Top 10 green buildings by American Institute

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top 10 sustainable architecture and green design solutions.


The top 10 includes:

- City of Watsonville Water Resources Center by WRNS Studio. The new 16,000 square foot building consolidates three different city and county water departments and includes administrative offices, a water quality lab, educational space and a design that puts the story of water in California on display. The building, its systems and its landscape will serve to educate the public through exhibition and guided tours.

King Abdullah University of Science & Technology


- KAUST, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by HOK. KAUST's new campus is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's first LEED certified project and the world's largest LEED Platinum project.



Kroon Hall


- Kroon Hall by Hopkins Architects and Centerbrook Architects & Planners. Replacing a brownfield site, Kroon Hall was charged with being a net zero energy building. The project has a mix of active and passive design measures and visible, invisible and interactive building features.

- Manassas Park Elementary School + Pre-K by VMDO Architects. The school is conceived throughout as a teaching tool that shepherds children along a path of environmental stewardship. Interior extended learning spaces offer views of the neighboring mixed oak forest, while elementary classrooms face shady moss and fern-covered learning courtyards featuring 'fallen' trees.

- Manitoba Hydro Place by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects and Smith Carter Architects and Engineers. The project was designed utilising a formal integrated design process to achieve goals of energy efficiency, healthy workplace environment, urban revitalisation, sustainability and architectural excellence. At 88 kwh per sqm annually, from a demand side, it is the most energy efficient large office tower in North America, with a 66 per cent improvement over the standard.



355 11th Street


- 355 11th Street by Aidlin Darling Design. The project is a LEED-NC Gold adaptive reuse of an historic (and previously derelict) turn-of the-century industrial building. The design team implemented a strategy of introducing subtle perforations into new zinc cladding to allow light and air into the occupied spaces.

- Michael J. Homer Science & Student Life Center by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. The design encourages scientific inquiry, linking the school’s science curriculum to building functions throughout the seasons – how it breathes, resists gravity, conserves precious resources and generates energy.

- Omega Center for Sustainable Living by BNIM Architects. The Center has been designed to clean water, return the clean water to the local systems and educate users about the process. Eco-Machine technologies were selected to clean the water, utilising natural systems including the earth, plants and sunlight. The entire building and water process utilise site harvested renewable energy achieving a net zero energy system.

- Special No. 9 House by KieranTimberlake. The project was designed to provide storm-resistant, affordable and ustainable housing options for the residents of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Key goals were to create safe, healthy and dignified housing to residents in a flood-prone area and to empower residents to return to improved living conditions that take advantage of New Orleans’ climate.

- Twelve|West by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP. Twelve|West was designed to achieve the highest levels of urban sustainability and is expected to earn a platinum rating under LEED NC overall and LEED CI for the office floors. An emphasis was put on selecting low-impact materials, including salvage, reclaimed and FSC-certified wood. Much of the concrete building structure is exposed on the interior minimising the use of finish material and providing ample thermal mass.

Australia sees its first zero emissions house opened

Working with industry partners Delfin-Lend Lease and the Henley Property Group and supported by the AusZEH consortium, CSIRO designed and built the demonstration house 30 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD in the community of Laurimar in Doreen, Victoria.

The 8 star energy-efficiency rated AusZEH showcases off-the-shelf building and renewable energy-generation technologies and new future-ready energy management systems.

The AusZEH is designed to produce enough ‘zero-emission’ electricity from 6 kW solar panels to supply all the operating energy needs of the household so that its net total CO2 or other greenhouse gas emissions is zero.

The director of CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship, Dr Alex Wonhas, says the uptake of zero-emission housing in Australia could have a significant impact on reducing emissions nationwide.

"CSIRO scientists estimate that if all the new housing built in Australia between 2011 and 2020 were zero-emission houses, 63 million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would be saved," he says.

"This would be equivalent to taking all of Australia’s private cars off the road for two years and 237 days, or closing all Australia’s power stations for up to 100 days."

CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship initiated the AusZEH project to demonstrate and evaluate how low-carbon housing can be achieved in Australia to reduce GHG emissions and create a more sustainable future for the nation.

