This weekend, the new BMW Welt opens in Munich, a sustainable building that saves an estimated 30 percent in energy by using new technologies such as photovoltaic roof panels and natural ventilation systems. Next week the Wired LivingHome opens, a luxury green prefab house set in the LA Hills.
So has green architecture gone mainstream? Or are sustainable materials and responsible building methods an expected result of our current “climate” of climate change?

BMW Welt
Over the next week, Club of Pioneers will introduce a variety of Green architects and their work, such as Ray Kappe. We will not only look at new technologies and ideas, but innovative and pioneering strategies necessary in creating urban spaces today. Architecture - the construction of permanent buildings made of cement, concrete and glass, often with complicated utilities, is by definition not environmentally friendly. However, as a result of increasing pressure over pollution and energy consumption - planners, builders and architects are giving increasing attention to making buildings more sustainable. The LEED (Low Energy Electron Diffraction ) system of categorizing Green buildings is becoming more stringent. But by no means does this equate to boring looking houses. 1. Going Natural
The simplest way to build green is by using natural materials. There has been a resurgence in the straw bale house movement and a return to Sixties style “homesteaders”, with simple wooden structures and composting toilets. It is often in emergency and disaster situations where materials such as paper and bamboo can be quickly assembled and dismantled, while still providing shelter. Recycling or “adapted reuse” (using old buildings for new purposes) is another way to leave a small carbon footprint when building. Large brownfield sites being transformed into landscaped parks is an especially green “adapted reuse” alternative.
Atkins Architects use a quarry to build a new hotel.2. Smart Sustainability
As technologies are developed, architecture and houses are becoming smarter. Energy resources, like solar power, are being used more and more for creating alternative power supplies, which lessens the load on the Grid. The use of photovaltaic cells placed on roofs or other surfaces can take on lively shapes as they work, and can even be used to power the family car.
Competitions such as the recent Solardeclathon encourage the building of zero emission and stylish homes.

Architect Paul Murdoch uses roof gardens3. Building with Nature
By using plants and ecological systems themselves within the building structure, carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere and may even be regenerative to the environment. Roof gardens are an obvious example, and in addition to looking good, they provide vital cooling and warming properties, as well as reducing air temperature, lessening the need for artificial air conditioning. Even more extreme are the structures made from plants themselves, generative materials that grow and resemble biological organisms more than houses
So keep checking Club of Pioneers for upcoming features and discussions on the topic.