Top 5 favorite green buildings around the world
Spring may not be here just yet, but its warm breath definitely breezes the air. Even the sun dares to take a peek from behind the clouds more often. While we wait for the trees to flourish and contribute to this atmosphere, let’s dive amidst five of our favourite eco-friendly buildings in the world.
ACROS Fukuoka
The green heart of Fukuoka. Cultural and information centner, the complex serves as a place for international exchange of ideas and practices and a method to spread the regional culture. In other words, ACROS Fukuoka wants to enrich the culture and improve the lives not only of the locals, but also of all the foreign guests.
But that’s not what’s most impressive. The complex is literally overflowing with greenery worthy of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The terraced plantations make it look like nature itself sheltered this little island of tranquillity in its arms. The roof was converted into a spacious lawn and the road to it is filled with benches. The view from the top will surely take your breath away.
Biosciences Research Building (BRB)
We continue our journey to the windy Galloway. Its shores regularly fall victim to severe storms that don’t stand for the most… um, favourable climate. However, a building awaits us there which almost never turns its heating on. The Biosciences Research Building is equipped with high-tech machines that require a substantial amount of energy. But nevertheless manages to limit its costs of electricity.
The secret lies in the internal layout of the premises. The laboratories are located in the middle and the offices occupy the periphery. This allows employees to open their windows instead of using the built-in ventilation system. The corridors on the periphery serve as “thermal sweater” which retains the heat generated inside the centner and helps with the heating during cold months. Really elegant solution.
La fábrica
Who would have thought that you can live in a cement factory? Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, that’s who. In 1973 he bought the abandoned complex dating from World War I because he saw it as a well of infinite possibilities. What follows are 45 years in which Bofill and his team set out to renovate the building’s exterior and transform the interior into a modern and comfortable living space.
Transformations continue. Bofill continuously improves the factory on order to fit his own vision and way of life. The chimneys that were once drowning the sky over Barcelona in thick smoke are now overflowing with greenery. Wonderful example of the power of determination and creativity – qualities we highly value in Escreo.
Manitoba Hydro Place
Headquarters of the power company Manitoba Hydro, located in the province of Manitoba, Canada. In May 2012 it received LEED Platinum Certification, making it the most energy efficient buildings across North America. The bioclimatic concept is set long before construction. Today it’s incorporated into 115-meter solar chimney, geothermal ventilation and heating system and 100% fresh air throughout its territory, regardless of hour and day. Therefore it’s one of the most energy efficient office buildings in the world which saves up to 70% of the electricity costs observed in other structures of its category.
It is noteworthy that the functionality of the tower fully meеts the company’s requirements without damaging the design. It’s located in Winnipeg, where the climate is very fickle – temperatures often range between -35 degrees Celsius during the winter and + 34 degrees Celsius during the summer. At the same time its costs are 100 kWh/m² – four times less than standard North American office buildings. Undoubtedly one of the most impressive green buildings in the world.
New Orleans Bioinnovation Center
A biotechnology incubator in New Orleans which calls itself “urban acupuncture” for the French Quarter. We tend to agree. The centner plays a significant role in providing new jobs in the area and reviving economy in the City of Crescent.
But that’s not all. The building transformed elements of local architecture in order to use only one third of the energy a standard laboratory would need in such hot and humid climate. Speaking of moisture – the building collects rain water and uses it for irrigation of plants in the incubator. Add to it approximately 20,000 gallons of condensed water from air conditioning systems and receive a worthy representative of the global green buildings.
Honorable mention: Nanjing Towers
The project for these Chinese buildings will be completed in 2018, but it already impressed us with its potential. Managed by the Italian architect Stefano Boeri, the towers will be home to more than 1,000 trees and 2,500 shrubs of 23 local species. All of them will produce approximately 60 litres of oxygen a day and have a difficult task to restore biodiversity in the region.
We looked at some of our favourite “hygienist” buildings. So let’s see who performs this role in the corporate world – we bring to your attention the copywriter.
