sustainable design

Architect Ivana Steiner has created a zero-waste kitchen designed to take the effort out of living a zero-waste lifestyle. Inspired after visiting several "unpacked" shops in Vienna, she created the perfect low-fuss waste-free kitchen.

UNStudio has unveiled its vision for a new museum in South Korea that will combine its exhibits and artworks with ambitious energy efficient design. The firm aims for it to achieve Zero Net Energy (or Net Zero) performance.

If you're going to call your building a "sustainability machine," you'd better back that up with some energy efficient features. MVRDV has done just that with its LAD HQ, which is being designed to be "almost" energy neutral in operation.

Urban Agency's high-rise boasts an ambitious sustainable design, and is defined by a stepped form inspired by Canada's topography. The greenery covered building will be largely made from wood and is slated to meet the stringent Passivhaus standard.

MVRDV has designed an eye-catching building for Rotterdam named the Harbour Experience Centre that takes the form of five stacked boxes, and will include sustainable design such as solar and wind power, as well as extensive use of recycled materials.

RMJM is creating a new headquarters for Turkish manufacturing firm Sanko. Inspired by the region's caves, it will feature solar power and rainwater collection, plus a focus on natural cooling to reduce air-conditioning needs.

Bjarke Ingels Group has revealed plans for a new travel center in Västerås, Sweden. The project will host the city's transport infrastructure services under an eye-catching roof that also integrates sustainability features like solar power.

A new Ikea store planned for Copenhagen will feature a public rooftop park along with the usual selection of flatpack furniture. Designed by Dorte Mandrup, it will also boast significant energy efficient design, including a solar panel array.

Foster + Partners' recent projects have shown the high-profile British firm use increasing amounts of greenery. This continues with The Forestias, which will create a lush forested and energy efficient neighborhood on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Commissioned to design a sustainable floating hotel, Margot Krasojević Architects produces a proposal that's unconstrained by practicalities. The designer envisions making use of the massive amounts of plastic in the ocean as a building material.

UNStudio has revealed plans for an energy efficient extension to a conference center in the Netherlands. The redesign will add solar power, greenery, and floorspace, and will be defined by an eye-catching cantilevering auditorium.

3D-printing company WASP and partner Mario Cucinella Architects have completed the TECLA 3D-printed house, which is the first eco-sustainable housing model to be constructed entirely from local raw earth materials using 3D-printing technology.