ACROS: A Giant Japanese Pyramid Blanketed in Green Grass

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/06/03/pyramid-farm-vertical-agriculture-for-2060/">Pyramid architecture</a> always catches our attention, and this gorgeous grass-clad example in Japan has us drooling - especially because it actually exists (not usually the case with these types of megastructures). Okay, you caught us - the building, called <a href="http://www.acros.or.jp/english/04_acros.html">ACROS</a>, isn't really a pyramid (it's more like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat">ziggurat</a>), but whatever you call it, you can't deny the awe that its enormous terraced green roof inspires. Alive with 5,000 thriving plants representing 76 species, the mixed use structure that spills into a park serves as a calming oasis for the city of Fukuoka.

When <a href="http://www.emilioambaszandassociates.com/portfolio/portfolio.cfm?Pid=7">Emilio Ambasz &amp; Associates</a> designed the building, there were tasked with maintaining the adjacent park, which happened to be the only remaining green space left in the whole city.

We think they did a brilliant job of integrating the stepped <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-roof/">green roof</a> into the park - it almost appears as if the grass from the roof is spilling right into the grassy knoll with no interruption of flow.

The exterior of the building is certainly impressive but the space inside is well thought out as well. More than one million square feet of space lies under the 14 one-story high <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/03/green-roofed-hillside-homes-blend-into-their-environs/">terraces</a>, and is more than enough room for the exhibition hall, museum, theater, conference facilities, government and private offices, parking lot and retail spaces.

ACROS is a surprising building in more ways than one. If you were approaching the building from one side, all you would see is a typical, glass-walled office building. But the other side is an urban oasis!

A look at the lush terraces from above.

Having a green roof saves both energy and money and it reduces runoff from rainwater. Not to mention the fact that it looks amazing and has such a cooling, calming effect for urbanites used to the concrete jungle.