio outside, delineating the space between the glass walls. The house’s back supporting wall is made from untreated cinderblocks, and a corrugated metal roof slopes back gently to shed snow and rainwater.

Inside, the space is divided into two distinct sections separated by a wall made from six stacked windows. Each area is accessible from the front patio via a set of custom French doors made from windows. The left section of the house features a simple bedroom furnished with a queen-sized Murphy bed. When the bed is folded up, a simple table and chairs can be set up in the space and the wallpapered underside of the bed serves as décor. The other side of the structure is lined with shelving that stores ropes, ladders and hooks for motor boats, and a canoe that hangs on the cinderblock wall.

The Blocket Mini house connects the visitor with the outdoors by repurposing outdated windows that would likely have gone to waste.

1000 Recycled Doors Transform the Facade of a 10-Story Building in Seoul

South Korean Artist Choi Jeong-Hwa used 1000 brightly colored recycled doors to transform a bland 10-story building into an eye-popping visual indulgence. Jeong-Hwa is a master of using found objects to make provocative spaces, and the project is one of his most ambitious attempts to place normal things in an extraordinary way. The doors stretch up the scaffolding of the mid-rise, giving the hulking mass a pixelated charm.

Choi Jeong-Hwa’s imagery is born out his desire to let art engage with the greater population. His work is almost delusional – he takes ordinary, often discarded items and uses them to create unique spaces.

1000 Doors engages with the entire city of Seoul through its immense scale. The mass of doors reads like a crazy advertisement from afar. Up close, the juxtaposition of the common doors scaling the full height of the building is a bit jarring, if not amusing.

The piece makes a statement about how art changes how we see, as Jeong-Hwa puts it: “People think you can only find Korean Art in Museums and Galleries” for “other artists”. The ambiguity and strength of his work rests in the tactile quality of the discarded object itself.

Seattle’s Firestation 30 is a Copper-Clad Green Community Beacon

Completed just this year, Seattle's Firestation No. 30 is committed to the ongoing safety of the Mt. Baker community. Designed by Schacht Aslani Architects, the two story structure is the temporary home of six on-duty firefighters. Built with minimal impact on the landscape and enough sustainable strategies to achieve LEED Gold certification, the station is also a green beacon for the community. The Seattle fire station is framed in copper sheeting and is fully transparent on one side to open the inner workings up to the neighborhood.

Located at the juncture between the commercial activity of Rainier Avenue and the residential Mt. Baker neighborhood, Firestation no. 30 helps with the transition in scale between the two areas. Its highly transparent facade on the north side lets passersby get a glimpse of the activity going on inside, which improves the connection to the community. At night, the illuminated station is like a beacon and safe haven. Natural daylighting is balanced through the use of clerestory windows, skylights, north glazing, sun shading devices and fritting.

The building is located in a liquefaction zone, which means the soil is poor. To maintain the building’s integrity, it had to be made lightweight, so it was constructed out of a light wood frame and sheet metal skin be placed atop an elevated structural slab supported by an auger‐cast pile system. A geothermal heat pump system provides energy efficient heating and cooling, while materials were selected based on their sustainability in terms of content, cost and maintenance requirements. Rainwater is collected on the roof and directed to a bioswale on the west of the site. The project achieved LEED Gold certification.

Australia’s First Carbon Neutral Building is Now Complete!

No, this is not a rendering, do not adjust your screen. This crazy building is a real live structure and it's also Australia's very first carbon neutral building. Recently completed, the Pixel Building is an office building located on the former CUB Brewery site in Melbourne. Scoring a perfect 105 points on the Australia's Green Star rating system, the office building designed by Studio505 is an amazing example of what is possible in terms of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water collection, waste reduction and green roofs. Capable of collecting all of its own water and generating all of its own energy, the funky, colorful pixelated building is totally self-sustaining.

Pixel is a ‘Future Office’ – a prototype for commercial buildings that produce their own power and collect their own water for a future carbon constrained world. The four story building is home to developer and construction group Grocon who wants Pixel to serve as an example for their other projects. The project achieved a perfect score of 100 through the Green Star rating system and earned an extra five points for innovation for achieving carbon neutrality and including a vacuum toilet system, the anaerobic digestion system and reduced car parking. The developer is also targeting USGBC’s LEED certification as well as the UK’s BREEAM rating system to prove how well designed their building is.

