The Architecture of the City

A gallery of the buildings that house the industries working to preserve the planet's natural ecology.

 

We constantly hear about the "green revolution" in building, whether it's performative facades that reduce cooling needs or grey water recycling that cuts down on water usage. However, the drive to reduce our environmental impact isn't just about designing the next LEED Gold skyscraper.

Integral to our collective efforts are a unique set of green institutions and industries, all of which require special architecture to function. These organizations not only leave a light ecological footprint, they also find ways for us to do the same: whether reducing carbon emissions or engineering better seeds that can sustain our growing population. 

 

It's not just green design; it's design that promotes new ways of being green.

Via Lauren Moss

Located in Tenerife, one of the most populated islands in Spain, the second prize winning proposal for the ITER Building Technology Park settles in like a crater, relating to its volcanic surroundings.

Estudio Lunar‘s design consists of two elements, the first one contains the program which is situated in the terrain interacting with it; and the second element that is situated over the terrain and only touches it to create the main access in the north protecting the building from the prevalent winds coming from the north-east.

 

The roof of the building offers 2800 m2 for solar panels with the peak conditions. On the underground floors we have the most essential natural energetic systems: natural isolation, solar protection, cross ventilation, and thermic inertia. The underground levels take advantage of all the energy accumulated in the ground as a natural isolation, keeping a stable temperature during all the year without needing any additional energy contribution. The small courtyards system that organizes the program underground offers natural light and cross ventilation to renew the air inside...

Via Lauren Moss