For 12 months, the AusZEH demonstration house will become a home for an Australian family and a laboratory for CSIRO.

The house has been fitted with a unique energy management system developed by La Trobe University in partnership with CSIRO, which tracks energy use in the house and provides feedback via customised reports to household members.

This information on the performance of the ‘living’ house will be used to identify ways to improve the design of future zero and low-emission houses.

CSIRO initiated the National Research Flagships to provide science-based solutions in response to Australia’s major research challenges and opportunities.

ATTRACTIVE MODERN BEDS

If you’re looking for an easy way to update the look of your bedroom, perhaps you might consider purchasing one of the many modern platform beds that are available.

Attractive modern platform beds

Once you begin your search, you’ll quickly realize what the attraction of modern platform beds is all about. Modern platform beds have a sleek shape that compliments practically any décor, whether it’s contemporary or traditional. You can find modern platform beds that boast a simple design or those with more ornate details. You can select from modern platform beds that come upholstered in sophisticated leather or even those constructed of fashionable metal. And you can find modern platform beds in a number of colors and materials. Choosing from the many options could be more difficult than you thought!

The cost of modern platform beds

Modern platform beds can vary greatly in cost depending on a number of factors, including their size and material. For example, modern platform beds that are upholstered with leather can cost over $1,000 for a king size, whereas modern platform beds made of wood generally start around $350.

Choosing the right modern platform bed

Shopping for modern platform beds can be quite entertaining. It’s selecting from all the modern platform beds that you like that’s tough. Try asking yourself a few questions to help select the right one. For instance, what type of material do you want? With so many different options to choose from, deciding in advance which material you prefer can help narrow your selection of modern platform beds. Out of all the modern platform beds you like, is there one that will blend better with your current décor or perhaps provide an interesting contrast? What amount are you willing to pay? The price range of modern platform beds varies greatly, so setting a budget in advance is good way to avoid overspending.

A Contemporary Kitchen Design

A contemporary kitchen design inspiration has been designed by an Auckland, New Zealand based designer, Mal Corboy. This contemporary kitchen design is a part of a modern penthouse apartment interior with a high degree of glass and natural stone on the exterior design. The client wanted a very masculine looking kitchen space and the designer chose the Stat Vein Marble and Stainless Steel, which provided an overall strong mono chromatic look to the Kitchen to achieve this masculine kitchen design.



Bench tops were made 150mm high of Stainless Steel with the Stat Marble inserted into the work surface. The designer continued the use of the Stainless Steel on the draws, doors and end panel fronts. A streamline chromed handle was used on all the cabinetry which were imported from Germany, this gave the Kitchen nice lines and could be used secondary to the Blum electric push release draws. The clients are very design conscious people and coupled with the fact it was twelve months before production began for this Kitchen. The end result is a very contemporary kitchen which takes peoples breath away when they first see it. This has become a focal point in this large open plan apartment.

Black and White Minimalist Kitchen Interior Painting Decoration in Various Style

Black and white colors painting can create dramatic effect and can also give sensational look to your home. Combination of black and white in painting and decorating gives an elegant, sophisticated, clean and a fresh look. This minimalist kitchen interior design dominated with black and white color, it is look very simple, clean, minimalist and elegant interior. Combined all things black and white with great effect and look very luxurious.

Horizontal House – Contemporary Architecture in Italy

This white Horizontal House is on a flat landscape with an endless beauty of the outside. Located in Cuneo, Italy this house presents in clean and smooth line with pure white color of the exterior and interior.







Open walls, clear glass windows, and wide glass doors invite the surround view to come in and fill the interior. Outdoor patio is designed with natural hardwood floor and several floor cushions. An interesting architectural structure of the exterior continues to the interior design which is also presented in white shade. Taking the modern and minimalist concept, the interior is decorated with touch of hot red, stone and big flower pots. Large windows ensure the natural light to fill in and open-concept floor plan leads us to move from one room to another easily. Wood floor becomes a great combination with white shade and make the house looks clean. The kitchen looks very stylish with horizontal windows in wood frame. This awesome Horizontal House very stands out in both exterior and interior design.

