Lance Hosey, like all of us, was a little perturbed at the Vanity Fair A-List, which gave no real credit to green architecture and was more about celebrity architecture than anything. So Hosey decided to conduct his own survey and asked 150 green building experts and advocates — including architects, engineers, educators, and critics from the U.S., the UK, Europe, and Asia — to name “the five most-important green buildings since 1980,” using whatever criteria they liked. He took the first 52 responses, just like VF did and compiled a list of 18 buildings.
Some interesting results of the G-List survey as compared to the A-List reveal that the G-List is much more progressive, with the average age of the buildings numbering seven years compared to Vanity Fair’s list, which was 17 years. As Hosey says, “the A-List seems riddled with nostalgia.” Another interesting revelation is that not a single building repeats itself in either list, and not a single American architecture firm is included.
The survey for the G-List announced the California Academy of Sciences by Renzo Piano Workshop as the top green building of the 21st century. What do you think about the G-List — is it a welcome respite to Vanity Fair’s A-List?
Via Architect Magazine
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The world of architecture has mounted a bit of a backlash against the celebrity architecture list that Vanity Fair published earlier this summer. If you’ve checked out the list, you’ll notice there is a shocking lack of green architecture, and a lot of
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Adam Joseph Lewis Center at Oberlin College
Taking the top seat in the G-List with 13 votes, the Adam Joseph Lewis Center at Oberlin College was honored as the most impressive green building constructed since 1980. Designed by Inhabitat favorite + is
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California Academy of Sciences
In second place with 11 votes, the California Academy of Sciences by Renzo Piano Workshop includes a stunning, undulating green roof dotted with skylights. Completed in 2008, the beautiful LEED Platinum institution an a
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Genzyme Center
The Genzyme Center in Cambridge, MA collected 9 votes for its LEED Platinum biotech facility, which includes a high performance curtainwall glazing system, a 32% water consumption offset, and extensive indoor gardens. Designed by Behnisch, Behnisch, and Partners out of Venice, California, Genzyme Center’s natural light enhancement system brings natural light in through a series of roof-mounted heliostats.
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Beddington Zero Energy Development
With 7 points total, the Beddington Zero Energy Development/BedZed is an impressive residential and office space development in the London borough of Sutton. Designed by architect Bill Dunster, it is a carbon-neutral community with lots of green spaces, recycling facilities, water saving fixtures, and a legally-binding green transport plan.
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One Bryant Park
One Bryant Park, the only skyscraper included in the list, garnered 6 votes on the G List. Designed by Cook + Fox Architects and Gensler, the NYC skyscraper is one of the first to receive LEED Platinum certification and includes its own co-generation plant, natural ventilation, eco-friendly materials and rainwater collection.
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Dockside Green
Dockside Green, a high-scoring, LEED Platinum residential community with a host of honors to its name, got 4 votes in the survey. Located in Victoria B.C., the carbon neutral community is highly energy efficient, treats 100% of its wastewater, and features a ton of other green building strategies.
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Omega Center for Sustainable Living
Located in upstate New York, the Omega Center for Sustainable Living grabbed 4 votes in the survey. Achieving both LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge Certification, the center is a state-of-the art environmental education and water reclamation facility that works to educate visitors on Omega’s ongoing environmental initiatives, including innovative wastewater strategies.
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Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center in Wisconsin was the first ever LEED Platinum, carbon neutral building, and it received 4 votes in the G-List survey. The building produces 15% more energy than it consumes with its solar photovoltaic
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Druk White Lotus School
The Druk White Lotus School in Ladakh, India, designed by Arup and completed in 2005, took home 4 votes in the survey. Constructed from locally-sourced materials, the beautiful school and library include ventilated Trombe wool
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