Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco has worked with 6a Architects to create a sculptural garden paved in a pattern of interconnected circles for the South London Gallery. Read more
Swirling brick circles form back garden for South London Gallery
Architecture
Andy Martin creates candy-coloured resin tables that “challenge visual perception”
Sliding polycarbonate panels open up facade of Barcelona house by H Arquitectes
Sliding polycarbonate screens are set in front of the windows covering the stepped facade of this house in Barcelona by Spanish studio H Arquitectes. Read more
Kyoto cheese tart shop by Yusuke Seki features counter made of Lego
The latest outlet of Japanese cheese tart shop Bake displays its wares on a Lego counter made by designer Yusuke Seki. Read more
Li Hao uses mirrored glass and bamboo for reflective pavilion in southern China
Architect Li Hao has clad this bamboo and wood pavilion in mirrored glass to reflect the historic town in southern China that it faces. Read more
30 Plans, Sections and Details for Sustainable Projects
The dramatic improvement in recent decades in our understanding of sustainable design has shown that designing sustainably doesn’t have to be a compromise—it can instead be a benefit. When done correctly, sustainable design results in higher-performing, healthier buildings which contribute to their inhabitants’ physical and mental well-being.
The benefits of incorporating vegetation in façades and in roofs, as well as materials and construction systems that take energy use and pollution into account, demonstrate that sustainable design has the potential to create buildings that improve living conditions and respect the natural environment.
Below we have compiled 30 plans, sections and construction details of projects that stand out for their approach to sustainability.
Incorporation of vegetation: A layered system that incorporates the use of vegetation on roofs and facades—which can also incorporate other systems such as urban gardens or water recycling systems—provides significant economic, social and environmental benefits. These systems are particularly useful in improving sustainability in crowded urban areas.
01. AA House / IR arquitectura
via © IR arquitectura
02. Lacapelle-del-fraisse / Atelier du Rouget Simon Teyssou & associés
via © Atelier du Rouget Simon Teyssou & associés
03. Tarrawarra Abbey / Baldasso Cortese Architects
via © Baldasso Cortese Architects
04. GPL House / Estudio BLT
via © Estudio BLT
05. Casa Scout / BAAG
Courtesy of © BAAG
06. Silvina and Omar House / IR arquitectura
via © IR arquitectura
07. Edificio Consorcio Santiago / Enrique Browne + Borja Huidobro
via © Enrique Browne + Borja Huidobro
08. Once Building / Adamo Faiden
via © Adamo Faiden
09. Green Cast / Kengo Kuma & Associates
Courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Asociados
10. Pasaje Cabrer Collective Housing / AFRa
via AFRA
11. Eco Boulevard in Vallecas / Ecosistema Urbano
via © Ecosistema Urbano
Use of local materials and the study of construction systems: The choice of material responds to both the availability of local resources and to the local climate, allowing the interior spaces to be adapted to the external climatic conditions. The use of local resources and the design of a construction system which responds to the natural characteristics of the place also gives the benefit of a lower cost with respect to transportation and maintenance.
12. House in the Woods / Parque Humano
via © Parque Humano
13. Lienzo de Barro House / Chaquiñán
via © Chaquiñán
14. Centro Holístico Punto Zero / Dio Sustentable
via © Dio Sustentable
15. Museum & Biodiversity Research Center / Guinée et Potin Architects
via © Guinée et Potin Architects
16. Zenkonyu / Tadashi Saito + Atelier NAVE
via © Tadashi Saito + Atelier NAVE
17. 21st Century Vernacular House / Edra arquitectura km0
via © Edra arquitectura km0
18. Bamboo Wing / Vo Trong Nghia
via © Vo Trong Nghia
19. El Guadual Children Center / Daniel Joseph Feldman Mowerman + Iván Dario Quiñones Sanchez
via © Daniel Joseph Feldman Mowerman + Iván Dario Quiñones Sanchez
20. Hostal and Capacitation Center / IR arquitectura
via © IR arquitectura
21. Kontum Indochine Café / Vo Trong Nghia Architects
via © Vo Trong Nghia Architects
22. Temporary Pavillion at UNAM / México
Courtesy of Taller Carlos Leduc Montaño UNAM
23. Snow House / Emilio Marin, Nicolas Dorval-Bory, Juan Carlos Lopez
via © Emilio Marin, Nicolas Dorval-Bory, Juan Carlos Lopez
The study of bio-environmental design: When carrying out a project that aims to optimize building performance using only natural environmental factors, an understanding of the mechanics of those environmental factors is key. These buildings must take advantage of the natural energy of the sun and the wind, incorporating them into an architectural design.
24. Patagonia’s Sustainable Social Housing / Aysén, Chile
via © B+V Arquitectos
25. Bioclimatic Dwelling in Tenerife / Ruiz Larrea y Asociados
Courtesy of Ruiz Larrea y Asociados
26. World’s First Prefabricated Carbon Positive House / ArchiBlox
via © ArchiBlox
27. Dixon Water Foundation Josey Pavilion / Lake|Flato Architects
via © Lake Flato Architects
28. Nest We Grow / College of Environmental Design UC Berkeley + Kengo Kuma & Associates
via College of Environmental Design UC Berkeley + Kengo Kuma & Associates
29. Casa Meztitla / EDAA
via © EDAA
30. Quito Publishing House / Estudio A0
via © Estudio A0
13 Spectacular Living Roofs in Detail
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Richard Hutten designs stackable clover-shaped stools
Dutch designer Richard Hutten based the leaf-like form of these wooden stools on the shape of the “lucky” four-leaf clover. Read more
Lumo Arkitektur adds glass and log volumes to Nøjkærhus Culture House
A+Awards: four adjoining house-shaped volumes built using different materials make up this outdoor pursuits centre in Denmark by Lumo Arkitektur – a 2016 Architizer A+Awards winner. Read more
David Nossiter Architects transforms brick barn in Suffolk into spacious home
The original brick walls and a high timber-trussed ceiling are left exposed inside this former barn in Suffolk, which has been converted into a contemporary home by David Nossiter Architects. Read more
Frida Escobedo designs Aesop stores for Tampa and Coconut Grove in Florida
Mexican architect Frida Escobedo has created interiors for two new Aesop stores in Florida – one that references the tropical environment of its setting in Miami’s Coconut Grove, and a second inside a neoclassical building in Tampa. Read more
Sig Nordal 