The office building includes a native-planted green roof that harvests and collects rainwater. Based on historical rainfall, the building is capable of harvesting all the water it needs inside the office, making this building water neutral as well. Energy efficient design, which includes the use of the pixelated shade screen facade, double glazed windows, daylighting and natural ventilation minimize the need for energy. Meanwhile, solar panels and vertical axis wind turbines on the roof generate enough energy to offset the building’s electricity use. The Pixel Building’s vibrant facade gives it a unique identity and sets it apart from the neighboring structures, and its super sustainable strategies set it above most buildings in the world.

The Jungle Lodge in Bandipur, India is an Eco-Escape Set in the Valley

Designed by architect Nagesh H D, the Jungle Lodge in Bandipur, Karnataka, India, is a spectacular collection of eco-spaces set in the valley facing the Nilgiris Mountains. The cottages are split into a series of blocks in order to reduce bulk and maintain the natural drainage pattern of the site. The architecture is a combination of diverse construction methodologies based on local customs as well as modern techniques. The design prominently features local stone, acknowledging the traditional building techniques of the region. The interiors are naturally vented by louvered glass facades, and wastewater and sewage are treated by a reed bed system. Hot water for the cottages comes from solar water heaters, and backup electricity is supplied by roof-mounted photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine. Numerous floor-to-ceiling windows take advantage of natural light, integrating the lodge with its surrounding environment while amplifying the space within.

7 Gorgeous Green Buildings in the Middle East

The Middle East doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to its environmental record, but we have to give them credit for initiating some of the most gorgeous sustainable projects on the planet. We've collected seven of the most beautiful projects in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Morocco ranging from an airport to a bank and a couple of stadiums - all of which rely on passive design and traditional building techniques to stave off the soaring summer temperatures. Of course, we couldn't leave out the extraordinary Masdar project that we visited earlier this year, which is touted as the world's first zero carbon zero emissions city.

7 Gorgeous Green Buildings in the Middle East:

1. Masdar’s Zero Carbon, Zero Emissions City

Masdar City is one of the most well known projects in the Middle East. Touted as the world’s first zero carbon and zero emissions city but beset with economic troubles, Foster & Partner’s sustainable terra cotta-colored buildings are nonetheless very impressive to look at. Check out our exclusive pics of Masdar’s first few solar-powered buildings just outside of Abu Dhabi.

2. Abu Dhabi’s Green Roofed Aldar Market

Foster & Partners is behind the greening of Abu Dhabi’s Central Shouq as well. By adding a series of low rise, ecologically sensitive shops, hotel, offices, and restaurants, as well as rooftop gardens, the internationally-renowned firm has given this old world market a sustainable lift.

3. Kuwait’s LEED Gold Certified International Airport

Lo and behold, Foster & Partners is behind yet another green project in the Middle East. This time they have unveiled plans to build a massive solar-powered international airport in Kuwait. Although that country doesn’t have its own green building standard, the firm is shooting to bring this crazy-shaped project in line with LEED Gold standards.

4. Morocco’s Dazzling Domed Bank

Technically Morocco is in Africa, but most people think of this mysterious country as being in the Middle East. This is Foster & Partner’s first project in that country, and maybe one of their most beautiful. This dramatic domed bank features several ancient Arabic design techniques and a unique geothermal system that keeps it cool in summers.

5. Abu Dhabi’s Lattice-Domed Parliament Building

This gorgeous lattice-domed parliament building in Abu Dhabi was designed by Ehrlich Architecture. By incorporating passive solar design and unique desert architectural techniques, the firm has ensured that this super-efficient parliament building won’t use up all of the Emirate’s own energy.

6. The Grand Stade de Casablanca Stadium in Morocco

Scau from France  collaborated with Moroccan-based Archi Design to give the national football team a brand new, sustainable stadium. Concrete fin-like structures promote natural ventilation and passive design keeps the building nice and cool. This stadium is expected to be complete by 2013.

