eco-architecture
Environmentally conscious construction
Eco-architecture is building design that minimizes environmental impact through sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and harmony with natural surroundings.
The term covers everything from solar panels and green roofs to buildings that generate their own power or harvest rainwater: The firm specializes in eco-architecture for urban housing.
Also called green architecture or sustainable architecture.
Tall woody grass
- rammed earthCompacted soil as building material
- recycled steelReprocessed ferrous material
- reclaimed woodReused timber from demolition
- straw baleBound dried grain stalks
cork · adobe · cob · mycelium · natural stone · recycled glass · bioplastics · natural fiber
Sustainably designed structure
- LEED certificationSustainable building credential
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- renewable materialsSupplies that regenerate naturally
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
net-zero · environmental impact · sustainable development · carbon neutral · green certification · eco-friendly construction · resource conservation · low-impact
Light-converting power generators
- photovoltaicLight-to-electricity converting
- geothermalRelating to underground heat
- wind turbinesMachines converting air movement to electricity
- passive solarHeating through building orientation
thermal mass · radiant heating · energy storage · smart grid · solar water heating · energy audit
Airflow without powered fans
- courtyardEnclosed open-air space
- atriumRoofed central hall
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
- daylightingUsing sunshine indoors
Gathering precipitation for later use
- green roofVegetation-covered rooftop system
- living wallVegetation installed on facades
- rain gardenPlanted basin absorbing runoff
- xeriscapingLow-irrigation garden design
bamboo
Tall woody grass
- rammed earthCompacted soil as building material
- recycled steelReprocessed ferrous material
- reclaimed woodReused timber from demolition
straw bale · cork · adobe · cob · mycelium · natural stone · recycled glass · bioplastics · natural fiber
green building
Sustainably designed structure
- LEED certificationSustainable building credential
- carbon footprintTotal greenhouse gases produced
- renewable materialsSupplies that regenerate naturally
energy efficiency · net-zero · environmental impact · sustainable development · carbon neutral · green certification · eco-friendly construction · resource conservation · low-impact
solar panels
Light-converting power generators
- photovoltaicLight-to-electricity converting
- geothermalRelating to underground heat
- wind turbinesMachines converting air movement to electricity
passive solar · thermal mass · radiant heating · energy storage · smart grid · solar water heating · energy audit
natural ventilation
Airflow without powered fans
- courtyardEnclosed open-air space
- atriumRoofed central hall
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
daylighting · passive cooling · cross ventilation · microclimate
rainwater harvesting
Gathering precipitation for later use
- green roofVegetation-covered rooftop system
- living wallVegetation installed on facades
- rain gardenPlanted basin absorbing runoff
- green techsolar panels, solar power, wind energy, clean energy, wind turbines
- Futuristic Architectureglass towers, organic forms, 3D printing, smart buildings
- earth homescave dwelling, hobbit house, earthbag