Amazing building made from 1.5 million plastic bottles withstands fires and earthquakes

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/plastic-bottles/" target="_blank">Plastic bottle</a> architecture is fantastic at turning a problem into an eco-friendly opportunity. The amazing EcoARK in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/taipei/" target="_blank">Taipei</a>, Taiwan is one such example. Built from 1.5 million recycled plastic bottles, this massive pavilion is surprisingly strong enough to withstand the forces of nature—including fires and earthquakes! Designed by architect Arthur Huang, the nine-story $3 million USD pavilion is powered by solar energy and was built to the mantra of “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.”

Constructed for use as an exhibition hall during the 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, the EcoARK pavilion continues to spread its message of sustainability for seven years strong.

To spread awareness about plastic waste, the Far Eastern Group, one of the world’s largest producers of PET products, commissioned architect and Miniwiz founder Arthur Huang to design and build the eco-friendly EcoARK.

Though Taiwan is home to one of the world’s most respected recycling programs, the country consumes a whopping 4.5 million PET bottles a year.

The key to the EcoARK design lay with polli-bricks, a hollow building block made of recycled PET developed by Miniwiz.

The key to the EcoARK design lay with polli-bricks, a hollow building block made of recycled PET developed by Miniwiz.

The blow-molded polli-bricks feature interlocking grooves that fit tightly together like LEGOs and only require a small amount of silicon sealant.

Once assembled into flat rectangular panels, the polli-bricks are coated with a fire- and water-resistant film.

The EcoARK’s curved and transparent facade is made up of these modular panels screwed and mounted onto a structural steel frame.

Although the EcoARK weighs half as much as conventional buildings, it’s resistant to earthquakes and typhoons, and can withstand sustained winds up of to 130 kilometers per hour.

The pavilion was built with low-carbon building techniques to maintain a zero-carbon footprint during operation.

The building stays cool without air conditioning thanks to natural ventilation.

The air inside the polli-bricks also provides insulation from heat and rainwater is collected and reused to cool the building.

The polli-bricks’ transparency allows natural light to illuminate the interior during the day.

Solar- and wind-powered systems generate the electricity needed to power 40,000 LEDs that light the building up at night.

EcoARK recycled plastic bottle building in Taipei

EcoARK recycled plastic bottle building in Taipei

EcoARK recycled plastic bottle building in Taipei

EcoARK recycled plastic bottle building in Taipei