We really mean it when we say that design will save the world, and we've gathered up 15 incredible underground cities, vertical farms, bio-fuel power plants and skyscrapers that we think illustrate that point quite nicely. Taking inspiration from the cities around the world for which they were conceived, these incredible new designs comprise advancements in sustainable development, clever re-use of materials, and mixed-use buildings, but they also give us hope that we do have what it takes to cope with burgeoning population growth and spatial decline. Flip through for a comprehensive look at what the future of our world might look like.
Finalists in the 2011 eVolo Skyscraper competition, these innovative buildings address a unique set of environmental and social challenges. The Nomad Skyscraper featured at the top of this article, for example, is designed for the 21st century nomad and its re-purposed containers can be shipped from city to city and “plugged in,” creating a sense of homecoming regardless of physical location.
Featured together, these 15 buildings give us a fantastic sense of what is possible when people apply ingenuity and commitment to sustainability to design.
