View allAll Photos Tagged sustainablearchitecture
non-pedigreed architecture in vals, swiss
"We firmly believe that in order for a building to be sustainable, it must be loved; it must touch the soul. "
David Arkin
I wanted to share this unique and interesting place with you. : )
Just northwest of Taos, there a development of sustainable homes, called Earthships and it may look like something from a sci-fi movie, but it's self-sufficient housing, built with natural and recycled materials, with energy conservation in mind - designed to produce water, electricity, and food for its own use.
There is a 2nd shot in the first comment.
KASHAN, Isfahan province, Iran — Beautiful Iranian desert architectural elements in rooftops of Kashan palaces, including vented domes and badgirs or wind catching towers for air conditioning using the desert wind and underground cold water storage.
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Fordingbridge designed and built this 120sqm sustainable flexible nursery building for Surestart.
Fordingbridge specialise in creating practical, energy and cost effective buildings which are intrinsically sustainable and are available at an affordable price.
Our buildings can be adapted to suit a wide variety of uses, from single school classroom buildings for nursery, primary and secondary education to large retail buildings and visitor centres.
We use a tried and tested building construction system using pre made elements which are then assembled on site. This minimises construction time and limits disruption to you and your project.
The building has an Integral canopy which provides an all-weather shaded play area and creates protection from solar gain.
The frame is a curved sustainably sourced FSC accredited Glulam timber-frame and Thermowood timber cladding provides an attractive finish.
The building is constructed with low maintenance highly insulated composite walls and roof to reduce heat loss from the building.
For more information about the building and our other projects please visit www.fordingbridge.co.uk/portfolio/?Surestart-childrens-ce...
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A striking long-exposure shot of the iconic Sluishuis building in Amsterdam’s IJburg district. This architectural masterpiece, designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) and Barcode Architects, blends geometric precision with modern urban elegance. Captured at sunset, the structure’s sharp angles, glass balconies, and the serene reflection on the IJ waterway highlight the fusion of nature and cutting-edge design. A symbol of contemporary Dutch architecture and sustainable living.
Fordingbridge have recently had the pleasure of creating the new headquarters for The Greenpower Education Trust, an organisation that promotes engineering as a rewarding career to anyone aged 9-25, while also focusing on sustainability, teamwork and the community.The centre was designed as an inspiring learning environment for participants and industry professionals as well as acting as an innovative test bed for low emission technologies.
The Centre has been designed with sustainbility at its core, using passive design and realistic low carbon technologies, carefully formulated by the team from Fordingbridge, Passivent and Emission-Zero
If you would like to know more information about the building please visit www.fordingbridge.co.uk
Fordingbridge have recently had the pleasure of creating the new headquarters for The Greenpower Education Trust, an organisation that promotes engineering as a rewarding career to anyone aged 9-25, while also focusing on sustainability, teamwork and the community.The centre was designed as an inspiring learning environment for participants and industry professionals as well as acting as an innovative test bed for low emission technologies.
The Centre has been designed with sustainbility at its core, using passive design and realistic low carbon technologies, carefully formulated by the team from Fordingbridge, Passivent and Emission-Zero
If you would like to know more information about the building please visit www.fordingbridge.co.uk
For more information on this building and it's sustainable features please visit www.fordingbridge.co.uk/portfolio/?Grovelands-Early-Years
SHANGHAI, China — The spiraling curves of the imposing glass facade of the super-tall Shanghai Tower.
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©2019 German Vogel - All rights reserved - No usage allowed in any form without the written consent of the photographer.
KASHAN, Isfahan province, Iran - Beautiful Iranian desert architectural elements in rooftops of Kashan palaces, including vented domes and badgirs or wind catching towers for air conditioning using the desert wind and underground cold water storages.
Check out my albums:
---------------------------------
• All my photos in Explore
• Curated stream of my best photos
• My best selling photos
• All my photos used in book covers
Follow my photos in Facebook and Instagram
©2019 German Vogel - All rights reserved - No usage allowed in any form without the written consent of the photographer.
KASHAN, Isfahan, Iran — One of the hundreds of wind catching towers - or badgirs - adorning the skyline of many traditional cities of central Iran, from Kashan to Yazd, an old air conditioning system for houses complemented with underground water reservoirs.
Check out my albums:
---------------------------------
• All my photos in Explore
• Curated stream of my best photos
• My best selling photos
• All my photos used in book covers
Follow my photos in Facebook and Instagram
©2019 German Vogel - All rights reserved - No usage allowed in any form without the written consent of the photographer.
