This portfolio of leading-edge ecostructures by prestigious firms the world over proffers blueprints for the future of architecture. The book presents innovations that show how advanced technology answers the challenge to use less and recycle more, how using local materials reduces costs, how incorporating elements of nature conserves our ecology, how buildings can take on the shapes of their natural surroundings to harmonize with the land, and how existing structures can be modernized by eco-friendly engineering and sustainable materials. The huge increase in polluting emissions, the rapid depletion of energy resources and the enormous volume of garbage produced by our consumer society combined with the continuous demand for new buildings, are now key issues in the reports and policies of the Kyoto Conference, and have led to growing attention to the themes of sustainable resources and environmental protection. "Ecostructures" could be the answer to these problems. In this challenging Third Millenium, cities must plan for urban areas, buildings and public areas so that they have reduced energy consumption needs and low environmental impact. Many examples have already been demonstrated: structures that self-produce the energy they need, architecture that use local, natural, recycled materials, that replicate the economic shapes nature has developed, or include them within structures. Other practical examples include reclaiming underdeveloped spaces and abandoned buildings and reintegrating them into the life cycle of the contemporary metropolis. With its detailed photographs and elevations of the most relevant contemporary projects, this volume provides an in-depth itinerary through the various forms and shapes of sustainable architecture, from the most spectacular to the most ingenious examples.
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