In Sydney, Australia, green design gets literal with 10,500 square feet of plants and flowers growing on the side of a glass apartment tower.
One of the tallest ‘living’ buildings in the world at 380 feet, One Central Park was designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel in collaboration with PTW Architects. Botanist Patrick Blanc used 383 native and exotic flower and plant species to cover 21 soil-less panels, made possible by a hydroponic irrigation system using the building's own greywater from an on-site water recycling factory.
The two residential towers house 624 apartments sitting atop a five-story retail space. A cantilever off of the taller tower features 38 penthouses that have a private entrance and access to an elevated garden, pool, and outdoor kitchen. On the underside of the cantilever are 320 motorized reflectors directing sun light down to the lower gardens during the day and displaying an LED light show at night.
One Central Park is the centerpiece
of a $1.76 billion master plan with a 68,000 square foot park, which hosts
occasional markets and music festivals. In addition to its own water recycling
factory, the community also has its own thermal plant and trigeneration power
station in an effort to be the city’s most sustainable urban community.