Creators of the world's very first vertical forest, Stefano Boeri Architetti (SBA) has recently unveiled plans for its third verdant vertical structure: the Mountain Forest Hotel. To be constructed in Guizhou, China, this magnificent 250-room building attempts to emulate the natural topography of the 10 Thousand Peaks valley, located in the same region. Like the…
Located in Juluchuca, near Acapulco in Mexico, the Playa Viva resort is a tiny haven surrounded by palm trees on one side and the ocean on the other. The resort is also home to a stunning, cylindrical treehouse that boasts impressive eco-friendly credentials. Fashioned out of locally-sourced bamboo, the solar-powered structure features an unusual design…
While the above pictured building might not seem to be an outright architectural marvel from the elevation perspective, it is what is inside that matters. To that end, the new (one-year old) headquarters of Australia's largest health insurer, Medibank, might just notch it up a level when it comes to the scope of employee healthiness.…
Laos, a land famous for its beautiful Buddhist architecture, stunning natural landscape and incredibly diverse wildlife, is quickly becoming a new favorite among tourists. One of the chief attractions is the Nam Nern Night Safari in the renowned Nam Et-Phou Louey Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA). Located in the northern part of the country, and encompassing…
A growing trend, in architecture, is the use of alternative building materials that are less damaging to the environment. Considered to be one of the fastest-growing woody plants around, bamboo provides a sustainable and low-impact solution to building homes, especially in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Leaving behind the glamorous world of fashion, Ibuku-founder Elora…
Tiny homes are quite the rage in the low impact side of the architectural realm. But snowboarder Mike Basich surely pushed the celebrity side of affairs for such type of architecture, with his nigh unbelievable 228 sq self-sustaining home near Truckee, California. The interesting part is - this totally off-grid house was built on an…
Months ago, we talked about China's Tiantai No.2 Primary School that features an entire race-track upon its roof. Well, Chartier Dalix Architectes have arguably done one better by designing a French primary school in Paris (in an wholly renovated industrial area) that is literally topped off with a green eco-system. This in turn alludes to…
Boasting of a whopping 40,000 sq m (430,000 sq ft) of area, Deloitte's new headquarters at Amsterdam, designed by PLP Architecture, is not just about gargantuan coverage. The imposing building christened as 'The Edge' has been heralded as the most sustainable office building on the face of our planet, with BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment…
The primary vision of Atelier 8000 was to conceive a sustainable mountain hut design that is to be built atop Slovakia’s High Tatras Mountains. Conceptualized as an entry for Kežmarská Chata (Kežmarská Hut) international competition, the end result is something much more than just a specimen of low-impact architecture. It flaunts its visual flair with…
Looking for a weekend getaway? Try the incredibly beautiful Till House or Casa Till, nestled among the hills of Chile's Los Arcos. Though strictly not a cabin, the warmth and comfort of this quaint wooden house is quite similar to that of a retreat cabin. (more…)