Along the rugged Sonoma Coast, the Sea Ranch Lodge glows warmly under the rising moon, its cedar siding and angular lines blending seamlessly with wind-shaped cypress and ocean air. Designed in the 1960s by architect Charles Moore and the MLTW firm, Sea Ranch redefined modernism with its quiet harmony between architecture and landscape. The path leading through native shrubs creates a sense of discovery—an approach that mirrors the community’s ethos of living gently on the land. As twilight deepens, light spills from within, echoing the enduring spirit of this Northern California masterpiece of restraint, reflection, and natural beauty.
Black and white view of a futuristic solar panel structure in Budapest, Hungary, capturing clean energy innovation.
[Kandovan, East Azerbaiyan, Iran] The Kandovan rural ancient village near Tabriz, a unique still inhabited troglodyte mountain enclave of homes carved as refreshing caves into the rocks, with some colorful clothes hung up to dry.
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©2017 Germán Vogel - All rights reserved - No usage allowed in any form without the written consent of the photographer.
SHANGHAI, China — Looking up from the base of the 632 meters tall Shanghai Tower glass facade twisting as it rises towards the blue sky.
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©2018 Germán Vogel - All rights reserved - No usage allowed in any form without the written consent of the photographer.
[Isfahan, Kashan, Iran] The beautiful and elegant architecture of Kashan in central Iran, with a badgir (wind tower) and palace facade framed by the silhouettes of arches. The badgirs are an essential element of Iranian desert architecture designed to capture the breeze and exhaust warm air out, an ancient system of air conditioning.
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©2017 Germán Vogel - All rights reserved - No usage allowed in any form without the written consent of the photographer.
Hawk and Mesa Ranch
Pipes Canyon > Pioneertown > Mojave Desert > California
Photo credit: Lance Gerber
Architecture in Nordhavn is a dialogue between raw history and clean ambition.
The Silo – a 17-storey former grain silo, now luxury residences with panoramic views and a rooftop restaurant. Designed by COBE, it retains its concrete shell as a tribute to its industrial past.
Portland Towers – twin cement silos transformed into 59 m tall office towers. The office floors are raised 24 m above ground, wrapping around the original cores. A striking reuse of infrastructure by DesignGroup Architects.
18 Gdanskgade – new HQ of Bech-Bruun, co-designed by COBE, Vilhelm Lauritzen and Tredje Natur. 60 m high, 14 floors, and a public winter garden – concrete meets calm greenery in a modern, sustainable setting.
Nordhavn doesn’t erase its past – it elevates it.
Architect: Toyo Ito + RSP.
The rooftop garden features a 45m-high (150ft) windcatcher structure, designed to look like flower petals, that captures cool fresh air and channels it into the office floors cool the air and more savings.
Discover the stunning Hearst Tower 🌆️ in New York! Designed by Norman Foster, this 46-story skyscraper combines a historic Art Deco base with a modern glass diagrid structure 🌈💡. It's not only visually striking but also a leader in sustainable architecture 🌿💚. Let's appreciate its innovative design and eco-friendly features!
40 storey (245m) A Grade Office Building Downtown Singapore.
Architect: Toyo Ito + RSP.
Double skin façade and greenery on 55% of the perimeter of the office building maximises natural lighting and reduces heat gain.
CapitaGreen won the 2015 CTBUH Skyscraper Award for Best Tall Building in the Asia and Australasia Region
Glass office building near downdown Seattle.
As a reminder, keep in mind that this picture is available only for non-commercial use and that visible attribution is required. If you'd like to use this photo outside these terms, please contact me ahead of time to arrange for a paid license.
Inside the Sea Ranch Chapel on California’s rugged Sonoma Coast, craftsmanship and spirituality merge in a space that feels both intimate and transcendent. The interior, shown here, reveals a symphony of materials—curving redwood, hand-forged metalwork, and textured stone—each chosen to evoke the organic harmony between human creation and the natural world. Designed by architect James Hubbell in collaboration with a team of artisans, the chapel is a sculptural marvel, conceived not as a traditional religious building but as a sanctuary for reflection, creativity, and peace.
The flowing redwood ribs that arc overhead recall the motion of waves, while the stone walls ground the space in the earth itself. Sunlight filters through stained-glass windows in hues of amber, green, and blue, creating a dynamic play of color that shifts throughout the day. Each piece of glass was handcrafted by Hubbell’s studio, designed to refract the coastal light into living patterns across the chapel’s surfaces.
