45 rue Louis Blanc received the ‘Habitat and Environment’ certification in 2007. This French environmental housing certificate is voluntary and goes further than just building efficiency. The criteria include educating occupants on eco-friendly behavior and waste reduction, as well as standard requirements for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Today, Amsterdam is the largest and most visited tourist destination in the Netherlands. Developing since the 17th century into an economic superpower, Amsterdam is known for its cultural influence on the world. Its rich architectural heritage radiates through the streets with a heavy mixture of modern and classical architecture. Yet the use of wood is seldom seen amongst the modern or classic construction.
The thousands of brightly colored louvers that wrap the Oval Offices in Cologne, Germany further showcase Berlin-based firm Sauerbruch Hutton’s commitment to imaginative design. Featured among a series of non-impressive corporate structures, the bulging forms of the two buildings serve as great contrast to the surrounding architecture.
Built in the Netherlands’ youngest city, on land only recently developed, sits a building like no other. While the street-facing portion of the La Defense office complex remains quite tamed in its attempt to blend harmoniously with its surroundings, the inner courtyards resemble UN Studio’s love for spectacular color combinations.
The exterior of the Origami building in Paris, France features an orate pattern of screen-printed folded glass panels that imitate thinly sliced marble. Serving as a harmonious extension of the surrounding architecture, the exterior façade flattens out on the sides where it joins the neighboring structures. Still, the building stands out as a more contemporary addition to the classical style often seen near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
