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
.jpg?1482849369 "© Federico Cairoli")
.jpg?1482849395 "© Federico Cairoli")
02. Lacapelle-del-fraisse / Atelier du Rouget Simon Teyssou & associés
.jpg?1482849419 "© Christophe Camus")
.jpg?1482849427 "© Christophe Camus")
.jpg?1482849437 "© Christophe Camus")
.jpg?1482849445 "© Christophe Camus")
03. Tarrawarra Abbey / Baldasso Cortese Architects
04. GPL House / Estudio BLT
05. Casa Scout / BAAG
06. Silvina and Omar House / IR arquitectura
.jpg?1482849585 "© Federico Cairoli")
.jpg?1482849592 "© Federico Cairoli")
.jpg?1482849616 "© Federico Cairoli")
.jpg?1482849624 "© Federico Cairoli")
07. Edificio Consorcio Santiago / Enrique Browne + Borja Huidobro
08. Once Building / Adamo Faiden
09. Green Cast / Kengo Kuma & Associates
10. Pasaje Cabrer Collective Housing / AFRa
11. Eco Boulevard in Vallecas / 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
13. Lienzo de Barro House / Chaquiñán
.jpg?1482849911)
.jpg?1482849904 "via © Chaquiñán")
14. Centro Holístico Punto Zero / Dio Sustentable
15. Museum & Biodiversity Research Center / Guinée et Potin Architects
16. Zenkonyu / Tadashi Saito + Atelier NAVE
17. 21st Century Vernacular House / Edra arquitectura km0
18. Bamboo Wing / Vo Trong Nghia
19. El Guadual Children Center / Daniel Joseph Feldman Mowerman + Iván Dario Quiñones Sanchez
20. Hostal and Capacitation Center / IR arquitectura
.jpg?1482850239)
21. Kontum Indochine Café / Vo Trong Nghia Architects
22. Temporary Pavillion at UNAM / México
23. Snow House / 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
25. Bioclimatic Dwelling in Tenerife / Ruiz Larrea y Asociados
26. World's First Prefabricated Carbon Positive House / ArchiBlox
27. Dixon Water Foundation Josey Pavilion / Lake|Flato Architects
28. Nest We Grow / College of Environmental Design UC Berkeley + Kengo Kuma & Associates
29. Casa Meztitla / EDAA
30. Quito Publishing House / Estudio A0