Bechtler Museum

Clad in a glazed terra cotta tile that lends it an orange hue and a sleek feel, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, North Carolina, shows Swiss architect Mario Botta shifting subtly from his signature brick and stone.

A mortar-free terra cotta rain screen clads the essential forms of the small museum. The massing block of a fourth-floor gallery reaches out over an entry plaza below, underpinned by a column wrapped in a double-tapered sheath of tiles.



The building's exterior surface combines flat, single-thickness tiles with tiles of triangular cross section, forming textured patterns and creating a play of light and shadow throughout the day. In using the terra cotta, Botta has described his concept of the building as a clay mass carved out by light.

The museum opened on January 2, 2010, as only the second building of Botta's in the United States, after SFMOMA (1995), although his work has flourished in Europe and Asia in the meantime.

Botta says he maintained the open area in an Italian piazza style to give people on the street a sense of being part of the structure. He also aimed to create the feel of a welcoming Southern front porch. Throughout the 36,500-square-foot (3,400-square-meter) building, one gets the sense of being integrated — aware of and able to see what's going on, both inside and out, from all four levels of the building.

Greenpoint Stadium to House South Africa World Cup in 2010

It’s nice to see an example of how architecture and sports evolve together. The pictures below were made in Cape Town, South Africa and they represent the new Greenpoint Stadium which will house the South Africa World Cup in 2010. The previous stadium in Cape Town had a capacity of 18,000 spectators, which apparently was not nearly enough, as the project from Gmp Architekten has a capacity of no less than 65,000 seats. The stadium is not only famous for its future matches, but also for its great architecture. Here is some technical information from the architects concerning the giant building: “The lightweight membrane structure consists of extensive concave features forming a uniform, flowing facade that follows the undulations.







The light-colored glass fiber mesh boosts this effect, its coloration generating depth and vitality. The translucent surface absorbs and reflects the changing atmosphere of the daylight.The angle of inclination means that all the seats have the best possible sighting of the pitch. The interior of the stadium is designed to focus all attention on the pitch, thereby generating an atmosphere of intimacy and excitement”. How is this for an additional reason to stay in touch with the World Cup events?

Amazing Residence in Malibu, California

Located in California, with fantastic views of Point Dume and priced at $13,500,000, this luxurious residence in Malibu is sure gonna bring some piece of mind to its next owner. This place has access not to one, but two private beaches reachable by stairs. And this is not surprising, being given that the building is constructed on an area of 3,500 square feet.













The house also feature over 80 feet of glass walls through which the owners can have non-stop access to the amazing ocean views. And if this is not enough, there is always the possibility of stepping outside, on the large and stunningly-organized patio and have a sit in one of the lounge chairs with a delicious cocktail. The place houses four bedrooms, four bathrooms and spacious living-spaces. How is this for a luxurious escapade?

Vastu for Living Room

According to Vastu Shastra, Living room or drawing room should be located in east or north direction. The ideal location of a living room depends on plot facing. The living room can be in northeast direction for east and north facing house. The living room can be in northwest for west facing house. In south facing house, living room can be in southeast.

Where to Place Furniture as per Vastu

The furniture should be placed in west or south direction. The furniture such as showcase or heavy articles etc. should be in south or west direction. It should be rectangular or square, not in oval, circular or odd shape.

Television, A.C and Telephone Place according to Vastu

T.V. should be placed in southeast direction. Living room vastu opposes to place T.V. in north-east or south-west corner.

Cooler or A.C should be placed in west or north direction. Avoid A.C or Cooler in southeast and northwest. Telephone should be placed in East, North or south-east. It should not be in south-west or the north-west corners.

Aquarium Placement as per Vastu Directions

Aquariums are beneficial to place in the North, East and North-East of living room. The faults related to north-west corner can be corrected by putting an aquarium. Avoid aquarium in south direction as it draws out positive energies from house.

Painting and Pictures according to Vastu

The use of painting can create a pleasant environment in the room. Painting of waterfall, rising sun provides positive energy. Avoid paintings that symbolize death, violence and negative aspects of life.

Vastu Color Scheme

The color of wall in living room should be white, yellow, blue or green. Prefer light color over dark colors. Avoid black and red color in living room.

