Officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in April 2010, the John Hope Gateway just won the 2011 RICS Annual Sustainability Award thanks to its use of low-energy, waste-reducing sustainable systems. The
The building was constructed using not only locally-sourced materials, but also according to historical tradition and with local labor. No outsourcing of labor here! Even the golf course was developed
The buildings are oriented in order to ensure the right amount of solar gain during all seasons, keeping them warm during winter but sufficiently cool during the summer. Upstairs, the white walls act as
The ecosanctuary protects native animals and plants and has even helped endangered species find a home. A huge, highly specialized pest-proof fence surrounds the sanctuary to keep out mammals such as
Photo © Ross Evans The massive stone walls of the original home were doomed to failure as they were set on top of a sandy foundation and further eroded by treasure hunters searching for buried gold. A
When the community of Sra Pou, Cambodia was relocated from the city of Phnom Penh to the countryside, their new home was severely lacking in basic infrastructure, a secure environment and a sustainable
Mali’s National Park, located inside the capital city of Bamako, is now home to a modern complex that reaches deep into the nation's architectural past. Designed by celebrated architect Francis Kéré,
Oriented on an east-west axis, the southern facade was designed to absorb the sun, while the eastern side rises up to look into the nature preserve, and the western side, facing the neighbors, is covered
Located on the edge of a redwood forest with views over open meadows and streams, the treehouse restaurant is a magical integration of nature and function. Access to the pod is gained via a long low angle
Completed in 2006, the library is composed of two different volumes made from two different materials. The main volume houses the actual library on the first floor and a theater, a children's library,
Tucked in the woods near a mountain lake in Argentina is a rustic retreat that melts into the landscape.
Image © Birgir Teitsson Founded in 2008, Vatnajökull National Park is Europe's largest national park and is famous for the Vatnajökull glacier. ARKÍS won a competition to design one of the park's
Located in Suoi Re, Luong Son, in the Hoa Binh province, the community house was erected against a picturesque scene, leaning against mountains and facing an incredible valley. Contextually aware of its
Isn't there something perfect about the way these rustic WoodTec docking stations set off the ultra-modern lines of the iPad? Each one has been made by hand in New Paltz, New York from local cedar that
This Bahian house in Salvador is a five-bedroom home designed as a square with an interior courtyard. A reflecting pool on one side of the courtyard helps cool the air as breezes blow across it. Two large
Schnetzer and Gregor built upon what they learned from constructing modular pallet houses, improving upon their original design to make it even more affordable. In previous designs, the pallets were used
Photographs © Benjamin Benschneider/Courtesy Olson Kundig Architects Since architect Tom Kundig designed the house to be sunken into the site, some of the existing rock had to be cut away. While the
The new Supreme Court Building was completed in 2009 along with the renovation of the old High Court building. Rather than building a massive multi-story structure, Waren & Mahoney settled on a
The Sala Visitor Centre introduces visitors to local viticulture and oenology by offering local wines and fine dining. An exhibition on local wines serves as the entrance to the center, then visitors are
The original barnhouse was a u-shaped structure with space for livestock on one side and living quarters on the other, separated by a courtyard and a walkway. One of the arms of the structure was buried
Not only was the natural landscape of the mesa the inspiration for the design of the center, it was also the source of most of the construction materials. That probably explains why the structures look so
Pinakin Patel, a designer who first got his start creating picture frames in Mumbai, has released a new prefab luxury villa for India. The Hara Villa is a one bedroom retreat that can be erected anywhere
A lot of concept houses come across our desk here at Inhabitat, but we were really impressed with this design for eco-housing in Ghana. Designed by Lisbon-based Blaanc in collaboration with Architect
A box within a box, this simple house composed of mud bricks formed into a contemporary structure is an elegant synthesis of old and new. Built in Marfa, Texas, a town better known for the artist Donald
Searching for thrills at New York Design Week? Look no further - Inhabitat favorite Uhuru Design has just revealed an undulating roller coaster chair made of wood reclaimed from the demolished Coney
Madonna is giving back to the country that gave her David, her son, in a big way by building an eco-friendly academy for girls in Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe. Through her non-profit organization,
The building you see above may look like a gigantic piece of shredded wheat, but it's actually a (very) non-traditional tennis complex for Vaxjo, Sweden! David Tajchman, a Paris-based firm, designed the
At Inhabitat, we've been showing our support for COP15 by telling our readers about the need to take action on climate change. Various Architects in Oslo, Norway has taken a different path and did what
Hikers and bicyclists traveling through the foothills of Boedigheim, Germany now have a new place to stop, as construction was recently finished on this gorgeous Field Chapel. Designed and built by