7. Qatar’s Solar Powered World Cup Stadiums

No one was more surprised than us to learn that the hot desert country Qatar won the bid to host 2022 Soccer World Cup, but a host of brand new solar-powered stadiums featuring cutting edge technology afforded by the country’s remarkable oil wealth will ensure that the fans don’t pass out from the heat.

Gorgeous LEED-H Tiburon House is a Custom-Built Energy Efficient Masterpiece

With dreams of owning a brand new eco-love nest in San Francisco, a pair of green-enthusiasts enlisted the help of architects Butler Armsden to build them a high-performing, LEED platinum home. Called the Tiburon House, the design came from the clients' steadfast goal of creating the most energy efficient, sustainable home, meshed with a modern and beautiful design. The resulting home is both breathtaking and one of the first custom homes to ever obtain LEED-H Platinum certification.

The beautiful cliff-side site, located on the Tiburon Peninsula, was originally home to a dilapidated structure. The team deconstructed the old home piece by piece, and 95% of the materials were either reused in the new construction or recycled –  including 10 tons of building lumber! The retaining walls were also reclaimed from the salvaged foundation of the original house, and other recycled and sustainable materials were employed throughout the construction.

The plan of the home is centered around a staircase, which unites each floor while also maximizing both air circulation and natural light. The rooms encircle the staircase, providing all the spaces with gorgeous views of the garden and the nearby waterfront. To enter the home, Butler Armsden constructed a bridge from the garden to the living room, for easy access on the hill.

The home is powered by a series of solar panels on the roof, which also heat the hot water for the residents. A state-of-the-art water reclamation system exceeds local building codes, and salvages rain and ground water. Each room has glass sliding doors which open up to the surrounding views and let in fresh air.

The idyllic home raises the bar for custom home building, showing the world that LEED caliber energy efficient homes can also be luxurious places to live.

LEED Platinum ‘Shoebox House’ Achieves Style and Sustainability on a Budget

You don't have to break the bank to commission your own LEED Platinum home - Gabriel Browne Of Praxis Design worked with clients Scott Rothstein and Marcia Meckler to design this LEED residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico on a budget. Nicknamed the "Shoebox House" by the owners, it achieved LEED platinum certification without sacrificing an ounce of style.

The clients and architect designed the eco-friendly home using the Sketch UP program from opposite sides of the globe – Browne and Praxis are situated in Santa Fe and Rothstein and Meckler are in Bangkok. Together, they managed to create an innovative cantilevered home that costs an impressive $188 per square foot. The home scored 88 points according to the USGBC’s rating system – that’s 8 points over the requirement to achieve LEED Platinum status. In addition, it also achieves Energy Star status and airPlus certification, which is an EPA sanctioned program that encourages indoor air quality by monitoring moisture, pest control, and superior ventilation and heating.

The modern home consists of a series of cantilevered volumes. It’s open and airy, with plenty of space to display the couple’s vast art collection. Large windows provide plenty of sunlight, fresh air, and sweeping views of the nearby mountains. An interior courtyard adds serenity to the living space, and features giant metal cisterns, which function as sculptural objects, but also collect and store rainwater. Radiant heat tubing was inlayed in the walls to passively heat the home.

The resulting home is a dream, and although Mr. Rothstein was far way during its construction, it looks exactly as he had planned. The Rothstein-Meckler house is one of just 400 custom homes that have achieved LEED Platinum status worldwide.

3 Rooms, 3 Trees and a Meadow Adorn the Roof of House S in Germany

Building on the top of rooftops is becoming fairly common on our over-crowded planet, but have you ever seen a home that has 3 box rooms, 3 trees and a meadow on its roof? Roger Christ was commissioned by a family of four to expand a German bungalow originally built in the 1960s, but he had to go vertical instead of horizontal because of space restrictions. In response to these challenges, he planted 3 glass boxes connected by a highly glazed, transparent corridor on a cantilevered roof, and surrounded them with a courtyard, a mini-meadow, and trees!

