Thinking about how ecology plays a role in urban spaces is a re-emerging trend in design. The Symbiotic Green Wall takes the idea of wall beyond its dividing role. It provides a vertical system for an entire ecosystem to exist. The wall collects, purifies and redistributes water around the site using natural processes. A digital monitoring system sheds light on water usage and overall health. It even cleans itself with purified water. I would love to see more of these sculptural installations in big cities around the world.

Zorlu Ecocity is a Llewelyn Davies Yeang project located in Istanbul, Turkey. It’s a mixed-use development located at the southern extremity of Buyukdere Street in Istanbul. The plan is conceptualized as a “city within a city” and conforms to the city’s planning strategy to multiply the number of urban centers throughout the Marma region to relieve pressure on Istanbul’s historic core.
Zorlu Ecocity will have 588,850 sm (6,338,329 sf) of accommodation, which includes office towers, residential towers, two hotels, apartments, and resort-style elderly units above a three story retail …

This hotel, designed by the Atkins groups, will be an outstanding example of incorporating a building into an existing site. The 400-bed resort is to be built near Shanghai in a 100 meter deep quarry. The quarry will provide protection from the weather, and reduce the energy needs of the hotel. The complex will contain restaurants, cafes, sport facilities, and will even include underwater public areas and guestrooms.

The hotel on track to open in May 2009. The hotel will also be covered with a green roof, and will use geothermal …

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Here is an in-depth look at the world’s top five existing ecological skyscrapers. These architectural masterpieces are excellent examples of ways that modern building techniques can both reduce energy consumption and at the same time remain attractive.
Today’s ecological skyscrapers belong to an emerging area of design research in which the environmental impact of the building and issues of
sustainability influence every scale and system of a tall building. Recent concerns with environmental issues have prompted skyscraper designs that employ a range of strategies to conserve energy, minimize buildings’ impact on their …