7 Breathtaking Sustainable Homes Around the World

Sustainable homes have never been more necessary. As the world is faced with an onslaught of challenges—the climate crisis, depleting natural resources, an aging population, and rapidly growing urban environments, to name a few—those responsible for our built environment have an important role to play. “A drive for sustainability best captures the way society should respond to these challenges,” says Avi Friedman, author of Future Homes: Sustainable Innovative Designs, a new book from Images Publishing. “The thrust of sustainable thinking in its most rudimentary form is that one needs to consider the future consequences of present actions.”

Through his latest book, Friedman looks at a collection of homes that demonstrate the power of future thinking when it comes to combatting present-day challenges. Not every home is sustainable in the exact same way: Some address environmental considerations, others community, some even look to aesthetic sustainability. “My choice of homes was guided by the innovative sustainable response of their designers to the new emerging social challenges that we are facing,” Friedman says of the properties included. “In addition to innovation, I considered their architectural appearance and cleverness of the design.” Below, AD looks at seven of these incredible sustainable homes, offering a glimpse into what intentional, progressive living looks like.

Sys House Sao Paulo, Brazil

Designed by architect Arthur Casas for SysHaus, a prefabricated home company, these customizable dwellings represent impressive upgrades in the prefab market. Homeowners can customize floor plans to their needs, and all materials used in the construction are recyclable. Customers can also add a green roof (as seen at this home in São Paulo), a rainwater collection system, solar panels, and a biodigestor, which converts waste into gas for cooking or heating.

Living Screen House, Sydney, Australia

Besides the corridor-like pool running along the side of this home in Sydney, perhaps the most notable feature is its façade, which is made from a wood grid filled with windows and perforated metal panels. On top of its striking appearance, this also allows plenty of light into the home for the many self-maintained, LED-lit green living wall screens located throughout the property. Other environmentally focused design choices include smart home systems that monitor energy and turn off lights (among other uses), solar panels on the roof, and an integrated water collection and reuse system.

Hammarby Sjostad, Stockholm, Sweden

Hammarby Sjöstad, a residential development in Stockholm, was built with one distinct goal: to provide and encourage alternative methods of transportation. The development is now a largely car-free environment—this success is mainly due to multiple strategies implemented by the government and developers, including ample access to public transportation; wide, landscaped sidewalks; and intentional proximity between dwellings and commercial areas.

Holmberg House (Belgrano, Argentina)

“An innovative system of water delivery and circulation is one of the highlights of Holmberg House,” Friedman writes. Resembling a radiator, or potentially a jungle gym for plants, the pipes along the façade circulate water for the family from two storage tanks. This unique façade “also provides support for plants grown on it…creating microclimates for nature to thrive in.”

Limestone House Melbourne Australia

Designed by John Wardle Architects, Limestone House in Melbourne was built to Passivhaus and Living Building Challenge (LBC) standards. Using airtight construction, triple-glazing window, and high-performing insulation, the home doesn’t need much energy for heating or cooling. “Limestone House provides a great example of formal and material explorations in designing within the constraints of green construction standards,” Friedman writes.

Marmalade Lane Cohousing Project (Cambridge UK)

Designed by Mole Architects, Marmalade Lane Cohousing was designed to bring together inhabitants who were eager for a socially active, eco-friendly lifestyle. The modular dwelling units range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom homes, and like other cohousing arrangements, tenants have joint ownership of common spaces. Marmalade Lane, in particular, was created with the intention of creating a community full of those eager to create a sustainable social future.