The three new boxes on the roof house a master bedroom, dressing room and bath room, as well as a personal living room and home office. There’s a meadow and apple tree in one corner, a courtyard and pine tree in another, and yet more green space is populated with a magnolia. This urban rooftop space is managed so well that the family can even watch movies projected on an outside wall.

Downstairs, the original bungalow was gutted to create a large open plan centered around a kitchen. There’s also space for the children, a spare room, and a dressing room. Downstairs and upstairs, triple glazed windows pump plenty of natural light into the entire house without a lot of solar gain, making this beautiful renovation super energy efficient too!

House of Vestas Will Be Europe’s First LEED Platinum Certified Building

Vestas Wind Power Systems has recently moved into their new headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark, which will also soon have the honor of being Europe's first LEED Platinum certified building. Designed by Arkitema Architects, the 'House of Vestas' will join an elite list of approximately 150 commercial buildings in the world which have also accomplished this feat. The building features Denmark’s largest geothermal installation and uses only 50% as much energy as a similarly sized facility. Not only is the company devoted to making advanced wind energy systems, but also to building energy efficient buildings. In fact, their US-based headquarters in Portland is aiming for LEED Platinum certification too.

The 22,500 sq meter complex is the new headquarters for the global wind turbine company and is an explicit example of the company’s commitment to sustainability. Long, low and stealthy, the dark exterior features bright blue accent lighting and gives you the impression that some super serious, high tech research and development is going on inside. The interior is vibrant, relaxed and filled with natural daylight. An atrium cuts down the middle of the building serving as an interior street with criss-crossing bridges overhead to connect the building together. This large open area also serves as flexible meeting or event space. Rich and contrasting natural materials create a textured, warm and inviting environment.

The building is largely heated and cooled by a geothermal heat pump and energy efficient design means that the building has achieved the designation of low-energy class 1 building. Arkitema included a variety of flexible office spaces that allow employees to transform their working environment into spaces that work for them. Movable walls modify internal volumes without changing the technical installations. Design of the project began in 2008 and construction was recently completed in 2011. Arkitema and Vestas expect to receive their LEED Platinum designation shortly.

Germantown Sustainable Urban Science Center is a Green Roofed Living Laboratory in Philadelphia

Stewardship of the environment is an important part of the Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia and their new Urban Science Center was designed to be a living laboratory to teach the students there all about that. Embracing sustainability, the new science lab demonstrates a myriad of green building strategies including green roofs, solar power, daylighting, rainwater harvesting, efficient mechanical systems and geothermal exchange. Designed by Philadelphia-based SMP Architects, the new science building provides space for innovative teaching labs for biology, physics and chemistry and fosters independent thinking.

The site, a former brownfield, had to undergo extensive remediation in order to bring it up to acceptable standards. Even after the remediation there were areas that had to be capped to eliminate the chance of water infiltrating down through the ground. An impervious parking lot and the building were located in those areas, while the other areas that could accept infiltration were planted with lush rain gardens. Sited to maximize sunlight into the classrooms, the building forms a courtyard around the gardens and a bridge to the adjacent math department.

Natural daylighting and ventilation play an important role in the design of the building as a way to reduce the use of artificial light and mechanical ventilation wherever possible. Each subject – biology, physics, and chemistry has two labs dedicated to its study. Biology is located downstairs next to the gardens along with the offices and chemistry is located on the top floor in order to minimize duct runs yet ensure proper ventilation. Last but not least, the Physics labs cantilever out over the offices as a way of demonstrating the mechanics of structural design.

A geothermal exchange system buried below the building and driveway provides energy efficient heating and cooling for the labs, offices and classrooms. Green roofs manage stormwater and provide additional space to hold class or perform experiments. Whatever rainwater is not filtrated through the swales and rain gardens is collected in two cisterns in the courtyard for use in the toilets. A rooftop photovoltaic system generates electricity for the building, while a real time display in the lobby provides information on energy generation and use as well as other building statistics. The students not only learn about the world, the environment and science while in class, but they also have the chance to explore and see it in action through the living laboratory.