In this view, a graceful wrought-iron gate frames a bench and cross detail at the heart of the space. The metal’s organic tendrils mimic seaweed or flame, symbolizing life’s continual movement and renewal. The juxtaposition of raw stone and finely worked wood demonstrates the chapel’s central philosophy: art as an extension of nature, where spiritual experience is born through the tactile and sensory.
The Sea Ranch Chapel was completed in 1985, funded by the Brown family as a memorial to their son. True to the Sea Ranch ethos of blending built forms with the landscape, the chapel nestles unobtrusively into its environment, echoing the region’s cliffs, surf, and forests. Its design encourages quiet contemplation—whether one enters to meditate, pray, or simply admire the craftsmanship, the space invites an emotional connection that transcends words.
Every curve and texture within the chapel carries the unmistakable imprint of human hands. Rather than relying on uniformity or industrial precision, Hubbell embraced imperfection as part of the building’s soul. The result is a space that feels alive—like driftwood shaped by tide and time. Visitors often describe the interior as a living sculpture, one that changes character with every passing beam of light.
The Sea Ranch Chapel stands today not only as an architectural gem but also as a meditation on the relationship between art, faith, and the environment. It reminds us that sacredness can be found in the material world—in the grain of wood, the chill of stone, and the quiet glow of glass touched by the sun.
The Senedd (English: Senate or Parliament; Welsh pronunciation: [ˈsɛnɛð]), also known as the National Assembly building,[1] houses the debating chamber and three committee rooms for the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff. The 5,308 square metres (57,100 sq ft) Senedd building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 March 2006 and the total cost was £69.6 million, which included £49.7M in construction costs. The Senedd is part of the National Assembly estate that includes Tŷ Hywel and the Pierhead Building.
After two selection processes, the decision was taken that the debating chamber would be on a new site, called Site 1E, at Capital Waterside in Cardiff Bay. The Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Rogers won an international architectural design competition, managed by RIBA Competitions, to design the building. It was designed to be sustainable with use of renewable technologies and be energy efficient. The building was awarded an "Excellent" certification by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), the highest ever awarded in Wales, and was nominated for the 2006 Stirling Prize.
The Senedd was constructed in two phases, the first in 2001 and the second from August 2003 until it was handed over to the National Assembly in February 2006. Between phases, the National Assembly changed contractors and the project's management structure, but retained Rogers as the scheme architect. The building was nearly six times over budget and four years and 10 months late, compared to the original estimates of the project in 1997. Total costs rose due to unforeseen security measures after the September 11 attacks, and because the National Assembly did not have an independent cost appraisal of the project until December 2000, three years after the original estimate. Phase 2 costs rose by less than 6% over budget, and that phase was six months late, due to information and communication technology (ICT) problems.
Bathed in natural light and defined by sculptural steel columns, Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport embodies the harmony between engineering and elegance. Designed by Portuguese architect Carlos Prata, the terminal’s clean geometry and open sightlines guide travelers through an airy, intuitive space. Layers of glass, metal, and wood flooring create a rhythm of light and warmth, while mezzanine seating and sleek signage enhance its modern European aesthetic. One of Europe’s most acclaimed regional airports, Porto’s gateway reflects Portugal’s design-forward identity — where travel, architecture, and human flow merge seamlessly into a contemporary expression of movement and possibility.
I already took a series of photographs of this place in 2009, but now I want to show you all the new developments at this marvellous place:
Ketan is an artist who set up his home here about 5 years ago. He creates wonderful building structures and art here, and he likes to have good people visiting and fellow artists making this place even better.
See more details on his website:http://www.stein-des-anstosses.de/
Against a canvas of blue sky and wispy clouds, this striking modern apartment building in Berkeley, California showcases a bold interplay of concrete, glass, and rhythm. Its distinctive zigzag façade creates a sculptural tension between solidity and motion—a dynamic interpretation of urban housing that reflects Berkeley’s evolving architectural landscape.
At first glance, the building’s monolithic concrete surface appears austere, but closer inspection reveals deliberate precision. Each vertical bay shifts slightly, giving the façade a sense of depth and shadow that changes throughout the day. The alternating angles capture light differently, animating the structure as morning turns to afternoon. It’s a contemporary evolution of brutalist design, softened through human-scale detailing and sustainable sensibility.
The building sits along University Avenue, one of Berkeley’s most storied corridors, where decades of architectural experimentation coexist—craftsman homes, mid-century commercial blocks, and new urban infill projects. This structure represents the city’s forward-looking approach to density and sustainability, using concrete not as a symbol of heaviness but as a medium for clarity and permanence. Its rhythmic windows echo the pulse of city life, while the clean street frontage offers a respectful nod to the pedestrian experience.
