Sustainable Building Around the World

This article looks at further examples of sustainable buildings around the world. Building to enhance the local environment, perhaps to blend in to the local (urban or rural) environment, is a key factor in design and planning considerations these days. Also, the future buildings architect, or owner often cites using materials from a certain proximity to the building site as an important factor. This can make design and construction a challenge, but certainly reduces the 'carbon footprint' of a building in its construction stage, and results in an extremely sustainable and commendable process.

Other factors that contribute to the sustainable nature of the building include what the materials used are: are they sourced from renewable resources, like timber? Or are they, once quarried or created, one-off and therefore unsustainable? Can the final building be considered sustainable in its usage: will it contain measures meant to reduce or prevent a carbon footprint?

These and many other factors should be taken into consideration when looking at buildings, and planning a 'new build' sustainable building.

Case Study: TAG McLaren HQ Building, Woking, UK

Architect Norman Foster has designed and built for the racing car manufacturer Mclaren, a stunning building for its headquarters: a building that literally hugs a man-made lake, which it utilises for the building's cooling system. This partnership between Architecture Firm and Technology Pioneers has resulted in a semi-circular glass-walled façade following the contour of the lake, shaded by a cantilevered roof.

The height of the building was stipulated to be only 11 metres above ground level, as a means to maintain minimum visual impact upon the environment. The lake water is pumped through a natural filtration system using reed beds, and it circulates through the building every 48 hours. The rainwater from the roof runoff goes directly into the lake.

Case Study: Roundhouse in Beverley Hills, USA

Architect Eli Attia is building a green roundhouse over 13,000 square feet of prime real estate for a client in Beverley Hills. This intriguingly shaped 3-storey building, which will include a basement, has some striking green features, including the main construction material being recycled steel, and a rainwater collection system from a garden on the roof. Attia is proud of his approach that uses shape to the buildings advantage in every way - from a solar energy perspective, right through to simple aesthetics.

Case Study: Arkin & Tilt Ecological Architects, California, USA

David Arkin is the principal architect of this very interesting firm that designs and builds ecologically all over California and Nevada. One residence, built in Douglas County, Nevada, boasts an expressive use of alternative construction; the use of solar technology in lighting and heating, the use of salvaged materials in construction. This property is regarded as 'virtually energy independent' due to careful consideration and use of shading, insulation and thermal mass techniques.

Other properties and public buildings in the firm's ecological portfolio, and available to see and read about on the companies website, make use of straw bale and rammed earth technique, including a 'sprayed earth' floor construction of 18' inch thickness, which again results in stable temperature control through thermal modulation.