A Funky Garden Office and Shed Made from Recycled Car Tires

Maisongomme is a sustainable garden shed made from locally found scrap materials and completely covered with discarded rubber tires. The structure was created for Peter Merry and Marcella Siebert by Refunc as a functional space with room for an office and storage. Already getting a lot of use from the couple, this peculiar and quirky eco-dwelling is also full of playful details!

Maisongomme measures 10×26 ft and features long, vertical windows recovered from a shop that went bust. The windows infuse the space with plenty of light and they allow for fresh air to permeate the interior. The structure was creatively made from scrap wood, insulation glass, repurposed stainless steel trays and some leftovers from an old shed that used to stand on the same space.

But what really makes the structure stand out is it rubbery walls, which have  made from car tires found at a local garage. The tires together with some stone wool insulation make this fantastic garden shed both water and winter-proof. The interior walls were created with assorted pieces of found wood, and their setting form an eco-friendly patchwork motif.

Maisongomme is yet another fantastic example of how we can create our own piece of paradise using what’s already available.

ONIGIRI HOUSE made entirely from cedar

This beautiful Onigiri House was created by NKS Architects in Oita, Japan. Constructed entirely out of locally-sourced cedar, the wood-paneled wonder features a gorgeous light-laden interior that celebrates clean, simple lines and an elegant, uncluttered floor plan. Modeled after the triangular shape of one of japan’s favorite delicacies, the project is the latest in NKS’ line of architecture that take its cues from the purity and precision of traditional Japanese food.

Created for an old couple, the Onigiri House was designed to maximize volume and limit cost while seamlessly integrating into its environs. It’s name stems from its structural reference to Onigiri, a Japanese snack made by forming rice into a triangular or oval shape and then wrapping it in nori.

The triangular tube is constructed entirely of cedar that was sustainably harvested from local sources. NKS Architects chose a type of cider wood that made the region famous for its application in shipbuilding, cutting down on the home’s carbon footprint by negating material transportation costs. The interior spaces are suffused with light and well ventilated thanks to large windows located at each end, and an elevated platform protects the home from the region’s occasional flooding.

Amazing Pupa Pavilion Made From Recycled Shipping Pallets and Cardboard

Waste becomes an opportunity in this pavilion commissioned for the London offices of Bloomberg Philanthropy. The undulating structure made entirely of recovered cardboard and shipping pallets was pieced together by Liam Hopkins of Lazarium. Dubbed Pupa, the project is part of a larger art commission, “Waste Not Want It”, which called for the reuse of refuse to create inspired pieces. Pupa not only repurposed tons of cardboard and wood, but it created a valuable meeting space that takes advantage of the acoustic properties of cardboard.

The cardboard came in damp bales so it had to be pulped and re-fabricated locally. Nearly four thousand triangular components were assembled by folding strips to make triangular frames and inserting with fill pieces. The cells were glued together using a parametric computational map. The result is a cavern like space, intimate and sparse except the long cardboard table running the length of the installation. Chairs made from 180 wooden pallets and 252 leather cut offs complete the space. The acoustic properties of the cardboard skin add function to the meeting space as well, although the glare of lights seems to be a bit off mark.

The materiality of the cardboard and softness of the overall shape is an inviting non-pretentious alcove. The form and mass of the newly created space plays off well in the dull white interior. The project was developed to inspire employees to rethink what they take for granted – a common theme it seems this past year. It is also interesting how the cardboard, known for its strength and ubiquity, can also be used for space making and sound control, upping the stakes of the capacity of the brown stuff.

Naturally Daylit Guangzhou South Railway Station is a Critical Stop in China’s High Speed Network

China is diligently working on the development of its high speed rail network, and one of the four most important stations is the Guangzhou South Railway Station. This strategically located station provides connectivity for the whole of the Pearl River Delta, which has a population of 120 million people - trains link all other major cities in the area in less than 30 minutes. The TFP Farrells-designed station maximizes daylighting to reduce its energy needs, and it was built to accommodate an increased flow of passengers in the future.

