Chicago Gateway environmentally friendly concept

Chicago Gateway offers a place that will be environmentally friendly to Chicago city which there is a large vertical farm, mixed-use tower and a residential tower that became one entity of sky bridges. This project is the idea by Illinois Institute of Technology’s student located on Lake Shore Drive and especially designed for abandoned Chicago Spire, or better known as the Giant Hole.

Chicago Gateway consists of two mixed-use vertical tower that supported by a leaning tower with roof full of trees. The plan, offices and commercial places will occupy vertical towers while the residential tower will occupy a sloping, which cross Lake Shore Drive. All the structures are connected via vertical plantation platform and sky bridges network that connect toward towers and provides access to other buildings nearby.

Urban plantations through hydroponics will be done in the dais provided specifically for the plant, and a roof full of trees will provide coolness. Vegetables and herbs will be planted in hanging suspended mechanically in the hydroponics farm. Crops can be sent via Sky Bridge and the public can access this building and use the elevated road to traverse the city. The design was created in 2007 and became a finalist of the prestigious Schiff Foundation Fellowship.

A Massive Vacation Home in the Jungles of Costa Rica

Private luxury resorts are no longer a thing exclusive to the rich and famous. Now it’s not uncommon for families to go on retreats and host destination reunions in the middle of these remotely enchanting locations. On the outskirts of this Costa Rican jungle, sits a 6,500 sq. foot 5-star luxury vacation home with a treetop view of the forest and below the cliffs, soothing sounds of the Pacific ocean! The building’s exterior looks like the skeleton of a home being built, but that was by design.

Costa Rica is one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world and in this tropical climate, the ‘green’ way to keep this massive home cool is allowing the warm breeze to flow throughout these refreshing indoor/ outdoor living spaces. So go ahead, let yourselves in and float through this contemporary tropical delight of a home…just don’t forget the bug spray!

Intricate Modern Architecture Within a Dramatic Environment: Leferve House

Lefevre house was designed by Longhi Architects and is located in Punta Misterio, Peru, overlooking the Pacific. The stunning rocky cliffs merging with the ocean waters create a spectacular scenery, where few would take on the challenge of building a home. This magnificent residence seems infiltrated in the ground with its asymmetrical volumes surfacing like a submarine. The home’s architecture is modern and diverse, offering unexpected angles of sight. Two amazing pools add color and entertainment to the overall project design. The building’s interiors take  full advantage of the environment. Floor to ceiling windows allow unobstructed views of the ocean, while also ensuring a large amount of natural light during the day. The use of natural rock inside the house bring a feeling of authenticity and pays tribute to the surrounding landscape.

Small and Cozy Contemporary Garden Studios for a Comfy Retreat

When we first saw these images, we were sure they were the pictures of a private small home and we instantly fell for the simple design and location. But it turns out the project is actually a garden studio. Designed by in.it studios in UK, these cozy places of retreat are eco-friendly and highly customizable. Here is more information from the architects: “The high-end contemporary design is unrivaled through its unique frameless windows and doors and carefully considered structure.  Cedar clad Bi-folding doors glide to the side of the studio to open up the front elevation and bring the outside in.  Above the doors sits an attractive overhanging cantilevered roof which features eco-friendly Green Sedum ‘living’ plants.  A Sedum Blanket is more attractive than a typical felt roof and helps to introduce greenery into what is typically a Garden environment. Sustainably sourced FSC and PEFC timber ensures that the building’s materials are from well managed forests.” We really like the idea of having your own private getaway right in your back yard. Tell us if you feel the same.

Prefab Luxury Residences, a Practical Architecture Trend

Prefab homes carrying eco-friendly features and recycled materials are the response of modern architecture to the growing concern of CO2 emissions. Homes across the globe now account for up to 25 per cent of all man-made CO2 emissions. Prefab homes parts are assembled in factories, so they reduce energy in construction and do not produce waste of materials on site.Many luxury developers have begun to work faster to offer clients a beautiful, modern home with eco-friendly features that can offer comfort and luxury for high-end buyers. Million dollars homes come prefabricated from companies like Huff Haus, Form and Forest or Acorn Deck House. Tailored to comply with any of the client`s needs, these prefabricated homes have only one thing in common with the “trailer park prefabs” that everyone is used to: the houses can be assembled in a very short time period. Luxurious prefab homes are starting to catch on as a new trend that brings together cutting-edge technologies and high-end materials to create a visually distinctive building.

