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!

World's Most Creative Buildings

I. The Basket Building (United States)



What started out as a dream by Dave Longaberger, Founder of The Longaberger Company, has been built Home Office into a giant basket to house the entire corporate offices of the company. Dave believed the idea was one of his best and would draw attention to the company, while simultaneously helping to build our brand.



However, when he started spreading the idea of building a Home Office that was really a basket, he found that most people just thought that Dave was making a joke as Dave was a notorious practical joker. Not only did the bankers, architects and construction companies not take Dave seriously, neither did many of the employees who worked for The Longaberger Company, but Dave persevered. The dream was achieved on December 17, 1997 when the Home Office that is designed to resemble a basket finally opened for business.

II. The Dancing House (Czech Republic)



What started out as a dream by Dave Longaberger, Founder of The Longaberger Company, has been built Home Office into a giant basket to house the entire corporate offices of the company. Dave believed the idea was one of his best and would draw attention to the company, while simultaneously helping to build our brand.



However, when he started spreading the idea of building a Home Office that was really a basket, he found that most people just thought that Dave was making a joke as Dave was a notorious practical joker. Not only did the bankers, architects and construction companies not take Dave seriously, neither did many of the employees who worked for The Longaberger Company, but Dave persevered. The dream was achieved on December 17, 1997 when the Home Office that is designed to resemble a basket finally opened for business.

III. The Piano House (China)



This unique piano house was built recently in An Hui Province, China.



Inside of the violin is the escalator to the building. The building displays various city plans and development prospects in an effort to draw interest into the recently developed area.

IV. Kansas City Library (United States)



Kansas City Library has one seriously cool façade. Local residents were asked to nominate influential books that represent kansas city, humungous versions of the winning nominations were then used as the exterior of the library car-park.



V. The Robot Building (Thailand)

The Robot Building, located in the Sathorn business district of Bangkok, Thailand, houses United Overseas Bank's Bangkok headquarters. It was designed for the Bank of Asia by Sumet Jumsai to reflect the computerization of banking; its architecture is a reaction against neoclassical and high-tech postmodern architecture.



The building's features, such as progressively receding walls, antennae, and eyes, contribute to its robotic appearance and to its practical function.



Completed in 1986, the building is one of the last examples of modern architecture in Bangkok and has garnered international critical acclaim.

VI. The Blue Building (Netherlands)

The borough of Delfshaven, Rotterdam, asked Schildersbedrijf N&F Hijnen to come up with a plan for a block of derelict buildings, which will eventually be demolished.



The agreement with the neighbourhood is that the block will remain blue as long as there isn't a new plan for the area. This was once one of the most unseen blocks of houses in Rotterdam, and by applying a layer of only 2 micron of blue paint onto it, it became Rotterdam's most photographed one.



VII. The Astra House (Germany)



The strange building is actually a brewery in Hamburg, Germany. The floors can move up or down on it's skinny column core. As of now, the unique building has been destroyed. One of it's more famous beer brands was recently bought by a big refreshment corporation. And that beer brand was called Astra.

VIII. The Crooked House (Poland)



Polish architect of the Crooked House, Szotynscy Zaleski, was inspired by the fairytale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and the drawings of the Swedish artist and Sopot resident Per Dahlberg.



The most photographed building in Poland, the 4,000 square meter house is located in Rezydent shopping center in Sopot, Poland.

IX. Sam Kee Building: six feet deep, world's thinnest (Canada)

The Sam Kee building is situated at 8 West Pender Street. It runs from the corner of Pender and Carral to the lane at the halfway point of the block.



It is two storeys tall and 1.5 meters (six feet) deep. The story behind the building is as exotic as the structure with several intriguing twists and turns included in its telling. The City of Vancouver provided the original owner, Chang Toy, with a challenge when it expropriated all but two meters of his property as part of an expansion of Pender Street. No compensation was provided to its owner who was left with what most believed to be a useless property. In a creative turn of events fuelled by spite and some say a bet an architect was hired to design a building to fit the remaining property. The rest is history in more ways than one.



This building was home to 13 businesses at one time. It was the only place in Chinatown for residents to enjoy hot baths. There is a tunnel beneath the building that was used as an escape route from raids on Opium dens situated on neighbouring Shanghai Alley. The building is also fronted by the only remaining glass sidewalk in Chinatown.

As part of the ongoing history of this structure, issues still arise between the owners and the city with respect to encroachment and overhangs. In spite of each side having an element of right it seems to boil down to the proverbial "tit for tat". It makes for an interesting study in civics.