We’ve seen a whole slew of gigantic, volcano shaped, city-in-a-building towers, each promising to be the largest building in the world. First it was the wacky X-Seed design for Tokyo, and then even Norman Foster got into the game with his proposal for the massive ‘Crystal Island’ development in Moscow. Well now, architect Eugene Tsui is taking the gigantic volcano tower concept to a whole new eco level, by taking design inspiration from the natural world. His new design for the Ultima Tower – a 2-mile high Mt Doom-esque structure – borrows design principles from trees and other living ystem to reduce its energy footprint. We are always intrigued by architecture that uses biomimicry – the borrowing of principles from nature’s designs – and Tsui’s concept for this towering, ultra-dense urban development has certainly captured our attention with its thought-provoking design.

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", "sustainable development", 2 mile high building, Eugene Tsui, gigantic eco tower, Gigantic volcano tower, green architeccture, Green Building, green skyscrapers, megacities, megatowers, mile high eco city, mile high structure, mountain skyscraper, super towers, sustainable design, Two mile high tower, Ultima Tower, urban housing, urban migration, worlds biggest tower

Pittsburgh will soon see the completion of its first skyscraper to be constructed in 20 years. Dubbed Three PNC Plaza, the structure will be situated in downtown Pittsburgh and will be one of the largest environmentally sustainable mixed-use high-rises in the United States. The glossy green superstructure will employ a variety of sustainable strategies and is aiming for LEED certification.

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", astorino, Gensler, green skyscraper, leed certified, leed skyscraper, Paladino & Company, pittsburgh, three pnc plaza

The construction industry is booming in India, and skyscrapers are lining the country’s skyline. Much of this development does not integrate sustainable features, however many architects and planners have realized the importance of green building practices, and many new buildings and housing projects have adopted green technologies. In line with these developments, India’s new Cyber Park IT hub is vying to be one of the greenest sites in the country.

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Post tags: Christopher Charles Benninger Architects, green building Gurgaon, green building India, greenit1, India information technology, India IT, Landmark Cyber Park, Landmark Cyber Park India, sustainable building Gurgaon, sustainable building India

The United States’ first net-zero community is coming soon to Arvada Colorado! Dubbed Geos, the development will employ a sterling roster of alternative energy strategies to cut its consumption fossil fuels and become completely self-sustainable. Lately we’ve seen a slew of similar communities springing up around the world, from Canada to India to Estonia and we couldn’t be happier, since it’s future-forward communities such as these that are paving the pathway to a brighter future.

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Post tags: "solar energy", arvada colorado, geos, geos colorado, geothermal energy, net-zero energy, solar community, Sustainable Building, sustainable community

Taking a cue from eco-friendly skyscrapers and cars, religious places have started adopting sustainable technologies in the right earnest. The latest to join the green bandwagon is San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral. The San Francisco landmark will install a solar photovoltaic power system to meet its energy requirements, bringing yet another green idea to boost the city’s eco credentials.

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Post tags: Grace Cathedral San Fran, Grace Cathedral San Francisco, Grace Cathedral solar power, green building San Francisco, renewable energy San Francisco, solar power San Francisco, solar powered religious centers, sustainable building San Francisco, sustainable religious centers

Everything from buildings to resorts to cars to temples are donning the green mantle. The latest to join this list of sustainable structures is the Keilder Observatory in the UK. Located in Northumberland and designed by Charles Barclay Architects, this stunning structure stands an an example of self-sustainable architecture that is equally inspiring in both form and function.

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Post tags: Charles Barclay Architects, Charles Barclay Architects UK, green building astronomy, green building UK, Kielder Observatory, Kielder Observatory UK, Northumberland UK, sustainable design UK, sustainable science buildings

According to the Planning Commission, India will need to generate at least 700,000 MW of additional power by 2030 to meet growing electricity demands. India will certainly be looking towards alternative energy sources to generate a substantial portion of this energy. Although solar energy production in India accounted for a mere 1.7% of the world total in 2007 (80 megawatt peak (MWp) power compared to a world total of 4,700 MWp), several great green strides have been taken by the country to harness the immense potential of solar energy. The latest example of this future forward thinking is Rabi Rashmi Abasan, India’s first completely green housing project.

