As climate change continues to raise concerns about what our future could look like, sustainable design will likely become one of our top priorities to combat the effects of climate change. Sustainability essentially means living in a way that protects non-renewable resources and the quality of the environment. Throughout the past several decades, countries around the world have committed to various levels of environmental action to promote sustainability; whether it be switching to renewable energy sources, building homes with solar panels, or incorporating environmental science into school curricula. In the conversation about sustainability as a whole, we must also highlight the importance of sustainable design—architecture that prioritizes protecting and replenishing key resources, decreasing harmful emissions and wastes, and creating buildings that are more environmentally productive. Creative sustainable design ideas have already been implemented by innovative scientists and architects around the world. Here are three eye-catching examples:
- Vertical Forests
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Architect Stefano Boeri and his team designed Vertical Forests that first debuted in Milan, Italy during the late 2000s. Vertical Forests take up less ground space compared to conventional buildings that stretch out horizontally, allowing for the protection of fertile, resourceful land that would normally be paved over for construction. Vertical Forests are home to humans, animals, and plants, embracing the beauty of urban biodiversity. Within these towers, there are areas for vegetation and plant growth, and space for animals such as birds to freely prosper and for trees to grow without disruption. Since these towers are layered with plants both inside and out, the temperature and humidity inside the buildings are regulated through natural sun filtration instead of burning harmful fossil fuels.
- The Crystal
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The Crystal was designed by Perkins+Will and Wilkinson Eyre Architects and was built in 2011 by Siemens. Based in London, this renowned building is not only a sustainability landmark with exhibitions that excite tourists and locals alike, but is also one of the most environmentally-friendly buildings ever created. First, this design runs on natural light and is powered by photovoltaic solar panels. When there is a lack of sunlight, the building automatically utilizes LED and fluorescent light, which use far less energy compared to other types of light sources. Additionally, this building is shaped in a unique way in which the roof collects rainwater which then undergoes sewage treatment, resulting in quickly-produced, purified drinking water. Lastly, most of the energy used in this building is powered by solar or geothermal sources, both of which are examples of practical clean energy production for architects taking inspiration from the building. The Crystal has won several prestigious awards for embodying a highly productive sustainable building.
- Pixel Building
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The Pixel Building is located in Melbourne, Australia, and was constructed in 2011 as a sustainable commercial center which has since inspired several new projects. It stands as Australia’s first carbon-neutral building and has a very unique, stylized appearance. The fact that it is 100% carbon neutral means that the amount of carbon absorbed is equal to the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere. When this balance is perfectly stable, fossil fuel burning is followed by equal amounts of carbon sequestration, resulting in net-zero carbon emissions.
The innovative design of the Pixel Building also offsets the carbon used in constructing and maintaining the building through solar panels, “double glazed” windows, natural sunlight reliance, proper ventilation, and vertical wind turbines, all of which decrease the need for non-renewable energy dependence. Additionally, it consists of a green roof that catches rainfall, providing the building with the water it needs. The Pixel Building is the first building to receive a perfect Green Star score. Green Star is an environmental-rating system that determines how sustainable buildings really are through their energy use, water management, emission levels, indoor air quality, land use, and other indicators.
As proven by the exciting sustainable design examples above, innovators around the world have been hard at work in designing and constructing new buildings that will better suit our lives and help fight the dangers of climate change.
In our near future, we are likely to see sustainable buildings built more frequently and more globally, as they may well become a part of our daily ways of life. After all, a cleaner environment must start with cleaner, more environmentally-friendly architecture. For more examples of sustainable design architecture, check out this website!
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