Looking at the LEED Silver building, or the Koll Airport Professional Center it would be difficult to believe that this was once an industrial building. The old building wasn’t razed to the ground to build this one, in fact, LPA Inc., which was hired by the Koll Company, has transformed the old building giving it a new look.

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Modern houses are becoming more and more eco-friendly and that is because big names like William McDonough and Partners are coming up with paradigms like the Cradle to Cradle design theories. A recent structure in New Orleans developed as a part of the Make it Right initiative also uses the same design theory.

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I have been looking at a lot into greener structures of late and this iteration from  architect Robert Ferry has captivated my imagination the most. It was an entrant at a design competition in Dubai which required him to design a tall emblem for the Za’abeel Park. Sadly, it was rejected.

Nonetheless, the Almeisan Tower does give us a glimpse into the future leaving us mesmerized with the way things could shape up. This tower isn’t just a place for recreation. The 600kW solar tower makes it a capable energy grid good enough to power the structures within and the park as well, of course.

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The concept of urban farming has taken the shape of the wings of a dragonfly in the Roosevelt Island in New York City. The initiative aims at relieving shortage of food as well as “reconnecting” consumers with producers.

Dragonfly Vertical Farm in New York

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In the modern era, sustainable living has to be a priority if we care about our planet. Laguna Beach is thronged with architecture that defines sustainable living at its best as it has long embraced the environmentalist movement. The latest addition to the Laguna Beach is the Susi Q Senior and Community Center.

The building has been laid on a 8,200 square feet area. It has been designed by LPA Architects, built by Swinerton Builders, while the project management was taken care of by Griffin Structures.

It is not just about the ‘obvious’ contemporary space with clean lines, there are sustainable design elements which can be used as a benchmark for other architectural structures.

Natural daylight is ensured using skylights and solar tubes. There are operable aluminum-clad windows and water efficiency is warranted using drip irrigation and water efficient fixtures.

Most of the building material used is recycled content and 75% of the construction waste has been recycled back again. Cooling is an important factor in islands and therefore the heat island reduction is done using cool roofs.

Looks like a lovely place, isn’t it? [via Jetsongreen]

Here is a mighty good example of how apparently “useless” objects— however big they are, could be put to good use.

Since the officials of the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, were not prepared to let go waste three abandoned sewage treatment silos, they invited proposals, on a competitive basis, in order to settle on the best use that these structures can be put to use.

An interesting and practical proposal came from NL Architects, based in Amsterdam, suggesting that the huge silos be turned into climbing towers. The silos would also house multi-purpose areas, offices, restaurants and such other commercial spaces.

According to the plan put forward by NL Architects, in the fashion of the Denmark Water Tower Renovation, the roofs of two towers of Amsterdam’s silos could be extended up to 18 meters – the maximum height the towers could support.

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South-East Asia may be the next best sandbox available for eco-friendly architects. After Dubai, Taiwan is embracing that green wave of change with a new and enterprising structure that will soon become the imposing headquarters of Chinatrust Bank.

Designed by the Los Angeles office of NBBJ along with local architects from Fei & Cheng Associates, the structure is set for completion in 2012. When all done, it will incorporate the best of traditional Chinese design with green features to create an ambient and tranquil atmosphere that saves on energy immensely.

The Chinatrust Bank development will consist of a 30-story headquarters building, a 21-story commercial office building, a 10-story hotel, and a four-level retail center. But the brilliant-green aspect is that it will incorporate eco-friendly aspects such as podium covered in lush roof gardens, that helps reducing rainwater runoff and urban-heat-island effect. And although it doesn’t make the structure a zero-energy building, it’s still “enough” (never enough, eh?)  to make it the Taiwanese equivalent of a LEED-NC Gold rating.

With skylights, floor-to-ceiling windows and optimized natural lighting options, much of the energy otherwise wasted for artificial lighting is cut out. It seems only natural that more and more office structures and home edifices are opting for such features as they save both on carbon emissions and lowered power bills.

Taiwan is taking steps further. There is inspiration and creativity, there is hope!

[Bustler via Ecofriend]

Park City in Utah is currently home to one of the most unique and exquisite works of green architecture and housing. The Tahoma Townhouse project that was developed by Baker Street Properties is a three townhouse community that has managed to bag the first Built Green Utah certified residential development in Park City.

The green venture creates luxurious homes that do not compromise on the style of interiors, the comfort factor for the residents and are as good as any other modern home when it comes to offering you the best.

But what makes the Tahoma project different and special is the way it integrates green technology along with comfort housing to create a stylish living space that saves on energy consumption. Each built unit of this green venture is 47% more efficient than a standard new home built today in USA and that has earned it its special status in Park City. The homes sport superb design, spacious interiors and plenty of in-built gadgetry that will pamper you senses.

The builders and developers view the amalgamation of high end finishes and products with energy saving features as a way to take forward the real estate business in the next few decades. Starting from $1.695 million, these homes are anything but affordable.

via JetsOnGreen
Photo credits: Scot Zimmerman.