The world’s best tall building is… covered in plants
A Sydney skyscraper covered in vegetation has been named the Best Tall Building in the world by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). "Seeing this project for the first time stopped me dead," said juror Antony Wood, Executive Director of CTBUH. "There have been major advances in the incorporation of greenery in high-rise buildings over the past few years -- but nothing on the scale of this building has been attempted or achieved." The building is dubbed One Central Park and was designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel.
Hydroponics and heliostats are used to grow plants at all levels of the building. The greenery provide shade that helps cool the building, saving energy.
Richard Braddish/CTBUH
The Cayan Tower is the winner of the Best Tall Building award in the Middle East & Africa. A 75-story luxury apartment building twists around like a Twizzler, turning 90 degrees over its 300-meter height.
Tim Griffith/ CTBUH
De Rotterdam is the winner of Best Tall Building in Europe. Located in the Netherlands, it is 150 meters tall.
OMA Ossip van Duivenbode/ CTBUH
The CTBUH chose the project to win because it epitomizes the off-center experimentalism of modern Dutch art .
OMA Michel van der Kar/ CTBUH
This unassuming office building in Bonn, Germany is a mega energy saver. Using intelligent design, the Post Tower consumes only 75 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year, which is 79 percent less energy than a typical office building of its size.
Janice Ninan/ CTBUH
The Post Tower was selected by CTBUH for the 10 Year Award for its cutting edge design.
Raban Haaijk/ CTBUH
The architects designed the building with the site's wind orientation in mind and created a special facade to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation.
Janice Ninan/ CTBUH
The Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building dates to 1974. Architects recently transformed it from an "energy hog" into a impressively energy efficient structure. It was selected by the CTBUH as the Best Tall Building in the Americas.
Nic Lehoux/ CTBUH
The NBF Osaki Building in Tokyo uses a system of water-filled ceramic pipes called BioSkin to keep the surface of the building cool. It is this year's Innovation Award winner.
Harunori Noda/CTBUH
The International Commerce Center is Hong Kong's tallest skyscraper at nearly 500 meters tall and has been recognized with the CTBUH's first Performance Award.
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates/CTBUH
It strategically saves energy using a computerized building management system and encourages tenants to participate in energy-saving initiatives.
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates/CTBUH
True to its name, The Interlace is made of 31 apartment blocks stacked on each other to create an interwoven system of residences. It won the inaugural Urban Habitat Award.
Iwaan Baa/CTBUH
Social and leisure spaces are dotted in between the apartment buildings, including on the rooftops.