Vastu and Lighting

Lighting of living room should be bright. If chandelier is in living room, it should be slightly towards west, not at the centre of the room.

Vastu for Doors and Windows

The door of living room should be in east or north direction because doors are very auspicious in these directions. There should not be a photograph of any God in living room or at entrance door. Windows in east and north are beneficial.

Vastu Tips for Living Room

• The East and North are best directions for living room.
• The furniture should be square or rectangular.
• Air-conditioner or cooler should be placed in West direction, not in South-east.
• Portraits of women, animals, birds, scene of war should never be displayed in living room.
• The sitting arrangement for the head of family should be in East or North direction.
• A painting showing depression should not be placed on a wall.

Dining Room Vastu

According to vastu, Dining room should be located in east or west portion of the house. If the kitchen is on ground floor, dining room should not be on upper floor. The room should be located adjacent to kitchen or drawing room. Having meal in such located dining room will be beneficial for you, ensures Vastu.

Vastu Dining Location

Dining room should be located in west direction whereas kitchen should be made in south-east direction. Dining room should not be located in south side. Water arrangement should be in north-east direction.

Color: The color of dining room should be light like pink, light green, cream etc. Avoid black and white color.

Shape of dining table: According to vastu dining table should be in square shape and rectangular shape. It should not be in round shape, egg shape, and oval shape.

Location of TV and electronic appliances: Electrical appliances like fridges should be in south-east direction. Television should not be placed in the dining room.

While taking food Family members should face east, west or north directions. Do not face south direction as it creates quarrels among family members. It’s best to face east or west direction while eating.

Lighting: Lights create positive energy. The décor of dining room should be arranged according to the mood and taste of the family. Lighting should create easy and relaxed environment. Candles and lamps give special effects to any meal. Ceiling lights should fall vertically and mainly focus on the surface of dining table. Scenery and paintings give positive effect in dining room.

Window and Door: Window should be placed in north or east side as compared to south or west side. If the house is located in north direction, the entrance should be in north direction. If the house is located in east direction, the face of entrance should be in the east.

If the room is located in south direction, the face of entrance should be in the South and if it is in north direction, the entrance should be in the north.Main entrance door and dining room door should not face directly to each other. Toilet should not be attached to dining room.

Vastu for Kitchen

According to Vastu Shastra, the lord of ‘Agni’ (Fire) prevails in south-east direction. So ideally the kitchen should be located in south-east of the home. The second best option is north-west part of the home. The stove should be placed in south-east direction of the kitchen so that the cook may face east direction while cooking.

East quadrant is considered an excellent location for kitchen because this area brings prosperity. South-east is the best direction for the kitchen. North quadrant is second option and north-west is direction. In diagonal plots, avoid north quadrant which has ill effects on female members. West quadrant gives average results for kitchen. The kitchen should not be placed under or above Pooja Room, Toilet or Bed Room.

Sink: Sink (wash basin) should be in north-east corner as far as possible.

Storage: The storage racks should be made on southern or western wall Essential commodities like boxes of grain, spices, pulses, etc. should be in south or west direction. The water source including pitcher, water filter, etc. may be kept in north-east.

Flooring: Ceramic tiles, mosaic, marble are good choices for kitchen flooring. Ceramic tile flooring is recommended to accommodate Indian conditions as it is stain-free, dust-free and scratch resistant.

Windows: There should be one or two windows or air holes in the east direction of the kitchen. An exhaust fan in the East is good.

Color Scheme: The color of floor and walls should be yellow, orange, rose, chocolate or red. It should not be black as far as possible.

Children Room Vastu Tips

According to Vastu, keeping everything in positive direction in children’s room results in creative thinking and good health because this room is the hub of fun and joy where children spend most of their time. Your child can grow in such atmosphere and lives a happy and prosperous life.

Vastu Shastra recommends west direction for children's room. The location of bed should be in south-west portion whereas the head should be in south or east direction. The door of the room should not be exactly opposite to the bed. The furniture should not be placed at the centre of the room.

Furniture: The location of bed in children’s room is south-west corner. The furniture should be few inches away from the walls. Almirahs and cabinets should be located in south or west direction.