Inspired by modern airport layouts, TFP Farrells adopted a vertical organization strategy in order to maximize space and provide a clearer passenger flow. The departures concourse is on the top level, while the platforms are below on the middle level. Below that, on the ground floor is the arrivals hall, which provides easy access to other forms of transport including the five metro lines housed in the basement levels. With an expected 300,000 passengers by 2030, the station has to quickly and easily be able to direct and move a lot of people through its halls. Clear signage, wide open spaces and lots of bright light will aid in that endeavor.

The design team also worked to reduce the station’s environmental impact and this is most apparent in their use of natural daylighting, which reduces the electric load and improves the interior environment for the passenger. A central skylight spine running parallel with the tracks floods the concourse area with natural light, while the roof is made with ETFE and can be adjusted according to weather conditions. Parallel with the tracks area, a series of barrel vaulted roofs reminiscent of banana leaves allow more natural daylighting in on the sides. Only the concourse area is enclosed, which minimizes the need for air conditioned spaces. The ends of the tracks are open allowing natural ventilation to freely flow through the space and a system of photovoltaics generates power for the station.

The train station’s layout was also decided upon based on the fact that it is actually located in a sensitive wetlands area. Apparently, they couldn’t place the station anywhere else, but they attempted to minimize their impact by building vertically to reduce the footprint. Additionally, the ground floor serves as a pedestrian transit corridor to cross the tracks and connect both halves of the city. TFP Farrells collaborated with the Fourth Railway Survey and Design Institute and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) and completed the station in 2010.The local government expects that the station will vastly increase the use of public transport to a point where 80% of the journeys in the area will be made via public means, while only 20% will be via private car. And that perhaps is the greatest environmental strategy of them all.

Extraordinary 28 Storey Kowloon Office Tower in China Has a Bushy Greenery-Lined Carpark!

Kowloon Bay businesses are trying to leave behind their sullied manufacturing past with projects like this extraordinary 28 storey office tower on 18 Kowloon East. Designed by Aedas Architecture, the mixed-use development complete with office, retail, and parking space looks like any other shining tower except that its zigzagged carpark at the base of the building is covered in bushes!

We’re not 100% what other green features have been incorporated into this design, but give credence to Aedas for attempting to influence a greening trend in the Kowloon Bay area with this incredible project. The bushy carpark is not only aesthetically pleasing, but controls the air quality and absorbs carbon emissions. Ahh, we are already breathing easier seeing so much green. How about you?

CARDBOARD BRIDGE

You wouldn’t expect cardboard to be strong enough to build a bridge, but that’s exactly what ingenious architect Shigeru Ban decided to use to build a bridge across the Gardon River in his latest work of architectural innovation. You might be familiar with his previous work (his Curtain Wall House, Nomadic Museum, and Paper Church in particular), but the bridge, his latest work, proves that Shigeru Ban is truly a brilliant architectural mind in the world of green and context-sensitive design.

The bridge, located over the Gardon River in southern France, is made almost entirely out of cardboard tubes (281 to be exact), and is strong enough to carry 20 people at a time. The steps of the bridge are constructed from recycled paper and plastic. And how does it stand up, you may ask yourself? It turns out cardboard is surprisingly strong when engineered as precisely and creatively as Ban has designed it, but the foundations do get a little help from wooden boxes packed with sand.

The bridge also sits adjacent to an ancient Roman Bridge, creating an interesting juxtaposition. “It is a very interesting contrast, the Roman stone bridge and the paper bridge. Paper too can be permanent, can be strong and lasting. We need to get rid of these prejudices,” Ban said.

The Sliding House

The Sliding House, by dRMM Architecture, may look like a simple timber barn or shed, and you may not be impressed by it — until you discover that it contains a surprise within it. The design of this home is so unique that, well, there is no real actual architectural term to describe it. In fact, the best way to describe it is to say that the house slides!

You see, what appears to be house’s exterior walls and roof are actually a second skin that slides across a longitudinal axis to reveal a second facade. Sliding back and forth, the mobile exterior offers the house’s residents incredible flexibility with the look and behavior of the building. The lighting and mood of the interior spaces can be altered with the simple movement of the exterior. The building’s architectural trick also mean the heating and cooling loads of the house can be manipulated throughout the year.

