The Potential of Green Architecture

Green architecture, a style of architecture aimed at reducing human impact on the environment, has the potential to be one of the most promising solutions to urban climate change in the 21st century. Some styles of green architecture may already be familiar; rooftop gardens, large windows, and renewable energy methods are all some of the many features modern homes and buildings implement to reduce their environmental impact. However, many architects are beginning to take more radical approaches to this “green” style of architecture, focusing on building designs that center wholly around the pursuit of sustainability. In recent years, here a few of the most notable green buildings and their features:

ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall (Fukuoka, Japan) - In developing a patch of land adjacent to a large urban park, architect Emilio Ambasz sought to create a structure that would be both functional and non-disruptive to the natural landscape. His creative solution for this space was to design the hall with a series of terraces along the side of the building, creating space for an arrangement of trees and local vegetation to extend the size of its neighboring park. The extra green space occupied by trees is valuable for local biodiversity, as well as being appealing to the eye for those living in the area. Currently, the expansive habitats on the building is home to 120 varieties of and 50,000 total plants. The building also features large windows covering each side, providing a substantial amount of natural light to the inside. This structure provides a unique view into how sustainability and human enjoyment can work in harmony; each of the terraces is commonly used for activities like yoga and meditation, and the building also provides an ideal space for public use.

One Central Park (Melbourne, Australia) - Located in the heart of urban Melbourne, this green-covered complex is more obviously a structure built with sustainability in mind. On the site, there are two buildings standing adjacent to one another, covered with native plants and positioned in a way to provide shade for the balconies that extend between them. The building functions as a residential high-rise, but also includes public common areas and meeting spaces. One of the most striking features of the complex is the high energy savings provided by the plants, heliostats, and reflectors that can be found on the roofs and sides of each building; in the summertime, an incredible 30% of energy is saved annually. Not only is the building functionally sustainable, but it also is appealing to look at: the 270+ species of plants covering the buildings’ sides provide beautiful sites for pedestrians walking below. Its use of local biodiversity, sustainable energy methods, and unique design are sure to set a precedent for similar green buildings in the future.

The Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China) - This skyscraper, standing at 1,927 feet tall and 128 stories high, is renowned for its comprehensive sustainability. The tower is currently known as the most sustainable skyscraper in the world, as it includes numerous efficient energy production methods, rainwater harvesting, and wind load reducing design. The building itself was designed to rotate 120° from the base to the top, greatly reducing the wind load on the building, and thus the amount of raw materials needed to stabilize the structure. Wind turbines on the side of the building are one of the many efficient energy production methods of the building, allowing it to produce much of the energy needed for lighting and non-essential electric outputs. Though the exterior is the most noticeable sustainable design, the multitudes of carefully planned sustainable features of the building establishes it as one of the most successful green buildings constructed in recent history.

Torre Reforma (Mexico City, Mexico) - Currently standing as the tallest building in Mexico City, the Torre Reforma is an oddly shaped building occupying only 2,800 square meters of ground space. The building has an intriguing shape and an array of uniquely shaped windows, allowing natural light and air to enter in at different points. In part of its energy efficiency, the building utilizes automated window controls (for heating and cooling), water conservation systems, and naturally ventilated atria throughout the structure. The goal of this design is to allow the natural environment surrounding the building to regulate much of its internal features like temperature and cooling. Though it does not have the same visible greenery on its exterior as many other green structures, the conscious design of the building with sustainability in mind earned its place as one of the current most renowned green designs.

By Celia Hughes