It’s been a big year for green architecture and a landmark decade for green building awareness. Ten years ago, most people thought green building was still some hippy-dippy exercise in building grass-covered hobbit-huts, and now we know that not only can green building be modern and chic – it is also one of the best ways to combat climate change. Our passion for green building isn’t just that we are into environmental friendliness, but because green buildings are better designed, healthier, have lower energy bills, and are just plain smart. Read on for our top 6 green architecture stories of the year, and vote on your favorite!

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Post tags: 2009, Architecture, Green Building, high line, high line park, mk designs, Prefab, Prefab Housing, skyscrapers, top 5, top 6 architecture

The 2009 World Architecture Festival took place this week in Barcelona, drawing great minds to discuss, learn, share and award excellent architectural designs and completed projects. This year’s theme dealt with how to achieve Less With More and the relationship between cities and architecture, with climate change and sustainability playing key roles. The winners of the festival have been announced and we want to highlight four of the completed buildings that stand out for their environmentally sensitive and sustainable designs. Read on to see all of these noteworthy buildings.

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", 2009, Barcelona, Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre, Pearl Academy of Fashion, Restaurant Tusen, Unileverhaus, WAF 2009, winners, world architecture festival

Several months ago, Architecture for Humanity, in partnership with Orient Global, put designers all around the world to the test in their 2009 Open Architecture Challenge for the Classroom of the Future. The mission? Address the unique issues that schools everywhere are facing in order to provide innovative, cost-effective and sustainable learning spaces for students. Over 400 entries were submitted and the winners were just announced this week. Read on for our overview of the top 5 winning designs!

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Post tags: 2009, 2009 open architecture challenge, Architecture for Humanity, Open Architecture Challenge, Open Architecture Network, winners

If you’re in the market for new business cards or a cutting-edge new advertising medium, you should take a look at this brilliant idea – your message or logo etched right onto a real leaf, no paint necessary! The resulting leaves are simple, stunning when looked at against the sunlight, and the best part is that if they are thrown away, there is no adverse effect on the environment. Design Firm Tatil Design of Brazil came up with the elegant marketing idea, which they recently used in 2008 during the 55th Cannes Advertising Festival to promote their “Designing Naturally” workshop. Natural Medium, which is what they call their amazing laser cut leaves, was so popular and well received at the festival that it won the Bronze Award for the 2009 International Design Excellence Awards in Eco Design.

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Post tags: 2009, Add new tag, advertising, dried leaves, eco-friendly material, green marketing, idea, laser cut, laser printed, laser printed dried leaves, marketing, natural medium, sustainable material, tatil design

As part of the Euroluce exhibition at the Milan Furniture Fair, Royal Philips Electronics showcased a wide range of cutting edge LED lighting products. Our favorite designs on display were part of their newly debuted Ledino collection, an extensive range of stylish indoor and outdoor fixtures that provide 80% energy savings over standard incandescent bubs. The lights have a very low wattage and minimal CO2 emissions, but it is much more than their energy efficiency that makes these lights notable.

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Post tags: "energy efficiency", 2009, energy efficient lighting, Euroluce, green design, LED lighting, Milan Furniture Fair, sustainable design