The house was designed by London-based practice de Rijke Marsh Morgan for a client who desired a retirement home. The house is made up of three buildings arranged along a longitudinal axis, with a garage set perpendicularly, off to the side. A small patio was located in front.

Glass and red rubber work in unison with the timber of the roof/wall enclosure to create a pleasing and unassuming shape that resembles the barns and sheds of the rural countryside. The entire house sits on a concrete bed, which partially hides the surprising mechanism that allows the home to reveal a second facade.

How to Build an Eco-friendly House?

Eco-friendly house can save some money for the home owners and they do not have any negative impact on the environment.

How to build an eco-friendly house? 

There has been a considerable improvement in the construction of the buildings which has reduced the negative impact on the environment. The eco-friendly construction techniques have reduced energy usage by using sustainable building materials and employing alternative sources of the energy in the house. The innovative water management techniques have also led to conservation of water.

Energy-Efficient Design

Eco-friendly houses should be designed to minimise energy losses. The design of the house should consider environment and local climate conditions to make best possible use of solar energy. The house should be properly insulated to ensure energy efficiency and minimise energy loss. Painting the roof of the house white keep homes cool in summer by letting less heat in and warm in winter by not allowing more heat escape than other roofs. The efficient building design should also consider properly placed windows to allow ventilation in the house.

Sustainable Building Materials

Sustainable building material is the one which reduce the energy usage and fits harmoniously within the ecosystem. Recycled wood can be used for making tables, planter, studs and headboard. The recycled plastic can be used to make water tanks, pipes and pet bottles. Recycled denim can be used for the insulation of the walls. The eco-friendly building materials emit low level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), low embodied energy (the sum energy inputs used to make any product) and are easy to recycle.

Energy-Efficient Appliances

The home appliances used in the house such as air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators can save substantial amount of energy. The manufacturers had developed energy efficient appliances which use less electricity to help save some money for the consumers. The government agencies had certified these appliances to help consumer identify these products as energy savers such as Energy Star in America.

Alternative Source of Energy

The incorporation of alternative sources of energy can also contribute to the environment. Installing solar panels is very common these days. Using the sun to heat the water for domestic use and also for space heating and cooling can also reduce energy usage.

Water Management

Water management is often overlooked in an eco-friendly house project. The rain water should be collected in the rain barrels and water from the shower can be used in lawn. Low flow toilets should be installed and leaks should be fixed.

Benefits to Homeowners

Eco-friendly houses not only save money for the owners but also conserve energy and are environment friendly. As the materials are toxin free it leads to increased occupant health and also reduce maintenance costs.

Simple Passive Solar House by Mimosa Architekti Respects its Site in the Czech Republic

This charming single family residence in the Czech Republic was carefully designed to respect its site and make the most of available solar exposure. Oriented to the east and the west, the home soaks up daylight while utilizing shade devices and recessed windows to prevent overheating in the summer. Designed by Prague-based Mimosa Architekti, the House in Bohumileč uses natural materials and a simple framework to help it fit into its rural setting.

Located in the small village of Bohumileč in the Pardubice region, this two story home was built for a family of four. Inspiration for the home came from a rustic house with a saddle roof, and the building’s volume and materials fit within the context of its natural setting. Seeking to be unobtrusive, the home takes on the motto of rural simplicity. The exterior is clad in simple wooden slats, while the interior features lots of glass, pale wood floors, white walls, and wooden accents.

An east-west orientation lines the home up to take advantage of an open southern aspect. A large flat awning to the south shades the deck and the living room from overheating in the summer, while the remaining windows are either recessed or built out in order to block direct sunlight and glare. Deciduous trees on the east, south, and west protect the home even more during the summer by providing shade, but in the winter they are leaf-less and let the sun shine through.

Inside, the living spaces are located on the southern side to take advantage of more daylight, while the kitchen, staircase, and service areas sit on the north side where daylight is not needed. Decks off each side of the house expand the living space to the outdoors to take in the sights of the neighborhood and the adjacent pond.

