With environmental concerns leading design and construction decisions around the world, a new build’s “green” credentials have become more important. 

Let’s take a look at 10 recently-constructed green buildings from around the world:

Pixel Building; Melbourne, Australia; designed by Decibel Architecture

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Australia’s first carbon-neutral office building
• Panels provide shade and maximize daylight
• Wastewater processed by supports
• Roof collects rainwater
• Vertical wind turbines

Bahrain World Trade Center 1 and 2; designed by Atkins

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Wind turbines mounted between towers generate electricity
• The shape of towers funnel wind to turbines
• Reflective tools at the base aid cooling by evaporation

The Edge; Amsterdam, Netherlands; designed by PLP Architecture

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Has a large atrium as its nucleus
• LED lighting connected to sensors that anticipate lighting needs
• The building’s skin is made of solar panels
• Pumping water from different levels in an aquifer help to regulate temperature

Robinson Tower; Singapore; designed by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Includes public green spaces equal to greenery removed during the building’s construction
• The design maximizes natural light entering the building
• Incorporates enclosed gardens accessible to the public

Shilda Winery; Kakheti, Georgia; designed by X-architecture

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• The building blends in seamlessly with the landscape
• The thermal mass of the soil cools the building
• The facade faces north to avoid direct sun

Museum of Tomorrow; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; designed by Santiago Calatrava

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Channels water from Guanabara Bay to regulate the temperature of the building while also supplying water to its reflecting pools
• Mobile solar panels can be adjusted throughout the day

Floating School; Makoko Lagos, Nigeria; designed by Kunle Adeyemi, NLE

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Rests on top of the water using plastic drums
• Uses locally-sourced wood
• Local residents employed to build the structure
• Solar panels provide electricity
• Rainwater used to flush toilets

Beitou Public Library; Taipei, Taiwan; designed by Kuo Ying-Chao

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Solar panels
• Rainwater collection system flushed toilets and waters indoor plants
• Wooden balcony reduces sunlight entering the rooms

Torre Reforma; Mexico City, Mexico; designed by Benjamin Romano

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Concrete walls acting as foundations reduce the heat entering the building
• Abundant natural lighting
• 100% of wastewater is reused within the building

International House; Sydney, Australia; designed by Tzannes

Noteworthy green architectural elements:

• Uses mass-engineered timber as its primary structural material, saving enormous amounts of greenhouse gasses by not using concrete
• The structure was prefabricated, minimizing negative environmental impacts in the build environment