TV and Computer: Computer and TV should not be placed in children’s room. If it’s necessary, it’s recommended to place TV in south-east corner and computer in north diection of the room.

Study Table: If study table is placed in bedroom, it should be in such direction that child could face east, north and north-east while studying. Thus placed table boosts both memory and concentration and invites new ideas. The books should always be kept in south-west, south or west as lots of books and papers in study room create clutter and mental pressure.

Lights: Use up-lighters at south-east corner in children’s room as it is good for health and generates positive energy. Never use sharp lights and spot lights as it creates mental strain.

Color Scheme: Color affects mood and every aspect of life. Green color is ideally recommended for children’s room as it gives freshness, peace and increases brain power.

Doors and Windows: The door of children room should be in the East or the North. Windows in the East and North of the room are beneficial.

Vastu Tips for Children Room

• The west is best direction for kids' room. Girl's room can be in northwest direction whereas boy’s room can be in northern or eastern part of the house.
• The door of children’s bedroom should in the North or East. It should have one shutter only.
• There is no harm in having small window in west as compared to the one in east or north direction. The window should be opposite to the door.
• Avoid study table, T.V, computer and mirror in children's bedroom.

Vastu Tips for Office

Vastu principles are practical for all buildings whether it is a home, factory, temple or even an office. Office is mainly built to generate financial growth of business. Vastu suggests some rules in building offices that prove to be very functional for economic growth of the organization.

Vastu principles are applied keeping in mind various energy fields originating from different directions. First of all a site should be selected, which is free from any Vastu defect. After selection of the site, the layout of office should be planned by following these Vastu norms.

Construction of Office

The plot of office should be rectangular or square. Heavy structure should be built in the South and the West as these are negative zones. More open space should be in the East or north direction. The slope of floor should be towards East, North or Northeast. The height of building should be equal in all sides. Water bodies should be built in northeast or eastern zone. Water sump is good in the North or East. But overhead tank in northeast is a big Vastu defect. So, the tank should be built in southwest direction. Staircase should be built in southern or western part of the office. Staircase in the center of office is not good. Toilets can be built in the west or northwest. Northeast and southwest directions should not be used for toilet. Office should not be built near temple, grave yard or hospital.

Design reception in northeast of office and receptionist should sit facing the North or East. Waiting room can be in northeast or northwest direction of the building. But northeast corner should be left for temple and flowers can be placed in northeast direction. The office of Chairman or General Manager should be built in southwest or south direction of the building. He should sit in southwest direction facing north. His desk should be rectangular. Employees should sit facing the North or East. Employees should not sit under beam. If any other alternative is not possible, the loft of beam can be covered with wooden board.

Place heavy almirah or safe in the southwest in which important documents are stored. Pantry of office should be built in southeast of the building as southeast direction is a place for fire. The center of office should not have any heavy structure. Paint office in light colors. Avoid dark colors as they make us short tempered. Doors and windows of office should be in the north and east direction. Don’t use paintings depicting sadness in the office. These painting may affect harmony among office staff.

Bed Room Vastu

According to ancient science of directions, ‘Vastu Shastra’ peace and harmony reign through bedroom if the room is located in right direction. A properly located bedroom provides complete relaxation after a weary day and also brings good things into life. Here are given the facts which explain complete vastu for bedroom.

Location for Bedroom

Ideally master bedroom should be located in southern part of the house and all other bedrooms should be located either towards the East or North of master bedroom. Master bedroom may be located in south-west of the house. This room should be used by the head of the family and eldest son of the family. South portion is also recommended for eldest son bedroom. If there is more than one floor, the head of the family should have his bed room in south-west direction on first floor. This bedroom should not be used by young children otherwise unnecessary quarrels can take place in the house.

A west sided bedroom is good for children. An eastern bedroom can be used for children. But this room should not be used by newly wed couples because it can cause unnecessary quarrel between the couple. Teenager girls should have their bedrooms in north-west direction. The bedroom should not be constructed in central portion of the house or in basement as it may lead to mental tension. Also bed room should not be constructed above porch and kitchen. An attached bathroom can be in north-west or south-east of bedroom.