Architecturally, it embodies the Bay Area’s shift toward minimalist urban housing—simple in palette but rich in geometry. The structure’s sharp angles create deep shadows that lend drama to an otherwise restrained composition. There’s poetry in its pragmatism: vertical repetition balanced by asymmetrical nuance, form driven by function, yet never without aesthetic ambition.
As the photograph captures it, the building feels both monumental and intimate. The warm evening light softens the gray façade, emphasizing texture over mass. Nearby, the red structure provides a counterpoint of color and contrast, revealing how contemporary architecture can harmonize with its surroundings through thoughtful restraint.
In a city known for its architectural experimentation, this building stands as a quiet yet confident expression of modern Berkeley—rooted in function, shaped by design, and alive with urban rhythm. It’s not a landmark by name, but it reflects the evolving identity of a city constantly redefining what home and density mean in a 21st-century context.
Glass panels along the side of the Freedom Tower in New York. Shot in medium format on the Mamiya 7.
Read more about this shot here.
As a reminder, keep in mind that this picture is available only for non-commercial use and that visible attribution is required. If you'd like to use this photo outside these terms, please contact me ahead of time to arrange for a paid license.
[Shanghai, China] Looking straight up from the feet of the Shanghai Tower sustainable building and its glass facade reflecting the blue tones of the clear sky, rising to the roof of Chinese high rise modern architecture.
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©2017 Germán Vogel - All rights reserved - No usage allowed in any form without the written consent of the photographer.
One of my favourite shots from my two days in the Olympic Park, this is the Serie Architects designed BMW Pavilion. A fast shutter speed has frozen the drops of water falling down the sides of the building, the clouds have been enhanced slightly with a Topaz Adjust Clarity filter but other than that it's pretty much a straight shot.
Amazingly twelve of my Olympic shots have made it into Flickr Explore over the last few weeks, it seems the Magic Donkey may be a fan of Contemporary Architecture afterall.
Click here to see more of my favourite shots : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157631547690563
Afternoon light streams through the clerestory windows of this quintessential Sea Ranch living space, transforming its vaulted wooden beams into lines of rhythm and repose. The interplay of architecture and sunlight—the way shadows taper along the ceiling, the way warmth settles into the grain of the floor—captures the serene balance that defines life on California’s rugged Sonoma coast.
At the heart of the room stands a minimalist fireplace framed in black, grounding the composition with quiet confidence. Above it, a trio of sculpted birds soars mid-flight, their brass tones catching the fading light like a visual echo of the Pacific winds outside. This is not mere decoration but a continuation of the Sea Ranch ethos: a reverence for the natural world and a commitment to design that harmonizes with it.
The exposed beams, so integral to the modern-rustic Sea Ranch aesthetic, lead the eye outward toward walls of glass that dissolve boundaries between interior and exterior. Beyond them, the landscape unfolds—rolling meadows, salt air, and the muted blues of the distant ocean. Inside, wood dominates: honey-toned, tactile, alive. Even the furniture and cabinetry respect this material honesty, blending utility and simplicity in perfect proportion.
Light is the true designer here. As the sun descends, it paints the interior with gradients of amber and rose, transforming what might otherwise feel utilitarian into something lyrical. The geometric precision of the ceiling becomes poetic; the natural imperfections in the woodgrain seem to breathe. There’s no ornamentation for ornament’s sake—just thoughtful restraint and a deep awareness of place.
This space embodies the human scale and quiet luxury envisioned by the original Sea Ranch architects—Charles Moore, Joseph Esherick, William Turnbull, and others—who sought to create buildings that yield to the landscape rather than dominate it. The room’s warmth comes not only from the materials but from its purpose: to provide refuge, perspective, and communion with nature.
As the viewer lingers, it’s easy to imagine the sound of the ocean mingling with the crackle of the fire, the faint call of seabirds overhead, and the peaceful rhythm of the coast. In this Sea Ranch interior, every line, every beam, every ray of light feels intentional—part of a living architecture that still teaches us how to dwell with humility and grace.
The information centre on the main level of the Centre for Alternative Technology (in the southern part of Meirionydd, Gwynedd, northwestern Wales, near Machynlleth, which is in Powys, Mid Wales), on a mostly sunny morning in early May.
Like the other structures at the Centre, it is designed as an example of environmentally sustainable, green architecture. In this case, the building recalls traditional Japanese houses.
