Green Roofs

Stefano Boeri Architetti's line of greenery-infused architecture has made quite a splash by bringing a little nature to inner-city high-rise residents. The Italian firm's latest design in the same vein is slated for Egypt and consists of three cuboid buildings that are covered in plants and trees.

Vietnam's VTN Architects continues its pursuit of adding greenery-infused architecture to its homeland with a pair of new projects. The most notable, the Viettel Offsite Studio, is defined by a novel zigzagging form designed to provide staff with a green and comfortable work environment.

The International Olympic Committee recently received a new headquarters in Switzerland, courtesy of 3XN. Featuring an eye-catching glazed facade, the building boasts significant sustainable design, including rainwater collection, solar panels, and the use of recycled materials.

Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA) is planning to bring something of the Italian countryside to inner-city Milan with its Vitae project. The eye-catching building will host research facilities, offices and a restaurant, and will be covered in greenery, including a vineyard.

MAPA Architects has been producing its Minimod line of prefabricated homes for several years now. The firm's latest project involved it overcoming difficult conditions in southern Brazil to install an appealing green-roofed retreat in the forest.

Vincent Callebaut Architectures recently won a competition to renovate a historic thermal baths in Aix-les-Bains, France. The proposal calls for significant sustainable design and technology, including lots of greenery, solar panels, rainwater collection, and more.

MVRDV has created some of its finest work in relation to markets, such as the Glass Farm and Markthal. The firm has now broken ground on yet another market and this one will be defined by a large terraced green roof that will grow produce and allow people to walk atop.

Vietnam's Vo Trong Nghia Architects' overriding goal is to add greenery to its homeland's cities and the firm highlights this again with its recently-completed Breathing House. The project involved covering a narrow home in an awkward crowded plot in Ho Chi Minh City with a "green veil" of plants.

With its tropical climate, Singapore is well-suited to greenery-covered architecture and Serie Architects and Multiply Architects' lush Oasis Terraces is a worthwhile addition to the city-state. It provides locals with a versatile mixed-use space containing a community center and health clinics.

Vincent Callebaut Architectures brings the outdoors into the workplace with its proposal for a new headquarters for French company Soprema. Named Semaphore, it will boast sustainable technology and have a massive amount of greenery, with around 10,000 plants, shrubs and trees.

Polish firm Biuro Toprojekt's aptly-named Kindergarten makes good use of an awkward plot. Bringing to mind Vo Trong Nghia's Farming Kindergarten, the building offers additional space for the kids to run around outside with a play area on its roof.

2018 has been an interesting year for residential architecture, with advances in tech and sustainable building practices resulting in many great homes. We've narrowed them down to 10 favorites, including a starchitect-designed luxury house, a 3D-printed mud hut, and a sustainable hobbit hole.