green architecture sustainability
The shift cannot be denied. In the United States, Singapore, Italy, and Australia are some of the countries leading the way in green architecture. Before we go on and show you some truly interesting examples of green architecture construction, make sure to like this video and subscribe to Top Luxury. Let us know in the comments below which of these green architecture examples you like the most.
First, we must understand what a green architecture is. It is how the use of energy, water, land, and materials in buildings is made more efficient. This is in a bid to reduce the impact that the building has on the environment and slow down the rate of climate change. A green architecture, however, is much more challenging to construct, thereby expensive and time-consuming.
Since these buildings derive their power from sunlight, they need to be built in a place with good sunlight, something that can conflict with the planning of a community. A fantastic example is the One Central Park building in Sydney, Australia, standing at a height of 117 meters and being a prize-winning example of green architecture.
The building consists of two residential towers, the east tower and the west tower, and a six-story shopping mall at the towers’ base, which is fully lit by sunlight. Due to a variety of special features, One Central Park is globally famous as a superior building. The most striking among them include its hanging gardens, which suspend vertically, its massive mirror, and self-sustainability.
The Vertical Gardens of One Central Park
The vertical gardens of One Central Park are a living blanket of plants, flowers, and vines that extend over 50 meters, making it the tallest vertical garden in the world. The living wall consists of many individual plant boxes, each with its own irrigation system. The building houses 23 of these green architecture walls, with a total of 85,000 plants and 350 different species. Both exotic and Australian native plants, from well-known to rare species, have been included in the living wall.
A key factor in the success of the vertical gardens was that the plants did not need any soil to grow. Light, water, and nutrients are mechanically distributed to stimulate plant growth. The One Central Park complex features a large mirror on the eastern tower. Suspended from the 28th floor, it serves not only as a dominant design element for the building. But also as a way to reflect light into the gardens and the atrium below.
A series of motorized mirrors on the rooftop beneath it automatically tracks and reflects daylight up to the huge mirror, which consists of 220 individual panels. These panels then reflect light through the retail atrium, pedestrian area, pool terrace, and common areas. The mirror is transformed into a giant LED light display. At the heart of One Central Park is a commitment to sustainability and self-sufficiency. The complex meets both commitments with its own low-carbon natural gas power plant and an internal water recycling system that supplies all four thousand residents and fifteen thousand daily visitors.
The Vertical Forest in Milan
Another interesting example of green architecture is the Vertical Forest in Milan, also known as the Bosco Vertical. The Vertical Forest is a prototype building for a new format of architecture. Which focuses on the relationship between humans and other living species. Two 80-meter and 1-meter towers were completed in Milan’s Puerto Nuova area, with the first tower being completed in 2014.
The towers feature 100 trees, 15,000 plants, and 5,000 shrubs, creating a forest equal to a soccer field. Each tower has unique balconies for vegetation, allowing large tree growth without hindrance. So it’s a huge and strange version of a treehouse. We pre-cultivated the plants in a nursery for them to adapt to conditions similar to those that they would find on the balconies.
The plants create a shield around the building that filters the sun’s rays. At the same time, they also regulate humidity and improve air quality. These are qualities that won the project several important awards, including an award for the best tall building in the world in 2015. The building is highly recognizable, even at a distance. This has made the image of the Vertical Forest become a new symbol for Milan.
The Twisting Green Towers in Melbourn
Yet another exciting green architecture project is the Twisting Green Towers in Melbourne. Construction was approved in 2020 for it to be built, and it will make Australia’s tallest building. The 2 billion-dollar building will also be so tall that it will need approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and will create over 4,700 jobs.
The twisting 101-story Green Spine building will reach 356 meters high and stand about 30 meters taller than the Gold Coast Q1 building, which currently holds the Australian record.
The mixed-use building will have large luxury residential units, high-tech commercial offices, a five-star hotel, and public green architecture spaces. The huge rooftop garden will be open to the general public. As will the various green spaces inside the tower, called pocket parks. These pocket parks aim to induce nature into the building. While creating spaces where the neighborhoods can connect for a better sense of community.
