The Strangest Eco-Friendly Buildings on Earth

Once in a while we come across a picture of an “eco-friendly” building that makes us stop and go “hmmm.”

What on earth were the architects thinking when they designed these exteriors?

1. The Oil Rig Eco Resort



The Morris design team proposed to turn one of the many oil rigs on the Gulf of Mexico into a self-sustaining eco-friendly resort hotel. The unique position in the middle of the ocean would make it a prime destination - you know - if it weren’t an oil rig.



The design was submitted as part of the John Hardy Group and Hospitality Design Magazine international design competition. The focus of the competition was on finding ways to innovate the hospitality industry. What an excellent way to turn some of 4,000 (yup, you read that right) oil rigs into autonomous luxury destinations. Because of the locations, each would have to create its own renewable energy source. We doubt we’ll see a structure like this any time soon, but we can dream.

2. Taiwan’s Green-Roofed Skyscrapers



NBBJ Architects, based out of Los Angeles, partnered with Fei & Cheng Associates to develop a series of three eco-friendly office towers to be constructed in Taiwan. Ground has already been broken and the three green buildings are expected to include incredible systems for heating, cooling, and efficient energy consumption.



NBBJ made sure that the location of the each tower would optimize its abilities to take advantage of natural daylight. Each building will also have a rooftop garden that will aid in interior insulation as well. The building is scheduled to open in 2012.

3. The Sliding House



An unassuming client contacted the Rijke Marsh Morgan design firm who then contracted with dRMM Architecture - he wanted a unique retirement home that resembled a country timber barn. What he got was a house made of glass with a wooden exterior that slides off and on.



Someone deserves a raise for designing this building. The cool thing is that the ability to cover and uncover the house will make it easier to both heat and cool throughout the year, resulting in stunning energy savings.

4. One Man’s Garbage is another Man’s Shelter



Max Wallack had an ingenious idea when it came to creating an entry for the PBS Design Squad Trash to Treasure competition. He took old plastic, packing peanuts, and wire and created a homeless shelter. It’s lightweight, can be easily assembled, and can keep the occupant insulated from the elements outside. Oh yea - and Max? He’s only 12 years old.

5. The Flying Hostel



Not sure where you’re going to stay on your next trip to Stockholm? Why not find your way to the 747-200 - a hostel which despite its appearance will never leave the ground.



This is the ultimate in recycling. Instead of turning this retired jumbo jet into a heap of rotting metal, it was salvaged and turned into a low-cost hostel. It remains in the Stockholm-Arlanda airport, is fully furnished, and is a great way to relax after a long trip. If you’re near the airport stop by to check it out - the airplane/hostel is open to visitors.

6. Bunny Lane



Designer Adam Kalkin designed this strange yet attractive home within a home, formally known as Bunny Lane. Located in New Jersey, the exterior of the building is a gigantic shed with roll-up doors and three stories of rooms that are kept to one end.



Inside the shed you’ll find a complete two-story home. Outside the home is a separate living room and if you roll up the shed doors you’ll enjoy sitting in a breezeway on what can only be described as a porch that looks like an overly furnished living room. The family living in the house can spend time in the interior house or in one of the nine rooms included as part of the shed itself.

7. StatoilHydro’s Eco Friendly Office

Over in Norway we’ll soon see an eco friendly office building for one of Norway’s largest oil companies - StatoilHydro. The design won first place in a competition and the building is scheduled for completion in 2012.



The new building will result in the merger of two distinct offices, creating not only an eco-friendly environment but eliminating waste associated with traveling between two offices, unnecessary courier services, and miscommunication. When viewed from above, the building is in the shape of a star, with five distinct wings lying over top of each other in a criss-crossed pattern.



This unique building will be equipped with a specialized heating and cooling system that significantly reduces the amount of power needed to energize such a large building.

8. The Shining Solar Skyscraper

In Shenzhen, the China Insurance Group ran a contest in which architects were asked to design a skyscraper for their new headquarters. The winning design came from Coop Himmelb(I)au, an Australian firm.



When completed, the tower will rise 49stories above the city’s skyline and include photovoltaic cells designed with a number of incredible features in mind. These cells will increase wind resistance, aid in naturally ventilating the building, provide shade from the sunlight, and contribute to the display of external banners.