According to the Centre's Website (consulted 1 March 2014), "CAT is an education and visitor centre demonstrating practical solutions for sustainability. We cover all aspects of green living: environmental building, eco-sanitation, woodland management, renewable energy, energy efficiency and organic growing." It was founded on the site of a former slate quarry in 1973 and has since expanded considerably from its original size and scope.
(My husband and I first visited it in 1989, then saw the extent of its growth when we returned in 2012.)
Slate blocks, chippings, and structures, such as the pool and fountain in this view, abound on the grounds of the Centre. This building included an information centre and display, a café, and a gift shop.
[Centre for Alternative Technology information building pool 2012 may 6 p; P1000256]
Bathed in soft coastal light, the entryway of the Sea Ranch Chapel feels like a passage into another world—one shaped by artistry, faith, and the surrounding rhythms of nature. Completed in 1985, this small, non-denominational chapel stands as one of the most beloved architectural treasures along the Sonoma Coast. Designed by architect James Hubbell, a master of organic architecture, the building’s form evokes both a seashell and a bird in flight, rising from the earth in flowing, sculptural harmony.
The entry doors, shown here open to the light, embody Hubbell’s lifelong fascination with craftsmanship and natural materials. Hand-carved from wood and inset with stained glass, they twist upward in a fluid gesture reminiscent of kelp or flame. The glass itself—crafted in vibrant greens, blues, and ambers—filters sunlight into living patterns that dance across the stone floor. Each element, from the smooth wooden ribs to the rough stone base, is designed to feel tactile and handmade, inviting touch as much as sight.
The patinated copper roof overhead tells its own story of time and weather. Once gleaming, it has softened into a rich green that mirrors the coastal vegetation around it, further anchoring the chapel in its landscape. This dialogue between materials—wood, glass, stone, and metal—reflects Hubbell’s belief that architecture should age gracefully, blending back into nature rather than competing with it.
Inside, the chapel continues this theme of organic unity. Every surface curves, every beam bends as if grown rather than built. Light enters not through conventional windows, but through stained glass that illuminates the interior with hues that shift throughout the day. The result is a living architecture that changes moment to moment—a space of peace and reflection shaped by artistry and the natural world.
The Sea Ranch Chapel was built as a spiritual gift to the community, a place for solitude, meditation, and ceremony. While The Sea Ranch is internationally known for its modernist design ethos—defined by architects like Charles Moore, Donlyn Lyndon, and Joseph Esherick—Hubbell’s chapel adds a lyrical counterpoint to that rationalist legacy. It reminds visitors that emotion, spirituality, and craftsmanship are also integral parts of architecture’s language.
Standing at this threshold, one feels the convergence of human creativity and natural grace. The Sea Ranch Chapel is not just a building—it is a prayer in form, light, and material.
Uber’s global headquarters, located at 1725 3rd Street in San Francisco’s thriving Mission Bay district, reflects the company’s innovative spirit through its striking modern architecture. This cutting-edge building is a glass marvel, with its sleek reflective facade mirroring the city’s evolving skyline and emphasizing Uber's forward-thinking ethos. Designed with sustainability and productivity in mind, the building stands as a beacon of Silicon Valley's influence on San Francisco's urban landscape.
Architecturally, Uber HQ features a distinctive curvature along the top floors, adding a dynamic visual appeal to the glass-dominated design. The generous use of glass symbolizes transparency and connectivity, integral values in the tech industry. Inside, the structure offers open, collaborative workspaces designed to foster creativity and teamwork among Uber’s global workforce. The use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems underscores Uber’s commitment to environmental responsibility, as reflected in its corporate operations.
Positioned near Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, Uber’s headquarters is part of the ongoing transformation of the Mission Bay neighborhood, now a hub for technology and innovation. The area’s close proximity to the waterfront and its access to public transportation make it an ideal location for Uber’s corporate base, allowing employees easy connectivity across the Bay Area.
Uber HQ’s architectural design, sustainability initiatives, and key location at the crossroads of San Francisco’s business and tech sectors make it a pivotal point in the city’s modern development, marking the ongoing evolution of this iconic city.
Please don't use this photo on websites, blogs or other media without my written permission. (c) Yago Veith - Flickr Interesting | www.yago1.com
[Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran] Stairs and door into the air conditioned basement of a 19th century Kashan palace house, an example of an old sustainable building using wind towers and underground chambers for cooling during the hot Iranian summers.
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©2017 Germán Vogel - All rights reserved - No usage allowed in any form without the written consent of the photographer.