Carbon Negativity of Finland Ecovillage to Slow Down Climate Change

Finland’s first carbon-negative small houses are being built in Pargas, Southwest Finland. Carbon negativity means that more CO₂ is being sequestered than emitted and thus the emissions are negative. This prevents or slows down the climate change. Macon is the company conducting the carbon footprint calculations of the building project and ensuring that the ambitious carbon negativity target is reached. Godai is serving as general contractor. The small houses have a wooden structure. They are carbon negative upon completion and certified by numerous certification programs. The general contractor’s aim is to build homes with healthy materials to provide healthy indoor … Read more

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‘Breathing’ Building in Shenzhen Prioritizes Tenant Comfort, Well-Being

A 158-meter-tall, 33-story tower, located on the edge of a public park at the center of one of Shenzhen, China’s key business districts, is now open. The high-rise was commissioned by Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank, and responds to the region’s tropical climate through a series of biophilic and sustainable design solutions. The tower’s façade is defined by an external diagrid, which serves as both the building’s structure, as well as an important solar shading element. At its base, the diagrid widens to create framed openings and views to the surrounding park and South China Sea, a short walk from the … Read more

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Icaro Hotel in Italy Welcomes Guests to Revamped Alpine Destination

At the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains and nestled within a web of ski slopes and hiking trails, the Icaro Hotel in Italy has been revamped by project team MoDusArchitects and general contractor Mahlknechtbau AB GmbH. Positioned on the Alpe di Siusi plateau at 1.900 meters above sea level and set within South Tyrol’s Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage site, the hotel’s humble origins date back to a simple 1930’s mountain lodge. Granddaughter to the founder of the original Icaro lodge, Angelika Sattler commissioned the structure’s renovations to reimagine its identity. The various interventions include an underground parking extension, separate staff … Read more

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Iconic Landmark Opens to Dubai Traffic

Built by Six Construct, the entity of BESIX Group in the Middle East, the Infinity Bridge (formerly Al Shindagha bridge) is distinguished by its unique architectural design inspired by the concept of infinity. It is a distinct landmark that promises to be a showcase of Dubai’s architectural advancements worldwide. 40 steel segments of its infinity arch, ranging in weight up to 130 tons, needed to be installed over the Dubai creek and above the bridge deck, which could not support a suitably sized crane. Therefore, the installation of the segments could only be performed by cranes operating from the creek’s … Read more

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Central Business Tower High-Rise in Frankfurt Receives Green Light

It’s launch time in Frankfurt, Germany’s financial district for the central business tower on Neue Mainzer Strasse. This paves the way for construction of a new high-rise designed by KSP Engel and to be built by general contractor Ed. Züblin AG. The 205-meter-high building consists of two parts that face each other, albeit at a slight angle, and are linked by a connecting seam. With striking setbacks for the protruding flanks, a slender, delicately segmented twin tower arises with a total of 52 floors above ground and five beneath. Depending on the vantage point, the building’s look changes dramatically. The … Read more

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