As we look to the future of construction, green, clean, sustainable design is where all the emphasis lies. While much of the construction that exists today doesn’t meet these standards there are a number of shining examples that do. These visionary projects have shown us just what is possible when it comes to net zero design and innovation. These are some of the most sustainable buildings around the world today.
Bosco Verticale, Italy.
Inspired by a 1950s novel, the Bosco Verticale is made up of two vertical towers located in Milan. The buildings have one of the most intensive green facades on construction anywhere in the world, with two trees, eight shrubs and 40 plants for everyone who lives there. As a result, the buildings absorb 30 tons of carbon dioxide every year and generate 19 tons of oxygen.
The Museum of Tomorrow, Brazil.
This building is located in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and has been designed to explore the relationship between the city and its natural environment. Its planners sought to answer questions like where did we come from and how do we want to live together in the next 50 years? There are many positive sustainable features to the building, from the use of natural heat and light sources to the use of water from the bay to regulate internal temperatures.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, USA.
The stadium opened in 2017 and is the home to the Atlanta Falcons (American football) and Atlanta United FC (soccer). The stadium was the first professional sports venue in the country to receive the LEED Platinum Certification and today remains one of the most sustainable sports venues in the world and a blueprint for many others. Extensive integration of renewable energy means that the stadium has reduced its energy use by 29% and LED lights in the venue use 60% less energy than traditional stadium lighting.
Anandaloy, Bangladesh.
In 2020, this building won the Obel Award and this community centre/textile studio in Rudrapur has a lot going for it on the sustainability front. It was constructed from locally sourced mud and bamboo using traditional practices and has been designed with ‘dancing curves’ rather than rigid rectangles. This might be one reason why the building was named Anandaloy, which means ‘a place of deep joy.’
CopenHill, Denmark.
Copenhagen has set itself the target of becoming the first carbon-neutral city in the world by 2025 and CopenHill is just one of the innovative developments that could help achieve this target. CopenHill is a recreation and sports centre that also functions as a waste-to-energy plant whose furnaces, steam and turbines convert 4,40,000 tons of waste annually into clean energy. It has resources such as 9,000 sq metres of ski terrain and a roof that absorbs heat and eliminates particulate matter from the air.
Sustainability is vital for construction going forward. These inspirational buildings show how innovative design is being embraced all over the world to help make this happen.