Exclusive and Surprising Luxury Home for Sale in LA

Impressive architecture and incredible interior design are the two central elements of this luxurious house for sale in Los Angeles: the 1654 Blue Jay Way.  It awaits the future inhabitants in the famous Bird Street area, an exclusive neighbourhood of West Hollywood. This property defines luxury through both the exterior and the interior: a high-class interior design completes the unbelievable panoramic view of LA and the Pacific. Every aspect of this home screams top of the world: the amazing pool that has a window to the billiards room and a glass catwalk that serves as the ceiling for the wine cellar. Strict surveillance keeps the security standards to a maximum and it even has its own nightclub and gym. Covering 9,725 square feet, the property has 4 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms and, according to 1654bluejayway.com, it can be purchased for $ 11,595,000.

Delightful Looking Home with Sustainable Features in California

Hover House 3 comes from Glen Irani Architects and is located on the Venice Canals of Los Angeles, California. The challenge of the project was to maximize outdoor space, by creating a volume that seems to hover above the ground level. With a living area of 2500 square feet(232 sqm), three bedrooms and two offices, this home manages to maximize the potential of exterior spaces, while reducing the indoor surface. Moreover, the project is a showcase of sustainability, according  to the architects:  “Embodied energy analysis on major systems resulted in the use of exterior man-made slate panels, exposed concrete walls and radiant hydronic heating and many of the finishes. Natural ventilation is carefully devised with proper window placements and a wind tower that extend 9’ above the roof (the max allowed by code) in order to eliminate air conditioning. Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels offset 80%  of power demands. With the exception of interior wall paint, all interior finishes are devised to last indefinitely so that future emissions from finish replacements are minimized or eliminated.” The residence also features a special system for reducing outdoor noise. Aside from being environmental friendly, this home is a beauty, with a design that surprises and captures.

A Home So Beautiful is Hard to Come By : Hunters Hill Residence in Australia

This beautiful and diverse home was designed by Stanic Harding Architects and is located in Hunters Hill, Australia. The project is actually a restoration and remodeling of a decaying 1950′s house situated in a privileged landscape, not far from the harbor. According to the architects, “the challenge was to create a light and airy home on this steep south facing site while maintaining connections to the garden, water and city views“. Here is how they tackled with the clients’ request: “A series of three distinct pavilions were formed linked by two open courtyards allowing the house to gradually step down the site. The courtyards let sunlight enter the house via the extensive glazing on the northern facades. The transparency and deep modulation of these facades offers protection from summer sunlight while permitting winter light to reach deeply into the house. The courtyards provide access to level gardens and external living spaces so important on such a sloping site.” Hiring a professional landscape architect studio (Jane Irwin ) ensured that this home’s exterior matched the incredible interior design. Photos by Paul Gosney.

A Massive Display of Modern Living : Brentwood Residence

Brentwood Residence is an impressive residential project from Belzberg Architects, a company with quite a few amazing works. Located in a picturesque landscape near the Santa Monica Mountains, you are looking at a good example of contemporary architecture which meets our idea of Los Angeles modern living. The exterior of this house consists of asymmetrical volumes, creating unexpected angles of sight. Large floor to ceiling windows establish a strong indoor-outdoor connection  A large oak tree is the focal point of the site, an imposing “pillar” which the architects took advantage of by creating an outdoor entertaining area together with a tennis field. The residence also features a generous pool with inviting patio furniture. Avant-garde furniture, fresh decorating ideas, art objects and a warm color palette- all create a dreamy interior design, worthy of discovering step by step.- via Arch Tracker.