The J1 Residential Tower by O1a Architecture has been designed as a sustainable high-rise on the Cornice in Abu Dhabi. The biodynamic project is a mixed-use development that consists of retail spaces in the base, office space and a hotel with amenities located centrally and residential areas that make the upper section of the tower.

The building aims to create innovative space for living, recreation and working, which will help enrich the quality of life of the end user. The building, which generates energy through is envelope and geometry strives to create architecture that is respectful to the inheritance of future generations. Environmentally sustainable principles were also applied to the design wherever possible.

Designed by Greek firm Deca Architecture, the “Aloni” is a house designed as a dual response to the particular topography of the site and to the rural domestication techniques that in the past shaped the raw Cycladic Island landscape. Situated on the exotic Antiparos Island of Greek, this stunning home appears like it’s naturally camouflaged in its environment.

The most prominent man-made interventions in the landscape, the dry-rubble stone walls are being replaced with by holiday homes. Four courtyards carved into the flowing landscape divide the living spaces into five interior areas. The east-west axis the slope drops offers a mesmerizing view of the sea.

Via: Designboom 

This elegantly sloping green-roofed center was recently proposed as an extension to the recreational grounds at Kyoai Gukuen University in Japan. Rather than replace the open space with a standard building, Japanese firm Bakoko worked with architect Hikaru Hattori to design an elevated green roof that keeps the open space while providing spectator seating for a nearby playing field. Daylighting, natural ventilation, and the insulating benefits of the green roof make the project a beautiful example of energy-efficient architecture.  

Bakoko’s design for Kyoai Gukuen University aims to eliminate the loss of important recreational space on the university campus by lifting the green space up and creating a building below to support it. Adjacent to the site is a sports field, which has no spectator seating, so the green roof is slanted towards the playing field to provide a viewing area. This double-duty proposal adds extra value to the building, provides spectator seating, and retains the site’s open green space.

The university building is consists of a series of vaulted concrete arches, some of which feature openings that capture sunlight and wind using a specialized cap. These “wind catcher” caps filter sunlight down into the space below and draw in fresh cool air. The columns of the arches seem thick, but in fact they are hollow at the top in order to minimize material use and provide a deeper well for the green roof. These water-tight depressions have enough soil to support larger species of trees and vegetation than are typically possible on green roofs.

Via eVolo

Today London saw the opening of the Jellyfish Theatre, a remarkable new performance venue made entirely from donated, free and recycled materials. Reused shipping pallets, recycled nails, old school furniture, and donated wood scraps have been used to construct this organic 120-seat temporary auditorium, which is located a mere 10 minutes' walk from the Globe Theatre on the banks of the Thames. While some see the Jellyfish Theatre as "junkitecture" others see the handmade, recycled theatre as a work of art -- read on for a look at London's newest performance space and tell us your take in the comments!  

The Jellyfish Theatre opens today with an eco-themed play called Oikos (pronounced “ee-kos”, the Greek root for economy and ecology) by Simon Wu. The piece will be followed by Protozoa by Kay Adshead. Both plays deal with people rebuilding their lives after an environmental and political catastrophe, which goes along nicely with a building constructed out of found materials. The project is a bit of a warning against uncertain times and even an example of what we might have to resort to for future architecture.

Over 800 shipping pallets and 750 sq meters of plywood and other material were donated to construct the theatre. Old-school furniture serves as the seats inside the auditorium, and reused five-gallon water jugs are stacked together to form the wall of the lounge. Pallets, which came from the nearby Covent Gardent market, were stacked and hung vertically, while plywood covers the walls, roof and floors. Although the materials may have started out as junk, when you reuse them, they are no longer junk – they become useful building materials.

We hope that you will enjoy the photos attached!

Altius Architecture has created an off-grid retreat in Ontario, which offers two bedrooms, living spaces and a sauna. Called the Otter Lake Cottage, the sustainable residence features passive solar heating and utilizes natural ventilation and passive cooling techniques to reduce energy consumption.

With large glass windows, natural light filters through to reduce need for artificial lighting. The architects have utilized renewable and recyclable materials in the construction, which further reduces the environmental impact of the structure.

A photovoltaic array provides all the electricity that is required by the low-energy lighting systems and appliances. A green roof with provisions to harvest rainwater has also been included.

Νew York-based WORK Architecture Company has unveiled a design for Landsbanki Bank Headquarters that consists of a series of green-roofed steps rising up from a ground-level city park. The striking proposal is designed to visually connect the historic old town of Reykjavik with the newer, more modern scale of the buildings on the edge of town. Courtyards and a narrow floor layout provide occupants with plenty of daylighting and access to the outdoors in Iceland's capital city.  

WORKac was one of five teams invited to propose a new Headquarters for Landsbanki Bank in Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik’s historic old town is skirted by a number of more contemporary buildings, which creates a dramatic dichotomy between the old fabric of the city center and the new developments at the city’s edge. WORKac’s facade for the Landsbanki Bank, which serves as both structure and fenestration, was inspired by the interwoven patterns of Icelandic art.

The proposal calls for a series of programmatic strips that are stacked to create strategic voids and shared elevated gardens. The strips feature narrow floorplans that allow for maximum flexibility in office layout and permit daylight to suffuse the interior spaces. The shared gardens are protected from the cold northern winds by the exterior of the building, and the green roof acts as an extension of the courtyards and the nearby park.

+ WORKac

After the amazing success of the Water Cube in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics, the aquatic center has spent the last year undergoing renovations in order to become an incredible (and massive) indoor water park. Rather than just let the record-smashing facility sit there unused, the owners have transformed the space into the fantastical Happy Magic Water Park, complete with slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, floating jellyfish and more. Now Beijing's second most visited tourist spot (after the Great Wall) is a hot spot for family activity and the largest water park in Asia.