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Post tags: "solar energy", BIPV India, building integrated solar photovoltaics, India green building, India Rabi Rashmi Abasan, India solar community, India solar energy, Rabi Rashmi Abasan

The Drake Landing Solar Community is the first solar powered community of North America. Located in the town of Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, the project sets a wonderful example of how every household can lead a sustainable lifestyle. There are 800 solar panels located throughout the community on garage roofs, and they produce 1.5 mega-watts of thermal power during a summer day and supply heat to the district heating system. The whole system meets 90% of the annual heating and hot water needs of the homes.

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Post tags: Drake Landing Alberta Canada, Drake Landing Solar Community, Okotoks solar community, solar thermal community, solar thermal community Canada, solar-thermal energy, solar-thermal heating

The Singapore skyline has been getting greener these days with new developments from some of the world’s most renown architects. The latest design to join the trend is a new futuristic green building from architect Ken Yeang named Fusionopolis. A research and development complex, this structure will adorn Singapore as the island nation’s most eco-friendly skyscraper.

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Post tags: Fusionopolis Ken Yeang, Fusionopolis research center, Fusionopolis Singapore, green building Singapore, green building skyscrapers, Ken Yeang architecture, Ken Yeang green building, Ken Yeang Singapore, sustainable design, sustainable design Singapore

Dubai has the knack of adopting green technologies and integrating them into sustainable development projects, giving rise to marvels like Rotating Wind Power Tower, DuBiotech, High-Tech Cybertechture, and many more. The latest project to appear on the horizon is Xeritown, an urban complex designed to work in harmony with the environment of the region through site specific and climate sensitive architecture and planning.

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Post tags: desert climate Dubai, desert development Dubai, Dubailand development, green building Dubai, site sensitive architecture Dubai, sustainable design Dubailand, sustainable development Dubai, X-Architects Dubai, Xeritown sustainable city Dubai

Spirituality seems to be taking a green course. The world’s largest solar kitchen has been installed by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University and Academy for a Better World. And now a Hindu religious and cultural center in California has taken significant steps towards sustainability including running on solar power, reducing energy consumption and a plethora of planting trees. Currently under construction, this religious meeting place is being built as a place of love, peace and harmony, and protecting the environment is part of the vision.

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Post tags: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Cultural Center, Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, California energy efficiency, Chino California, energy efficiency cultural centers California, green building Hindu temples, Hindu religious centers California, solar powered religious places, solar powered temple, sustainable design religion

Seems like everywhere we turn these days there’s green news on the Olympic front. We’ve written about the London 2012 Olympics stadium and Beijing’s Olympic Stadium. And now, even as the 2008 Summer Games have yet to start, the 2010 Winter Olympics are making headlines with the intent to become the green envy of eco-minded Olympic planning committees everywhere. The 2010 Winter Olympics Athletes’ Village will be built to a remarkably high level of sustainability and meet the LEED standards.

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Post tags: 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, 2010 Winter Olympics, Beijing stadium, Beijing Summer Olympics 2008, HOK's London Olympic stadium, London Olympic Games 2010, Olympic Village green building, Olympic village Vancouver, Olympic Village Vancouver green building, Olympic Village Vancouver LEED certification

One of the most effective ways to cut down the ecological footprint of buildings is to follow the lead of nature through biomimicry. Habitat 2020 is a future forward example of biomimetic architecture that fuses high-tech ideas with basic cellular functions to create ‘living’ structures that operate like natural organisms. This nature-inspired approach to city living looks at the urban landscape as a dynamic and ever-evolving ecosystem. Within this cityscape, buildings open, close, breathe and adapt according to their environment.

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Post tags: biomimetic architecture, biomimicry architecture, China green architecture, energy efficiency buildings, Green Building, Habitat 2020, living architecture, living structures, Off-grid membrane, smart buildings

Hidden Valley Cabins is Australia’s first carbon neutral resort and tour company. The solar powered getaway is located one and half hours northwest of Townsville, near Running River on the western slope of the Paluma range in Queensland, Australia. This is Australia’s first stand-alone resort that operates solely on solar power, and saves 78 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year!