Bed Location

The beds should be of good quality wood and metal bed should be avoided. The bed should be placed in such a way as the foot of the bed should be in North and does not face the door. It should not touch walls keeping 2 or 3 inches distance. Avoid placing bed in corners or under the beam. The space under the bed should be clean and clutter free. Due to paucity of space modern vastu says to use box bed.

Keep storage space clean and clutter free. Do not keep utensils and metal in storage space. This may cause mental stress and diseases.

Cabinet Location

Cabinet/Almirah should be placed in south-west of the room opening towards North. It should be placed leaving south-east, north-east, south-west, north-west corners and east and north directions of the room.

Television and Electrical Appliances Location

Avoid television in bedroom. If you place T.V. in bedroom, it should be kept in south-east of bedroom. It should never be placed in front of bed as it works like a mirror. Thus placed mirror is not good for health. Electrical appliances should be kept in south-east of the room.

Doors and Windows Location

The door of bedroom should be in the East or the North. Windows in the East and North of the room are beneficial.

Color Scheme

Color affects our mind and changes the mood. Vastu recommends light colors. Light colors are better than dark colors. The color of bedroom should be light rose, pink, blue, yellow and green. Avoid black and red color in bedroom. Yellow and white marble should not be used in bedroom.

Lighting

As per vastu lighting is an essential part of bedroom. Comfortable lighting is the key to excellent bedroom. The bedroom should not have too bright or too dim lighting. Keeping an up-lighter in south-east is good.

Pictures

Do not display pictures of war, cruelty, sadness, single bird, any animal and wild animals in bedroom. Generally people having religious nature display idols of God in bedroom. They should place these idols in ‘pooja Room’.

Mirrors

Do not use mirror in bedrooms. If it can not be avoided, keep it in such a position that should not reflect your shadow while sleeping. Keep a curtain on mirror to avoid reflection. To avoid mirrors in bedroom means to avoid unnecessary quarrels between the couple.

Tips for Vastu Bedroom

• As a general rule of vastu, south-west corner of bedroom should not be left empty. Always keep heavy things, furniture etc. in this portion in every room.

• South-west side of the house and of all rooms inside the house should always be heavier than the East and north-east side. Maximum open space should be left in north-east side of the room and house.

• Nobody’s bedroom should be exactly in the middle of the building.

• Some buildings do not get proper east-west and north-south directions. They have corners only. In bed rooms of such buildings, for getting the proper direction, one should not put his bed in an oblique position.

• As far as possible, the almirah should not be in the bedroom. If it is necessary, it should be placed in a way leaving the south-east, the north-east, the south-west and the northwest corners as well as the east and the north directions.

Tips for Bedroom Ceiling Color

The bedroom ceiling design and color combination can not only cherish the mood but make an impression of a large space. Paint ceiling in a soft color, a lighter version of wall color to create a pleasant appearance.

As bedroom ceiling is watched more than the ceilings of other rooms, select color trends that your inner desire expresses.

The shades of medium to dark browns are perfect for bedroom because these shades nurture and satisfy our spirits. Make use of beiges, browns and tans because they are earthier and reflect the colors of rock, stone and soil. A combination of greens and brown is a great for bedroom because of warmth and cozy feeling in your room. Pick right shades of green because some shades are not flattering to skin tone.

Useful Tips for Color Selection

Opt for the color that is lighter than wall color to make bedrooms with low ceiling harmonious and spacious. Use a darker shade to make rooms with high ceiling look appealing.

Choose monochromatic theme for fresh look. You can pick a color that is two or three tones lighter than the color of your bedroom walls for tranquil look.

Go for white ceilings which the people usually tend to do but it is conventional.

Opt for a ceiling color that is in contrast with wall color like combination of light pink and mauve color for different look.

Add a subtle shade of wall color to your bedroom ceiling to give room a soft and serene atmosphere.

Use ceiling as a place for visual expression; create an overhead view of pleasant blue sky or pattern your ceiling with colors and shapes that match up with the décor of the room for dramatic look.

Make a choice for superb ceiling light or even a crystal chandelier that will add a patterned effect to the ceiling.