Seven stunning green buildings that already exist

Green buildingsGreen structures built across the globe

Environment preservation has to be taken up on a large scale and applied in our everyday lives. Water and energy conservation along with reusing materials and encouraging recycling is the need of the hour. Surely, all this can be done a lot more easily if we build sustainable structures. Going green becomes really easy if we have an infrastructure supporting it. After the success of a few green buildings, more eco friendly structures are in construction around the world. Let’s look at a few green structures built that have given a head start to this movement.

1. Bank of America Tower, New York, US

Bank of America Tower In house power plant conserves energy

An LEED platinum certified construction built in Manhattan. The hallmark of this skyscraper is the in house power plant that generates about 70% of the energy used. The 4.6-megawatt plant provides both heat and electric voltage for hot water supply and running the heating as well as cooling system. In addition to generating its own power, the plant also garners energy by burning natural gas and sourcing waste heat. A floor to ceiling cover of translucent insulating glass brings in natural light.

2. Dalby Forest visitor centre, North Yorkshire, UK

Dalby Forest visitor centre Water conservation and renewable energy use have been kept in mind

The reception desk at this site is made out of old used materials while the roof is done up with tire tubes. The entire building can be recycled at the end of its lifespan. Renewable energy from solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbine is used. Water conservation has been kept in mind as toilets are flushed with rainwater instead of the regular water supply. The boiler is fueled with wooden chips and bits gathered from the forest nearby.

3. CII – Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad, India

Green Business Centre Waste water us recycled using root zone treatment

This building is amongst the very few outside US to acquire the LEED platinum rating. In fact, this was the first building in India and also outside the U.S. to be endowed with this certification. It is actually the office of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and a public-private venture between Government of Andhra Pradesh and Godrej & Boyce Mfg Ltd. The building applies green construction techniques like using renewable energy, recycling, water conservation and energy efficiency. There is a green roof and waste water is recycled using root zone treatment. Solar photovoltaic cells generate indigenous power supply.

4. 30 The Bond, Sydney, Australia

30 The Bond Uses passive chilled beam technology for energy efficiency

The headquarters of Lend Lease, this was the very first CBD building in Australia to acquire the 5 stars rating meted out by the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating. This sustainable structure employs the passive chilled beam technology for energy conservation. In addition, the natural ventilation and fully operable shading facades help to reduce carbon emissions. Local and eco friendly materials such as linen, cotton, wool, sisal, goat hair, leather, and bamboo are used here. There are winter garden rooms, water saving fittings, and a terrace garden with native drought resistant plants.

5. Centrum Galerie, Dresden, Germany

Centrum Galerie Received the BREEAM Excellent rating

This massive shopping complex is known for being the first building to receive the BREEAM Excellent rating not only in Germany but also in continental Europe. The building uses daylight as much as possible and incorporates a green roof. There is an energy saving mode built. Other distinguished advancements are a high-quality design and a comprehensive transport plan.

6. RIT’s University Services Center, New York, US

RIT’s University Services Center A highly energy efficient construction

Built in Rochester in New York, this is a LEED platinum certified construction. The University Services Center at Rochester Institute of Technology uses renewable sources of power including solar pholovoltaic cells. Almost 90% of the waste during construction was recycled and recycled materials are used even for running the building. The power usage for heating and cooling is reduced by 50%. Water conservation, biodiversity by cultivating native vegetation, control plan for erosion and sedimentation are a few other eco-feats achieved here.

7. Shangri La Botanical Gardens, Orange, Texas

Shangri La Botanical Gardens Recycled materials are used in construction

Eco friendly energy systems are installed here; wind power plants supply energy and there are thirty six solar panels that can generate about 300 watts of electric voltage. The wood used is from trees fallen down during the 2005 hurricane Rita. Also, the geothermal well for heating and cooling is a marvel. The construction allows in ample daylight and is built on a concrete foundation made up of fly ash usually thrown out as waste. There are also heat reflecting metal roofs that use up less energy, corn based eco flooring, parking lot from recycled asphalt, etc. This center has also received US Green Building Councils Platinum certification.