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Post tags: eco resorts Australia, green building carbon neutral, Hidden Valley resort, Hidden Valley resort Australia, Hidden Valley tour operator, Paluma range travel Australia, Queensland Australia resorts, Solar Power, solar powered resort Australia

Rickshaws, or cycle rickshaws, are a popular mode of human-powered transportation all around the world. The higher tech electric version of the foot-pedalled rickshaws has been gaining popularity recently, as it is an important sustainable mode of transport across developing nations. Now, London-based research and design company Solar Lab is working on a solar-powered rickshaw that will be the first human powered hybrid vehicle – combining pedal power with energy from rooftop photovoltaics.


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Post tags: emissions free transportation, emissions free vehicles, human-powered transportation, hybrid rickshaw, hybrid vehicles, inner city transit, pedal powered rickshaw, solar hybrid vehicles, Solar powered rickshaw, SolarLab London, SolarLab rickshaw, SolarLab rickshaw London, urban transit

It’s not often that we get to talk about airports but there is a lot happening in the aviation industry. One landmark development is the proposed construction of a new terminal at Shenzen Bao’an International Airport in China. Positioned as a gateway to China and designed by architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, the terminal will no doubt be a sleek transit destination. What has captured our attention is the incredible double skin canopy intended to let patterned natural light into the space, and significantly reduce energy consumption.

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Post tags: china, double skin canopy, eco friendly aviation, Shenzen Bao’an

Half a million tons of e-waste is generated annually in India and is a serious threat to people’s health and the environment. The flourishing Indian IT sector contributes a large part of it. The disposal of this waste is a big problem and the waste leaves a huge carbon footprint. E-waste in India is dismantled and recycled manually in a hazardous, unorganized and unsafe manner. However, a new service launched in Mumbai could soon change the face of e-waste recycling and disposal in India.

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Post tags: carbon footprint, e-waste, India, Mumbai, Waste

Dubai has garnered much attention in recent years with a never-ending supply of architectural wonders being built, or proposed, at a head spinning pace. Mostly these towering structures are grand and tall, but some are also green. We’ve covered many an ambitious Dubai skyscraper scheme here at Inhabitat, including David Fisher’s Rotating Tower, but there is new news from Fisher’s Dynamic Architecture firm. This self-sufficient, sun and wind powered design is making headlines once again as the Italian-Israeli architect has just unveiled the latest design for his twirling tower, and construction is set to begin this month!

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Post tags: "wind power", "wind turbine", David Fisher, dubai, Dubai skyscraper, Dynamic Architecture, rotating tower, Sustainable Building

Indian Railways has traveled many miles of tracks since its introduction in 1853. However, anyone who has traveled on Indian trains is fully aware that the facilities on board are lacking in more ways than one. Unhygienic toilets reeking of human excreta have left many a traveler with an unpleasant experience, and have been an environmental burden as well. But things are starting to change for the better. Indian rails will soon boast eco-friendly toilets, thanks to an initiative from the Honorable Minister of Railways Laloo Prasad Yadav.


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Post tags: eco-toilets Indian Railways, India by rail, Indian Railways, Indian train travel, rail travel in India, tourism in India, travel in India

A new green complex from world renowned architecture firm Foster + Partners will be adding more than a dash of green to the Singapore skyline. As sustainability becomes an essential ingredient to development in this island nation, the UK-based firm is leaving no stone unturned to make good use of alternative energy sources in this 150,000 square meter mixed-use project. As the winning design from an international competition, Singapore’s new eco-complex from Foster + Partners is pushing the green envelope from top to bottom in this sophisticated downtown design.

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Post tags: eco-complex Singapore, Foster + Partners Singapore, Foster + Partners UK, geothermal cooling skyscrapers, green building Asia, green building Foster + Partners, green building Singapore, sustainable design Singapore