When the building is finished it will have a section for business offices, a section for conferences and meetings, and a section for public businesses and events. The surrounding area will be complete with gardens and the entire site will be be equipped with solar and wind energy.

9. The Inflatable Diamond Grid Eco-Pavilion

Take, for example, the inflatable diamond grid eco-pavilion. This astounding creation was designed in response to a competition requesting an eco-friendly yet mobile space in which Yorkshire Forward could perform. The design was a collaboration of several talented architects.



Believe it or not, the entire stadium takes little more than an hour to inflate, will show no sign of wrinkling after transport, and can be modified depending on the size of the crowd that is anticipated. The building generates its own electricity and its self-sustaining design should make it opportune for even the most remote destinations.



So what do you think? Would you stay in any of these eco-friendly houses, hotels, or buildings? We can’t wait to see the end results, especially for the ones already under construction!

Menzis office by Architekten Cie in Groningen, Netherlands

The Netherlands architecture design Menzis office building, designed by Branimir Medic & Pero Puljiz, de Architekten Cie, a distinctive landmark with its high, and angular structure, for the Menzis European health insurance company is situated on the edge of the Europa park urban expansion of the city of Groningen’s south-western periphery. At city scale level, the construction expresses its iconographic character toward the urban circular and the A7 motorway, the Europaweg. At ground floor level, the street alignment is determinate by the Europapark, where the building, as it rises, gradually leans over into the street space.



The 12-storey building is divided into three identical prismatic segments, rotated 90º in relation to each other. With dimensions of 43 x 43 m, the segment is characterized by functional yet aesthetic compactness. Each segment contains 4 storeys, intersected vertically by an atrium. As a consequence, a spiral of atria is generated, forming an internal response to the dynamic exterior.



The foot accommodates the public functions, which are orientated toward the atrium and include service desks, an insurance shop and a health care service center. A doctor’s room and several consulting rooms are situated in themore private area. A practical system of partitioning divides the third and fourth floors into meeting rooms, a library, training areas, an auditorium, and a restaurant. The restaurant area can also be deployed flexibly as extra meeting space if required. The spacious staircase, which allow easy public flow though the atrium to the restaurant and meeting centre above, offer an unimpeded view of both the inner area and the water of the Winschoterdiep (canal).



The middle and upper segments are generic. The specific presence of the atrium, which allows the incidence of daylight into the building, contrasts with the neutral character of each storey. The atrium divides each storey into a series of working areas with distinct qualities: peripheral or secluded, light or well-shaded, open or closed. The variation in spatial conditions enables the application of diverse office concepts, geared to the different work processes within Menzis, such as the call center, administrative functions, and stuff functions. The atrium stairs facilitate informal contact between the floors. In combination with the use of natural materials, the magnolia garden around the building with its diverse terraces, water features and illuminations, contributes to creating a pleasant and relaxed ambience.

Oberoi Tower, Mumbai, India,

This 28-story tower is a part of a master-planned area that includes office space, hotel, retail and residential towers in a 175,000 sq. ft. / 16,260 sq. m. of area.

The top four levels house the headquarters of the Oberoi Development Company, with the rest of the tower available for lease. The tower is oriented with its broad facades facing north and south to maximize solar control. The southern exposure incorporates horizontal sunscreens for sun protection. The building's gentle, sweeping curved form presents a landmark image to the major north-south Mumbai highway.

The Oval Tower, Another Landmark For Dubai

The Oval Tower is the latest piece of architectural whimsy to come out of Dubai. As you might guess, it is shaped like an oval. The tower in the Business Bay area will be home to 19 floors of office space and a leisure deck with a gymnasium with a sauna, shower and lockers.



The building as two distinct parts, the tower and the podium. The podium of the tower will hold a dining area with a panoramic lift and staircase. There will be parking in both the podium and the basement for 651 cars.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) or simply The Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa) is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral and it is the third structure in Pisa's Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square).

Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction.

The height of the tower is 55.86 m (183.27 ft) from the ground on the lowest side and 56.70 m (186.02 ft) on the highest side. The width of the walls at the base is 4.09 m (13.42 ft) and at the top 2.48 m (8.14 ft). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 tonnes. The tower has 294 steps. The tower leans at an angle of 5.5 degrees. This means that the top of the tower is 4.5 meters from where it would stand if the tower was perfectly vertical.